The councillor who introduced a lottery for school places in Brighton and Hove is standing down from the role after 30 years’ service.

Pat Hawkes, who represents Brighton’s Hollingdean and Stanmer ward, has said she will step aside at the 2011 election to allow a younger generation to take up the baton.

Labour councillor Hawkes, 72, earned an MBE in 2007 for her contribution to education and has served as president for the National Union of Teachers in her long and varied career.

She said: “I am not the sort of person just to hang on to see how many years I can make and drop in the job.

“I am leaving because I want young people to come in who will follow through the development in the city that has been happening.

“I will be sad to retire but I love travelling and am looking forward to spending more time in France and Spain.”

Coun Hawkes won her seat in Hollingdean and Stanmer in a by-election nearly 30 years ago and has continued to live and work in the area.

She was a teacher at a number of schools across Brighton and Hove and East Sussex before quitting the profession in 1997 to work as the lead councillor for education at the newly created Brighton and Hove Council.

Perhaps her most controversial decision was to introduce new catchment areas and a lottery for some secondary school places in 2007.

She remains convinced the scheme has been, and will be, a success. She said: “I knew it was right - parents now know where they stand.

“Although they do not always like the outcome there is much more equality across the city.”

Is Coun Hawkes right that the lottery for schools places has been a success? Tell us what you think at theargus.co.uk/news