Sharing a border with neighbouring East Lothian, Midlothian East has a large rural population and concerns about new housing developments in the countryside are never far from people's minds.
Provost Peter Smaill has represented the MIdlothian ward for the last five years and has been vocal about his planning concerns.
Last year he objected to an "aggressively modern" extension to a house in Pathhead which he warned could set a precedent for the village. And he has spoken out about new housing development at Roslin where he grew up.
