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One of the most senior and experienced members of Dundee City Council has
ended months of speculation by confirming he will not be standing for
re-election to the local authority next May.
Ex-Lord Provost Mervyn Rolfe, who represents Stobswell and is Economic
Development Convener, is to concentrate instead on his role as Chief Executive
of Dundee & Tayside Chamber of Commerce.
“There are a number of reasons why I’ve decided not to stand again, some of them
personal, some less personal”, he said.
“One of the reasons is that I will have done 17 years in local government, which
is a considerable stretch, and I’ve recognised the need to move on”.
There has been speculation for some time that Mr Rolfe – and another senior
figure in the Labour administration on the City Council, Planning &
Transportation Convener, Robin Presswood – had decided not to stand in the next
elections.
Both had declined to comment on speculation, but yesterday Mr Rolfe confirmed
what many had suspected.
Mr Presswood, however, was not available to comment on his position.
A question mark appeared over Mr Rolfe’s continued involvement with the City
Council as an elected member when he took up his post with the Chamber of
Commerce at the beginning of this year.
Many people saw a conflict of interests between his two posts and it is
understood Mr Rolfe may have decided some time ago not to seek re-election.
He said he had developed a great interest in the local economy and saw his job
with the Chamber as allowing him to further that and contribute to a city and
region that he loves.
Mr Rolfe has served on both Dundee City and Tayside Regional Councils. He served
for many years as Regional Council Education Convener.
He was Dundee’s Lord Provost from 1996 to 1999 and earned considerable praise
for his handling of his term in office. He has been Economic Development
Convener since 1999.
Linked with his council service, Mr Rolfe has also held a number of other senior
positions, such as Chairman of the Dundee Partnership and Chairman of the Dundee
City of Discovery Campaign. He was made a CBE in 2000.
“There are some elements of the Council I will miss and some I most certainly
will not miss”, he said. “However, 99.9% of my time in local government has been
both challenging and enjoyable. I have been involved in a lot of good projects
and worked with a lot of exciting and stimulating people”.
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