ONE of Drumchapel and Anniesland's councillors has announced he will step down at the local elections next year.

Labour's Jonathan Findlay was first elected to Glasgow City Council in 2003 and is currently chairman of SPT as well as sitting on the committees for planning, regeneration and sustainability.

Now he says he will step down in 2017, one of an increasing number of Labour councillors in Glasgow to do so.

Meanwhile West Dunbartonshire’s Labour leader, Martin Rooney, admitted it would be of “no surprise” if some of his colleagues stepped aside before May.

Cllr Findlay said he had “mixed feelings” when he informed the Anniesland Constituency Labour Party and was grateful to them and voters.

He said: “I am very proud to have played my part in the continuing regeneration of Glasgow and, in particular, the huge positive changes that have been made in the Anniesland area - with new housing and retail developments, improved parks and green spaces, new schools and nurseries, protected services for young people and the elderly and increased community confidence.

“None of these things happen by accident and it is only through the ambition and priorities of the Labour Council and the commitment and dedication of local Labour councillors that our communities are being transformed for the better.

“Although I have announced that I am stepping down, there is still much to do in the next year and I have a renewed sense of urgency to ensure that the Anniesland area continues to be one of the best places to live in Glasgow - an ambition that I have held for the area since being first elected in 2003. Why shouldn't Temple have a Marks & Spencer and one of the best performing primary schools in the city?

“I am also determined to do all I can to ensure that the Scottish Labour Party (Glasgow's Party) is re-elected as the administration in 2017 so that the transformation of our city can continue - with all Glaswegians benefiting from its success.”

He said he was only stepping down for personal reasons.

Cllr Findlay continued: “I have a young family and I think Megan and Gregor deserve a dad (and Gillian deserves a husband) who is not constantly running to and from meetings, appointments and surgeries in the evening, on his Blackberry on holiday or up at midnight responding to constituents' e-mails.

“I am also keen to explore other career options and it is a sad fact that the great honour and privilege of being a local councillor is counter-balanced by (at best) a stalled career outside politics where potential job prospects or promotions evaporate or are continually being put on hold.

“It has been a true honour and a privilege to serve the good people of Anniesland and I will continue to do so to the best of my ability for the remainder of this term. I'm sure that my former election agent, friend and local stalwart, the late Tommy O'Connor, would have a word or two to say to me if I didn’t.”

Cllr Rooney told the Post that the local Labour Party had started its selection process for the 2017 local elections in West Dunbartonshire.

He said: “"It’s quite common for Councillors to stand down after their period of public service, particularly when they have served their communities over a sustained period of years. In West Dunbartonshire we have already had indications from Councillor Jim Bollan SSP and Councillor Ian Murray SNP that they will not be standing for election in 2017.

“The clear political direction and strategic approach taken by this Labour administration has transformed West Dunbartonshire for the better with new housing, new schools, new community facilities, new care homes and major regeneration designed to boost jobs, businesses and services for local people.

“The positive course we have set will see further investment and improvement over the coming years and we will create a better West Dunbartonshire in the process. A lot has been done, but there is still so much more to do.

“Despite all of this, it would be of no surprise to me if some of my Labour colleagues in West Dunbartonshire were to step aside and allow other comrades the opportunity to pick up the baton, in order to continue the fight for social justice on behalf of local residents."

In the past year, Labour has been nearly wiped out across Scotland both at the Westminster level in 2015 and the Scottish Parliament elections last month.