The lead councillor in charge of planning in Slough left the role just days before allegations of bribery within the council were made public - but he insists the two events aren’t linked.

Police are currently investigating allegations of bribery relating to applications for planning permission at Slough Borough Council.

The council received a complaint from three property developers and forwarded it to police on April 2. No individual was named in the complaint.

The investigation was then reported by the Evening Standard newspaper on Monday, April 29 – just days after councillor Iftakhar Ahmed left the council’s cabinet.

READ MORE: Police investigating bribery claims at Slough Borough Council

But councillor Ahmed has told the Observer he resigned from the cabinet after rejecting a change of roles, and that he had no knowledge of the complaint.

He said: “I resigned from my cabinet position as I declined the leader’s portfolio changes. I didn’t agree with the direction of travel the local authority was taking.

“There is no connection; however, the perception that there might be a connection has been created by the leader due to his cabinet reshuffle, which tends to take place just before the AGM every year.”

Councillor Ahmed said Slough Council leader Dexter Smith had told him of the alleged bribery complaint – but that he had not been informed of the details.

He said: “The letters were never furnished, nor were the contents discussed in detail. I am unaware of which property developers have complained and in relation to what application, as no information has been provided to me.

“I would have hoped such a serious allegation should have been shared with me as it was in relation to a department that I had oversight for; however, it was not.”

Councillor Ahmed added that he is ‘happy to assist and help with the police investigation so these allegations can be put to bed'.

He said: “I welcome any investigation to be held by the police on these baseless allegations.”

As a member of the council’s cabinet, councillor Ahmed was responsible for community cohesion, public health, public protection, leisure and planning.

But an email dated April 16 and seen by the Observer suggests councillor Smith wanted to reduce those responsibilities to encompass culture, community cohesion, leisure and sport only.

In the email, councillor Smith said he wanted councilor Ahmed to 'concentrate your efforts' on improving leisure services.

Councillor Ahmed declined the offer, telling councillor Smith: “I can no longer support your vision and agenda because the council has failed under your watch.”

Councillor Ahmed would not comment further on why councillor Smith wanted to reduce his roles, adding that he will soon issue a ‘detailed statement'.

The Observer understands that Slough Borough councillors were informed that changes to the top team by email shortly before a full meeting on Thursday, April 25.

But the change was not formally announced at that meeting – and only discussed after questions from opposition Labour councillors. It is the latest of several changes to the council’s cabinet since the Conservatives took charge in May last year.

Councillor Smith told the meeting the changes had been made to make the cabinet ‘look more representative’ of the community. Labour leader Pavitar Kaur Mann said the changes were ‘absolutely chaotic'.

The Observer has contacted councillor Smith for comment.