Barry Douglas

East Ayrshire Council has elected a new Provost and Depute Provost at its final Council meeting before the summer recess. Councillor Barry Douglas (Scottish Labour and Scottish Co-operative Party) will serve as Provost while Councillor Sally Cogley (Rubbish Party) becomes Depute Provost. Provost Douglas said: “Thanks to all who supported me, and particular thanks to Jim Todd who has definitely been a mould-breaking Provost over the past nine years. “Whilst I won’t be the ‘Rock n Roll’ Provost, I do hope that as the youngest holder of this office since East Ayrshire Council was formed, and the first openly gay Provost, I can serve all of our communities in East Ayrshire with the same energy and enthusiasm that Jim brought to the role. I look forward to continuing to serve my constituents in Kilmarnock East & Hurlford Ward whilst serving as Provost. “I fully appreciate that my term in office as Provost could well be the shortest in East Ayrshire history with elections just over ten months away, but life is short, as so many of us have experienced this last 15 months due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I lost my dad to Covid this year and I hope he is looking down with pride at his son becoming Provost of the place I am proud to call home.” Depute Provost Cogley said: “I’m honoured to have been awarded this role, and I thank my colleagues for their support. I know that Councillor Claire Leitch will be a very hard act to follow. Over the last four years I have worked with all political groups ensuring that we achieve the best for East Ayrshire, for our communities and most importantly, for our people. “I will continue to support my constituents in Ward 6, The Irvine Valley and look forward to promoting all that is good about East Ayrshire in my capacity as Depute Provost.”