The chairman of one of Leicester City Council's most influential committees has said he will not claim his £700 allowance entitlement when he steps down during the general election campaign.

Councillor Ross Grant is leader of the Conservatives on the council and Tory candidate for Leicester South at the upcoming election.

He is also chair of the scrutiny and overview management board, a cross-party panel which holds cabinet decisions to account.

He is paid £7,761 for the role, as well as £9,829 as a councillor and £3,073 as leader of the Conservatives.

He has now pledged that, once an election is called, he will pass his responsibilities as chairman to his vice-chairman and give up his payments for the role. In modern times the period between Parliament being dissolved and the election date is typically between four and six weeks.

Coun Grant said: "The rules say I could quite easily carry on as chair still claiming the allowance; (standing down) isn't required by the constitution or members' code.

"However, I'm more interested in what a reasonable member of the public would expect of me.

"Most people would think it fair for me to step back from chairing this important committee, so that's what I plan to do as soon as an election is called. I'm looking into whether I can give my allowance to charity or just ask for it not to be paid."

Last week, Coun Ross Willmott said he would not step down from his post as leader of the Labour council while he fights the North West Leicestershire parliamentary seat.

Coun Grant said it would still be fair for him to claim allowances as councillor and leader of the opposition because these would not affected by his election campaign.

He said: "I'm a parliamentary candidate in the city in which I am a councillor, so I can still carry out my role as councillor.

"My role as leader of the Conservatives is political, so I don't feel there is any contradiction."

Coun Willmott hopes to win the marginal North West Leicestershire seat. He said he would delegate his responsibilities for the six weeks up to election day, but claim his allowance for being leader of the council during that time.

He is entitled to claim up to £46,046 a year on top of the basic councillor allowance.

Cabinet member for adults Coun Rory Palmer is Labour candidate for Hinckley and Bosworth. He said he would also hold down his £14,693 role during the election campaign.

Coun Manish Sood is standing as Labour candidate in North East Norfolk and will continue his councillor's duties.

Liberal Democrat leader Coun Peter Coley and colleague Coun Parmjit Singh Gill are both standing in the General Election and plan to continue serving as councillors, while claiming the associated allowances.

Coun Coley, who is entitled to £2,571 as leader of the Liberal Democrats on top of his basic allowance, said: "The role of councillor has been judged by several independent panels over the years to be a part-time one which is reflected in the level of payment."

Coun Gill, who receives only the basic allowance, said: "As I am not currently engaged in any other work, I dedicate all my time to my councillor and prospective parliamentary candidate activities."