A forum for councillors, social landlords and private developers is set to be created by Clackmannanshire Council.

It comes after councillor Les Sharp stepped down from his role as council representative on the management committee of Ochil View Housing Association.

The SNP councillor, who was appointed to the committee in June 2012, said he was finding it difficult to do the job due to potential conflicts of interest arising from him being the council’s housing convenor.

It also came in the wake of a presentation to councillors by the Standards Commission for Scotland which highlighted that the highest cause of referrals to the standards watchdog was down to the issue of conflicts of interest.

In response, council leader Gary Womersley announced the creation of a new housing forum at Thursday’s full council meeting.

He said, “We do not wish the council to have a representative on the management committee. We will have an equivalent forum that will add value and more engagement.” But Labour group leader, Bobby McGill, said it was part of the council’s duty to be on the management committee and that it had never been problematic in the past. He said, “The main reason we should be on Ochil View Housing Association is we should be representing our constituents on this body.” The local authority previously partnered with Ochil View on housing developments but the Alloa-based landlord has since ceased new building works after cuts to government funding. Earlier this year the council sought a new social landlord to deliver its housing programme.

The decision to leave the Ochil View post vacant was passed by the SNP administration with the Labour group voting against.