A SENIOR Fylde councillor has stepped down from the chairmanship of the borough's planning committee after an alleged breach of the council's code of conduct.

Conservative Cllr Bill Thompson says he has done 'nothing wrong' and will fight accusations of impropriety which, he says, are politically motivated.

But the 78-year-old, a councillor for more than 30 years, has resigned earlier than intended after an alternative chairman came forward.

The complaint to the Standards Board for England, made by members of the council's Independent group, relates to a letter to the council's planning department by Cllr Thompson's son, an architect, who uses his father's address in Lytham as his business address.

"I have done nothing wrong. It is political. I am a Conservative and the people who have complained about me are not," said Cllr Thompson on Wednesday: "The same thing happened a few months ago to Cllr Michael Tomlinson of Newton-with-Treales.

"Ultimately, the Standards Board may want to hear my point of view. I am ready to go to the Standards Board."

Cllr Tomlinson, who lost his Newton-with-Treales seat to the Independents in May. He was later banned for one year from serving on local authorities.

His case was referred to the Adjudication Panel, which has powers to ban councillors found to have breached the code of conduct.

Clifton ward Cllr Thompson has been a member of the council for more than 30 years and took over the chairmanship of the committee for the second time when the Conservatives took office in May.

His first spell as chairman lasted for 19 years, but he intended to serve just one year after being re-elected in May.

He offered to stand down at the Conservative group's AGM this week if a suitable alternative candidate came forward. Cllr Harold Butler took over as chair at the meeting on Wednesday and is expected to take the position permanently.

Cllr Thompson says neither he, nor Fylde's chief executive, Ken Lee, had seen the letter sent to the Standards Board for England. Mr Lee said before Wednesday's planning committee meeting: ''We have been made aware that Councillor Thompson no longer wishes to act as the chairman of the Development Control Committee. At this week's meeting, a chairman will be selected for the meeting only, and undoubtedly, the Council will wish to consider options for the chairman of that committee in the near future."

A spokesman for the Standards Board for England said no complaint had yet been discussed by the board.

Meanwhile, complaints against several Wyre councillors will not be investigated by the Standards Board.

Council leader, Cllr Alan Vincent, faced two complaints as did his deputy, Cllr Jim Lawrenson, with five colleagues facing one each. Most of the complaints related to a meeting between councillors and members of the Waters Reach Residents Association about the proposed sell-off of Jubilee Gardens. Cllr Vincent and Cllr Graeme Cocker were also accused of failing to declare an interest in a proposal to cut funds to the local Citizens Advice Bureau. The complainant, a fellow councillor, claimed that the two councillors, both solicitors, would benefit from extra business if the CAB were forced to close or reduce services. The Standards Board felt the connection was 'not sufficient' to justify investigations.

Councillors have been warned that they could face expulsion from their local authority for revealing classified information -- even if it is in the public interest.

It follows a complaint against a Green Party councillor in Lancaster who handed documents to the Citizen's sister paper in the city, relating to a council decision to defer rate payments on two nuclear power plants owned by cash-strapped British Energy.

Cllr Gina Dowding has now been banned from council work for three months by the Adjudication Panel. Green Party north west leader, Cllr John Whitelegg, said: "Councillors are supposed to be accountable to the public, not to big business. The code of conduct should certainly not punish councillors for telling the public how public funds are being used."