New MSP Mark to stay on as councillor minus salary

However he says he will no longer draw the salary he would be entitled to as a councillor, instead carrying out council duties “for free”.

“I will carry on as a councillor for the next year,” said Mark. “I just felt I could continue to manage my council caseload for the time being while working as an MSP.

“However I won’t take my council salary. I have always had a high workload so that is nothing new. I will continue to hold my council surgeries in Kilsyth as normal.”

However, in one concession to his double workload, Mark will step down as convener/vice convener on the three committees where he holds that position. Meanwhile, work continues on setting up offices within the Central Scotland Region where Mark will be based as an MSP. He said: “I will be sharing offices with the other Labour MSPs in Central Scotland, but we’re not sure where the offices will be located yet.”

Mark’s fellow Labour colleagues in the region are Siobhan McMahon and Margaret McCulloch.