A councillor has been cleared of influencing plans for a controversial children's home in East Morton, near Keighley.

But planning officers have been rapped for breaking City Hall's code of conduct.

Councillor Chris Greaves, chairman of Keighley area panel, was accused of helping to draw up the plans for the eight-bedroom home at Carr Bank.

The area panel meeting was adjourned on Thursday, October 30, after claims by Councillor Malcolm Slater that the preparation of a report was flawed because it involved the chairman meeting with the applicant and his agent on August 22, without a planning officer present and before a decision was made.

A special report by Bradford Council's legal team scrutinising the accusation has been submitted to the area panel, which meets next Thursday.

It says Coun Greaves's actions were not in breach of the code of conduct, but he should have been advised by a planning officer and a note kept of the discussion and then circulated.

"These procedural matters were not dealt with in accordance with the code," it says.

"However, the non-attendance of a planning officer and the failure to keep a note have not resulted in a situation where the chair or any other member of the panel could be said to have predetermined a decision on whether permission should or should not be granted," the report concludes.

Councillor Greaves said: "I was always convinced I had done nothing wrong and I'm delighted that view has been upheld."

He said the meeting with the agent had been to enforce how important the design of the building must be in relation to the environment.

Officers are recommending that the home, which has sparked fierce opposition from villagers, is given the go-ahead.

Residents claim the location is unsuitable because of its isolation, its nearness to the Leeds-Liverpool canal and a lack of public transport. The home will cater for eight children.