A CHARITY chief has quit one of the main positions on Bromley Council saying he wants to avoid a conflict of interest.

Cllr Colin Bloom, who tried and failed to be selected as the Conservative parliamentary candidate in this year's Bromley and Chislehurst by-election, said his job as chief executive of the Christian charity Mission Care had compromised his position as the council’s cabinet member for the local economy.

The charity currently runs six care homes for the elderly in Bromley and south east London.

Cllr Bloom said Mission Care’s potential interest in acquiring premises in Bromley town centre under the council’s major regeneration plan for the area had created a risk of perceived conflict of interest.

He had already been criticised by some opponents over his charity’s contract to provide part of the borough’s intermediate care for hospital leavers.

"I am not willing to jeopardise all the work which has been put in to the action plan to date," he said, "so I am stepping aside to allow the project to progress."

His decision could spark a full cabinet reshuffle by council leader, Cllr Stephen Carr.

FULL STORY IN NEXT WEEK'S BROMLEY EXTRA