AN ULSTER Unionist councillor who faced criticism for living and working in Dublin is to step down from his elected role.
Ben Kelso, an Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council member, will stand down next month.
It comes a day after he had rejected concerns that he was not properly fulfilling his council role because of his Dublin commitments.
Mr Kelso works for Barclays bank in the capital.
It emerged after another councillor dramatically resigned from the UUP and accused the party of failing to address his concerns over the matter.
Announcing his decision during a council meeting, John Scott said an Ulster Unionist councillor was "not pulling his weight".
Speaking further to the Antrim Guardian, he said Mr Kelso "cannot properly represent the Three Mile Water area while he lives and works outside of Northern Ireland".
Mr Kelso had earlier this week rejected suggestions that his "personal circumstances" affected his council work.
"I'm in Belfast equally as much as I'm in Dublin," he told The Irish News.
But in a statement, Mr Kelso has since announced his decision to stand down from the council.
"I informed my group leader earlier this year of my intention to stand down from my elected role, in order to focus on growing responsibilities outside of politics," he said.
"I will continue in my role until the party has completed its internal processes to appoint my successor."
He said it had been "honour and a privilege" to be a councillor and thanked his UUP colleagues for their support.
Mr Kelso, who was elected in 2014, has attended four of the eight monthly council meetings since the beginning of the year.
But in an unusual arrangement, he does not sit on any council committees or other bodies to which the council appoints members.
Councillors receive a basic annual pay of around £14,300.
According to his online LinkedIn page, Mr Kelso has worked for Barclays for several years.
However, it remains unclear how long Mr Kelso would spend in Dublin each week.
When the UUP representative stood for election, his home was listed with the Electoral Office as an address in Jordanstown.
Mark Cosgrove, the UUP's council group leader, said Mr Kelso has "always been a dedicated member of the Ulster Unionist team".
"Ben's career outside politics is flourishing and he has always been honest and up-front about developments," he said.
"I was delighted to see a young man like Ben get elected in 2014, and sad as I am to see him go, we will select an equally capable replacement in the coming days."
