A Bradford councillor has been cleared of failing to disclose a "personal interest" in a Heaton planning application.

Resident Bruce Barnes lodged an

official complaint with the Standards Board of England which questioned Councillor Sajawal Hussain's alleged involvement with a Wilmer Road planning application.

The planning application, for a large family home, was subsequently passed on May 5 this year.

Mr Barnes said: "It was alleged that Coun Hussain failed to disclose a personal and prejudicial interest in the planning application at planning meetings on February 12 and May 20, 2004, and failed to withdraw from the meetings.

"It was alleged that the planning applicant was a member of the management committee of a religious association for which Coun Hussain worked."

However, Coun Hussain said he did not know the identity of the applicant when he attended the two meetings. He added he had voted on the planning officer's recommendations at the second meeting.

Coun Hussain, a Labour member for the Bradford City ward, said: "I have been a councillor for ten years and I am fully acquainted with the Code of Conduct and knew that I had done nothing wrong.

"I am glad the Standards Board for England came to the correct decision."

A spokesman for the Standards Board for England, said: "The ethical standards officer considered that Coun Hussain had no contact with the applicant through work and that the applicant had never been involved with the day centre where Coun Hussain worked.

"The ethical standards officer noted that Coun Hussain and the applicant had occasional contact at community events but did not consider that this amounted to a friendship.

"The ethical standards officer concluded Coun Hussain did not have a personal or prejudicial interest in the application and had not failed to comply with the Code of Conduct."