Police commissioner Kim McGuinness has resigned as a councillor.
The Labour politician, who was elected earlier this year as Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, has stepped down from her role on Newcastle City Council after five months of doing both jobs.
Miss McGuinness, who had represented the Lemington ward since 2015, said she did not want to “neglect” her constituents.
Her resignation was announced alongside that of Labour colleague Coun Nora Casey, who has taken a new job outside of the area.
Both of their posts will remain vacant until the next local elections in May 2020.
Miss McGuinness said: "I have hugely enjoyed my time at Newcastle Council and I'm proud of all this city has achieved in recent years. On being elected as Police Commissioner I did hope to see out the end of my term until May as I love my role as a councillor. Sadly it is clear that is not now possible, and I do not wish to neglect the people of Lemington.
"I'll continue to support the council and my former ward wherever I can, and look forward to watching Newcastle's continued success."
After Miss McGuinness announced earlier this year that she would not immediately step down as a councillor, Newcastle’s Lib Dem opposition leader warned that she risked leaving one of her two jobs “short-changed”.
Coun Anita Lower said in July that “either the commissioner job is not going to be done properly or it is not going to be good for the people of Lemington”.
Coun Casey was first elected in the Blakelaw ward in 2016 and sat on the Newcastle Children Safeguarding Board as well as being the council’s cabinet member for children, education and skills in 2018.
In her resignation letter, she paid tribute to the “phenomenal children, young people and staff who work with them” in the city.
Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes said: “I would like to thank councillors McGuinness and Casey for their time representing Newcastle City Council.
“Both have worked tirelessly for the residents in their wards and their dedicated approach to politics was reflected in the speed they were selected to Cabinet.
“Coun Casey played a vital role in the protection of some of Newcastle’s most vulnerable young people during her time on Newcastle Safeguarding Children’s Board and was instrumental in our commitment to become a Unicef Child Friendly City.
“Coun McGuinness supported many of the high-profile events in the city over the last 12 months, including the World Transplant Games, Great Exhibition of the North and European Rugby Finals as well as steering the public health portfolio to focus on a city-wide approach to health.”
