A RENEGADE Preston councillor is set to stand down from all committees, in a move designed to pre-empt an impending censure vote against him.

Mick Moulding, ward representative for Moor Park, goes before the town's Standards Committee shortly, accused of leaking confidential reports to the local media.

If found guilty, councillor Moulding could be forced off all committees -- the maximum penalty that can be handed out.

Yet Moulding's resignation from all committees -- and as housing spokesperson for Preston's Liberal Democrat group -- is seen by insiders as a deliberate 'jump before pushed' ploy. Currently, councillor Moulding has positions on the council's policy and resources committee, housing committee, audit and performance committee, Preston works board and the council's planning committee.

In a letter to his party leader, councillor Moulding said the reason he was resigning was an increased devotion to his full-time job and spending time campaigning for a directly-elected mayor.

He said: "From October, I am resigning my positions on all committees to concentrate on my full-time career within the Inland Revenue.

"Since 1998, my employer has allowed me time to represent my constituents, and I am extremely grateful to them. I am taking the temporary restructuring opportunity at the council to focus my energies to my work."

He added: "In no way am I going away -- in fact, I'll probably be a greater critic from the 'backbenches', and as I will no longer be in committees, my opponents will not know what I am up to!"

Liberal Democrat leader, Bill Chadwick, said: "I think the political decisions Michael has to take this summer must be to obey the Liberal Democrat's clear instruction to co-operate with the serious allegations about him in front of the standards committee, and to avoid bringing the party in to disrepute with maverick campaigns for a directly-elected mayor -- which the Liberal Democrat group does not support."