Councillor Jim Muirhead has also resigned from the council cabinet relinquishing the education portfolio.

Mayfield councillor Peter Boyes will be the new Depute Leader in a move, which sees the number of cabinet members reduced from seven to six.
While employed as the chief executive of a fire and flood repair company, Councillor Muirhead (50) will continue as a constituency councillor representing Midlothian South, covering Newtongrange and Gorebridge.

"The commitment of my job at the moment doesn't allow me to spend the time I think the job as Depute Leader and member of cabinet deserves.

Extra responsibilities

"I have been a member of the cabinet for more than four years and been able to apply a lot of my time in doing that.

"I think there is a big difference between your activities as a councillor and the extra responsibilities you take on in a cabinet position and on top of that as Depute Leader," he explained.

Elected in 2003, councillor Muirhead became a cabinet member responsible for community planning in 2004.

Following the last elections, he became Depute Leader with responsibility for education and communities, Midlothian Council's largest portfolio in terms of spend.

For full story see The Advertiser, October 9, 2008