A SOUTHAMPTON city councillor has confirmed he is to step down.

Cllr Asa Thorpe, who represents the Millbrook ward for Labour, will not be standing for reelection in May.

The former Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, who has served four years said it was difficult to combine a demanding full-time role as a councillor with competing demands in his private and professional life.

He said that there had been changes in circumstance in his family life with two young children now and a job change – he has moved from working for the police to working for surgical and cancer services for the NHS.

He said it had been a “privilege” to serve the people of Millbrook and did not rule out a return to politics in the future.

Cllr Thorpe said he was proud of what he had achieved, in particular helping vulnerable young adults to use transport.