30 August 2012 Last updated at 06:52 ET

Borders Party leader Nicholas Watson to step down

Mr Watson plans to stand down as a councillor later this year

The leader of the Borders Party has indicated he intends to stand down as a councillor this autumn.

Nicholas Watson is planning to move to Cumbria for business reasons which would mean a by-election in the Leaderdale and Melrose ward.

Mr Watson set up the Borders Party five years ago in the wake of a campaign which successfully halted housing plans near Abbotsford House.

It is currently part of the ruling coalition on Scottish Borders Council.

In May, he and fellow Borders Party councillor, Sandy Aitchison, were invited to join the administration now running the local authority for the next five years.

He said: "It is now time to pass on the baton to a new generation who will take the Borders Party forward."

He expects to be leaving the Borders in October and, when details are confirmed, he plans to resign as a councillor.