Murray will lead council

Cllr Lyle takes over

Councillor Murray Lyle has been confirmed as the new leader of Perth and Kinross Council.

Following the death of Ian Campbell earlier this month, the Conservative party’s Cllr Lyle was appointed as the new leader on Friday, February 23.

This comes after Cllr Lyle led councillors through the budget meetings last week.

Speaking on Friday, the Strathallan representative said: “I am proud to have been endorsed by my colleagues in the administration to progress from deputy leader to the most senior political role in Perth and Kinross.

“It is an honour tinged with sadness, however, that it came about as a result of the passing of my friend, Ian Campbell. I shall endeavour to uphold his values of integrity and fairness, and to work for the benefit of every citizen of Perth and Kinross.”

Cllr Murray Lyle was first elected to the Strathallan ward in 2007, representing rural areas such as Auchterarder, Dunning and Blackford.

He was re-elected in the last year’s local government elections in the first round of voting, after receiving 1,280 first preference votes. He then went on to become deputy leader of the administration in September, after Cllr Caroline Shiers stepped down.

Outwith politics, he is a wellknown farmer across Perthshire, and has been a regular face around Perth Show for a number of years.

His priorities as a councillor is to improve parking in Auchterarder, encouraging start-up businesses, improving rural broadband, pushing for road maintenance, and working with communities to develop village halls and local parks.