This follows his appointment as a special advisor to the First Minister, working with Green ministers, Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater in the Scottish Government.
A Green councillor since 2012, Gavin also has a longstanding career in housing, going back to 1987, and housing will be his main area of focus in the Special Advisor team. He will to take up his post in mid November and stand down as councillor at the same time.
Co-Convener of Edinburgh Greens Councillor Group, Cllr Claire Miller said:
“Gavin will be missed in the councillor group and by residents in his council ward. However, the opportunity to work with the first-ever Green ministers in government anywhere in the UK is an exciting one and I am delighted Gavin will be bringing his experience to the team there. Meantime, as a branch we have already set wheels in motion to select a new Green candidate for Fountainbridge-Craiglockhart for next May and I am confident that candidate will be able to win support and build on Gavin’s track record.”
Gavin added:
“In lots of ways it is a wrench to leave my councillor role and I’ve been looking forward to completing various projects in the area over the next 6 months and then being part of a larger Green group of councillors next May, taking the next step up. I’ll also miss working with lots of fantastic people and groups on canal projects and indeed throughout the south west of the city.
“However, after working in housing policy and campaigning for 34 years and in the Greens for 32 years, sometimes there are opportunities which are genuinely chances of a lifetime. This is one such and so much to get my teeth into, supporting Patrick and Lorna, and the wider team of ministers and advisers.
“That is all ahead. Meanwhile, I have got a lot to get done in my final two weeks.”
Gavin has been Green councillor for Fountainbridge-Craiglockhart since May 2012 and has served on Finance Committee for all of that time, leading on budgets for the Green group. He has also been a member of Education, Economy and Transport & Environment Committees and been City Canal Champion since 2017.
At the same time he has continued his housing career, starting as a trainee in Argyll and Bute in 1987, working in research for government agency Scottish Homes and, since 1993, taking several senior policy and campaigning roles in charity Shelter Scotland. As well as stepping down as a councillor, he has relinquished his Shelter role.