CHARFORD ward Labour councillor Sean Shannon has resigned from Bromsgrove District Council's standards committee.

He said that he believed his colleagues on the committee, which looks into councillors' conduct, were supporting a "failed" administration.

Cllr Shannon said: "The almost weekly changes to the constitution of this council are rubber stamped by this committee. The recent non action taken by the committee against five councillors who had broken the Code of Conduct has to be compared to the maximum action taken against a Labour councillor who infringed the code.

"This clearly illustrates the supportive role that this committee has taken up."

Fellow committee member Brian Fuller (Con-Hillside) said: "We regret that Cllr Shannon has resigned because there is a great need for opposition representation on the committee."

He said the two cases concerning a Labour councillor who was suspended for three months for threatening behaviour and the five councillors who were guilty of a technical offence were very different.

Cllr Fuller added: "The first offence was much more serious than the second. Both cases were referred to the Standards Board for England, who advised us on what action to take."

He said four Conservatives and one Independent councillor were involved in the second issue, which amounted to a mistake in not declaring an interest, and the committee was advised that no action needed to be taken.

Cllr Nick Psirides (Norton) leader of the Independent group on the council commented: "This committee is one of the most undemocratic on the council. In spite of external representation the committee is heavily skewed toward the ruling Conservatives. Regrettably the Independents and Labour are not represented on it."