Softly, softly does it

Three years after he was appointed council leader, Councillor David Berry (SNP), sometimes known for having a brusque style, has announced he is standing down.

"With the prospect of worsening financial strictures over the next several years with further tough choices to be addressed I feel that this requires me to hand over the reins to someone whose more emollient style may be more effective in continuing the teamwork and sense of joint purpose that has allowed this administration to achieve all that it has to date," he said in a statement.

The three-year 'marriage' between the SNP and the Lib Dems has faced rocky times recently.

The defection of Lib Dem councillors Stuart and Ruth Currie to the SNP placed strain on the partnership, as has the tough budget choices the administration has had to make.

It was felt by many in the administration that Mr Berry - who had faced criticism over his 'get on your bike' comment to pupils regarding a now-ditched proposal to cut free home-to-school transport - was not the unifying force required to keep the coalition intact until the next council elections in 2012.

North Berwick Coastal councillor Mr Berry, who is set to be replaced by fellow Nationalist Paul McLennan, councillor for Dunbar and East Linton, said: "After serving eight years in opposition it was with relish, that in 2007, I was able to lead an innovative and effective coalition of SNP and Liberal-Democrat groups to take East Lothian Council in a direction that I had long felt necessary for its 21st century future. In these three years, we have, together with a rejuvenated senior management team, faced many serious issues confronting us.

"These included the urgent need for affordable housing, building good staff relations, tackling budget overspends, improving response, communication and service to our customers and initiating partnerships with the Scottish Government and other public bodies.

"I am especially proud that we are well on the way to delivering 1,000 affordable homes and better services right across the board, despite a background of reductions in financial commitment from the UK government, and a total freeze in council tax that has saved our average householder almost £300 to date.

This has all been achieved by a combination of efficiency savings, service re-provision and some tough choices.

"As a backbench member of the SNP group, I will continue to support their ongoing efforts as part of the Administration and continue with, or take up, such internal and external council appointments as they see fit for me to discharge." The decision by Mr Berry has surprised many of his fellow council members, but one council insider has claimed the North Berwick councillor "jumped ship before he was pushed".

Officially, Mr Berry is resigning from his position as council leader, a position he has held for the past three years, and his proposal to install Mr McLennan to the top position is widely expected to be ratified at a special full council meeting to be held on June 8.

In the meantime, Mr Berry will work closely with the depute leader, councillor Stuart MacKinnon, to "ensure a smooth transition of leadership within the council to the new council leader".

But, members of the council's SNP/LibDem administration have been forced to strenously deny rumours of infighting between the rival parties has led to this week's announcement.

The council source said he believes the decision was made "out of Mr Berry's hands" and his removal from office "had been on the cards for a while now".

The council insider also claimed the decision for Mr Berry to leave the position as council leader was decided during last week's East Lothian branch of the SNP's AGM, with councillor Stuart Currie one of the main instigators for his removal.

In an official statement released on Tuesday, councillor Berry said: "After serving eight years in opposition it was with relish, that in 2007, I was able to lead an innovative and effective coalition of SNP and Liberal-Democrat groups to take East Lothian Council in a direction that I had long felt necessary for its 21st century future. In these three years, we have, together with a rejuvenated senior management team, faced many serious issues confronting us.

These included the urgent need for affordable housing, building good staff relations, tackling budget overspends, improving response, communication and service to our customers and initiating partnerships with the Scottish Government and other public bodies.

"I am especially proud that we are well on the way to delivering 1,000 affordable homes and better services right across the board, despite a background of reductions in financial commitment from the UK government, and a total freeze in council tax that has saved our average householder almost £300 to date.

This has all been achieved by a combination of efficiency savings, service re-provision and some tough choices.

"As a backbench member of the SNP group, I will continue to support their ongoing efforts as part of the Administration and continue with, or take up, such internal and external council appointments as they see fit for me to discharge." East Lothian Council's depute leader Stuart MacKinnon, a leading member of the local authority's administration, denied a split within the coalition had been the cause of Mr Berry's announcement.

He said: "There has been no split in the coalition and we are only concentrating on doing what is best for the people of East Lothian. The home-to-school decision also had nothing to do with Mr Berry's decision to stand down, that particular proposal was not his, but the whole administrations.

"We take collective responsibility for all our decisions, no matter how unpopular.

"I would like to say we have welcomed Mr Berry's leadership and will also welcome councillor McLennan if he is appointed successor. I look forward to working with him and his colleagues, and I believe he has the qualities to lead the council over the next few years.

"He has a sound business head and plenty of experience in that field which will stand him in good stead for the difficult job ahead." But, councillor Willie Innes, leader of the council's Labour group, said he believes the administration's recent policies are the main reasons for Mr Berry leaving.

He said: "David Berry is paying the price for the unpopularity of his administration. But, I feel the administration has miscalculated because it is the policies and not the individual that are currently not working in East Lothian, and I'm sure the electorate realise this.

"There have been a number of factors leading to Mr Berry's removal with the council's disastrous home-to-school transport policy just one of them. But, other decisions they have made such as the Cockenzie House fiasco also live long in the memory as being equally disastrous for them.

"When councillor Berry took over he had no real experience of running a council department never mind the whole organisation, and councillor McLennan also has very limited experience. We will be looking very hard at his performance over the coming months." Councillor Ludovic Broun-Lindsay, leader of the Conservative group, was also shocked at Mr Berry's announcement.

He said: "This has come as a complete surprise and I would assume the internal power struggle within the administration has been a factor.

"Mr Berry has done a reasonable job for a man without any real experience, and I wish him well in the future.

"I wouldn't want to comment on his successor because I believe the person coming in would need time to prove themselves before I make any criticism.

"The home-to-school transport policy has not helped though, and I believe the issuing of the letter to parents just before the election was a very desperate act." And Independent Musselburgh councillor John Caldwell admitted he too was surprised to hear of the announcement, but didn't believe the decision rested on the home to school transport policy.

He said: "It's a bit of a shock, but I don't think the school transport decision had anything to do with it. I wouldn't put the blame on one individual regarding the transport policy because at the end of the day the council administration had a difficult decision to make and cuts had to be found somewhere. It is true, however, he didn't make life easy for himself regarding his comments about 'getting on your bike'.

He had some qualities I admired, such as the ability to hold a meeting together, but I'm not going to comment further." When asked if Mr McLennan would be his preferred candidate to take over as council leader, Mr Caldwell would only reply "no comment".

Councillor Paul McLennan, the man tipped to replace Mr Berry at the helm of the authority, claimed he felt "humbled" to be nominated and "was looking forward" to the challenges ahead.

He said: "There had been previous discussions about the future of the leader's position and I feel honoured and humbled to have been nominated for what is a very important position. It is a very high-pressured job and I think councillor Berry has done a marvellous job in the three years he has been in charge. Now, he can relax a little and concentrate on representing his constituents as he will have more time to spend with them.

"There are challenging times ahead for all councils, and I am looking forward to doing my best for the people of East Lothian." But Mr McLennan also denied there was any split in the SNP/Lib Dem coalition that led to Mr Berry's resignation claiming the opposition parties were creating "political mischief".

"There is no split in the administration," he said. "Of course, like any other partnership, we have disagreements, but we are fundamentally together in doing what is right for the county. I think the other parties are just trying to create some political mischief concerning Mr Berry's decision.

"I don't believe the home-to-school transport policy had any bearing on Mr Berry's decision because we all made that decision not just him. The decision was collective and I don't believe there is an administration anywhere that has not made mistakes.

"I believe I have certain leadership qualities that I have developed in my professional life that I think will stand me in good stead if my nomination is successful.

"I know how the council operates and I know the pressures of the job, and I am looking forward to working with my fellow councillors and staff to make the right decisions for the people of East Lothian."