EX-MAYOR Peter Swainston has resigned from the shadow board of the company earmarked to take control of Burnley's 5,600 council houses, amid claims of a vendetta against him.

The former councillor's decision to quit came as the powerful policy committee was poised to replace him with a sitting council representative to avoid claims that the town hall had misled tenants in the run up to the £74 million housing transfer.

His continued membership of the board was challenged by Coun Harry Brooks who said that only sitting councillors should take the council's six places on the 18-strong new board - a view endorsed in a report by chief executive Roger Ellis. The chief executive said the council's publicity on the deal had specifically promised that council representatives would, in fact, be councillors.

But before councillors could vote on the issue, council leader Coun Stuart Caddy announced that Coun Swainston, who quit as Mayor of Burnley two years' ago following his conviction for gross indecency with another man in public toilets, had tendered his resignation, despite strong efforts from other members of the shadow board to persuade him not to do so.

Labour finance chairman Peter Kenyon blasted Coun Brooks and said he found it difficult to believe that he had been motivated by principle. "He has a personal vendetta against Peter because of his sexuality," he said.

"I find it extremely regrettable that Coun Brooks is pursuing his vendetta and twisting the knife again into Mr Swainston's tragedy."

Coun Caddy added: "Peter told me that the continued vendetta against him should not be to the detriment of the people of Burnley and had decided to resign." But Independent group leader Coun Brooks denied the charge.

"He has resigned because he would have had to go if he did not."

He said he had never had a vendetta against Mr Swainston, who retired from the council last month, but had attacked him because he committed a criminal act while Mayor of Burnley.

He added that he believed the final outcome of the vote to transfer Burnley's housing stock to the new company could be challenged if Mr Swainston remained on the board.

The policy committee agreed to officially thank Mr Swainston for his contribution to the housing transfer board.

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