A LEADING member of Labour’s administration has announced he will be stepping back from the frontline of Brighton and Hove politics.

Councillor Tom Bewick has resigned from the leadership team but will remain as councillor to the Westbourne ward he was elected to in May 2015.

The children, young people and skills committee chairman has found it increasingly difficult balancing the “heavy burden” of his own business interests, his family and overseeing the work of one of the council’s biggest departments.

Cllr Bewick has said he also wants to focus more on representing his Hove ward.

A former advisor to the Labour government for seven years, Cllr Bewick was elected in May 2015 and immediately given the role of children, young people and skills committee.

He is the co-owner and managing director of skills management company New Work Training Ltd, based in offices at Hove cricket ground, which requires him to spend time working in the States.

His business interests grew last year with the founding of LoveApprenticeship.com, the world's first premium apprenticeship jobs board service, while also co-founding Franklin Apprenticeships in the USA.

Cllr Dan Chapman will step up from his current role as deputy committee chairman and schools lead while Cllr Caroline Penn will come in as the committee's new deputy until at least May.

Council leader Cllr Morgan praised Cllr Bewick for his “clear leadership and purpose” and “wide-ranging and invaluable” contribution to the administration.