A prominent Macclesfield councillor has been forced to step down after taking on a new role in the local health service.

Gill Boston, Labour councillor for Hurdsfield, has been appointed as a lay member to the watchdog of the new East Cheshire Clinical Commissioning group.

However, since she took the job, the rules have been changed meaning serving councillors cannot sit on the board of CCGs.

So Mrs Boston reluctantly handed in her resignation to the council’s interim chief executive Kim Ryley after the full council meeting last Thursday. The move means a by-election will be held in the coming weeks to find a new representative for the ward.

Mrs Boston, who was previously a Macclesfield borough councillor, said the decision was one of the most difficult she has had to make, but her expertise in the health and voluntary sectors meant the new job was one she couldn’t turn down.

She said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a councillor. It’s a single councillor ward which makes it very challenging because it’s all down to you, but it also makes it very rewarding.

“So it was very sad when I found out I would have to step down.

“It was one of the hardest decisions I have had to make and I agonised over it a lot.

“I didn’t want the people of Hurdsfield to think I’d let them down. But with my day job being in the health and voluntary sector this new role really matches my skills and I will still be representing people, just in a different way.

“I have worked on several projects in Hurdsfield which I’m really proud of including the community centre group, the post office campaign and the campaign to expand library services.

“And I won’t be going away, I’ll still be around to offer help and advice as the projects get completed.”

Cheshire East Labour group leader, Coun David Newton, said: “I am very sorry that Gill has decided to resign as councillor for Hurdsfield, but appreciate fully her strong commitment to the NHS. Gill has been an assiduous and hard-working councillor for her ward, strongly representing the interests of all residents. She has made a very effective contribution to the work of Cheshire East council and will be sorely missed.

“I and my colleagues in the Labour Group wish her every success in her new role.”

Dr Paul Bowen, chairman of NHS Eastern Cheshire CCG, said: “Gill’s extensive experience of working with the Voluntary sector, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence and her passion to address local inequalities in health will prove to be a great asset to the Governing Body and the member practices of the CCG, and most importantly the people of Eastern Cheshire, their voice and needs of which she will be the champion of in all aspects of the CCG’s business."