WYRE'S council leader has quit his post after being banned from the council for six months.

Council leader, Cllr Alan Vincent was told he could have faced disqualification from the council but for a 'lack of clarity' over his right to take part in meetings in his private capacity, rather than as a councillor.

Today (Thursday) he announced he would stand down from the position of leader.

The Adjudication Panel for England ruled last week that Cllr Vincent had 'failed to withdraw from a meeting at which he had a prejudicial interest' and 'brought his office or authority into disrepute' after acting as solicitor for a man applying for a taxi driver's licence before the council's own licensing committee. The most serious charge faced by Cllr Vincent, that he 'sought improperly to influence a decision about a matter in which he held a prejudicial interest,' was rejected by the tribunal.

He also 'failed to disclose a personal interest at a council meeting,' although this was only a 'technical' breach of the rules, the tribunal found. The controversy arose when, in January 2003, Cllr Vincent represented the son of a long-standing client who was applying for a taxi licence.

The tribunal heard that the applicant, known to the tribunal only as Mr M, wanted to help his father, also a taxi driver, by taking over some contracts while he underwent chemotherapy for cancer. His application was rejected, despite Cllr Vincent's representations on his behalf.

The chairman of the tribunal, Simon Bird, criticised a lack of training for Wyre councillors in the code of conduct at the time of the incident and acknowledged that, at that point, it was unclear if councillors could appear in a 'personal capacity' even when they had an interest in the matter before a committee. A House of Lords ruling last year clarified that he could not. The tribunal also acknowledged the fact the Cllr Vincent was unlikely to breach the code again and the circumstances surrounding his decision to act for Mr M.

In a statement released after the meeting, Cllr Vincent said: "I became a councillor and solicitor because I wanted to help people and that, and that alone, was my motivation in helping a young man in distress.

"I had intended to give this help free of charge but he insisted on my charging him, so a nominal account was sent and paid by him. If any councillor felt intimidated or pressured by my appearance that night it did not manifest itself in the decision of the committee, but I apologise for it in any event.

"I now want to put this unfortunate episode behind me and continue to work for the benefit of the resident of Wyre to make it a better place for them to live, work and play in."

Cllr Vincent has a right of appeal to the High Court, but will otherwise be banned from taking part in any council business until April 14 2005.