A LONG-SERVING Helensburgh and Lomond councillor has been voted in as Argyll and Bute's new Provost.
Conservative councillor David Kinniburgh, who represents the Helensburgh and Lomond South ward, was chosen by councillors at a Skype meeting on Thursday following the death of Len Scoullar earlier this month.
Mr Kinniburgh, who lives in Dumbarton, is currently the council's policy lead for planning services and the chair of its planning, protective services and licensing committee.
He was first elected to represent the Helensburgh and Lomond South ward at the May 2007 local government elections, and has remained as one of the area's three councillors ever since.
The ward takes in the Churchill, Craigendoran and Colgrain areas of Helensburgh, as well as the village of Cardross and the hamlets of Ardoch, Arden and Muirlands.
A vote taken at Thursday's meeting saw Mr Kinniburgh receive the backing of the council's majority ruling coalition of independent, Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors, ahead of Dunoon representative Audrey Forrest, who was nominated by the opposition SNP group.
Mr Scoullar died aged 81 on November 15. He had served for seven years as Provost and for 21 years as a councillor on the island of Bute.
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