CHRIS Balch has two big jobs on his hands - and he is a man under no illusions his dual role may throw up some "conflict of interest" accusations.

Yet the 55-year-old is a man with a clear conscience and big ambition.

He is a managing director of DTZ UK & Ireland - an international property firm with 2,200 employees, a turnover of £200million and offices across 45 countries which sell and let residential and commercial property and advise on regeneration.

Last November, he also became the independent chairman of Basildon Renaissance Partnership - the regeneration arm of Basildon Council.

DTZ has been given a £100,000 budget from the council to secure a developer for the £150million Wickford masterplan and is heavily involved in other major regeneration across the district.

Mr Balch half expected when he was asked to take on the role by the partnership there would be "conflicts of interest" accusations .

He said: "When I took it on I had no direct involvement at DTZ in connection with the work being done for Basildon council by the company.

"I said I was happy provided there was a clear understanding these questions could arise."

Questions have been raised since the latest contract was awarded.

The firm also received a slice of a £617,000 Gov- ernment grant in February to help secure a development consortium for the £900million Basildon masterplan.

Nigel Smith, Basildon Labour group leader, said: ""If a contract has been awarded to a company whose director is involved in the board of Basildon Renaissance, this raises questions."

Alan Ball, chairman of Wickford Action Group, said: "Our fear is too much power and influence over the future of the district is being given to private firms like DTZ.

"We will be asking questions as to the ethics of this and other contracts being awarded.

"We are now seeing DTZ signs going up in Wickford. They are advertising to let the former Woolwich Building Society office in the Willows Shopping Centre."

Mr Balch said he understood concerns and had expected the issue to arise sooner or later. However the terms of appointment made him completely independent.

He said: "As part of my appointment terms, to avoid any suggest of conflict of interests, it was made very clear I would take no part in any procurement of consultants or any discussions about procurement.

"If these issues arise then I leave the talks.

"I receive no papers about procurement."

The firm has been working for the council since 2003, before Mr Balch was appointed.

It was given a slice of a £400,000 budget in 2003 to help devise the masterplan for Basildon Town Centre. In 2005 they were given a budget of £75,000 to develop a similar vision for Wickford.

He said the one-day-a-month role, which pays a salary to DTZ rather than himself, was to champion regeneration in Basildon, bring people together and help provide a vision for the district.

He added: "DTZ is not the only consultants being used.

"GVA Grimley is doing the Pitsea masterplan and there are around four others.

"It is also the council, or other partners that employ these consultants rather than the partnership."

Adam Keating, partnership spokesman, added: "The role is to act as a champion for the area and a coordinating force for the partnership.

"Under Mr Balch's terms of engagement, there is a conflict of interest clause, including declaring to the board any potential conflicts at the start of each meeting.

"This has been adhered to at all times."

Mr Balch has been with DTZ for 28 years and became director of DTZ UK & Ireland in May, after 18 months as boss of DTZ Research and Consultancy, which is employed by the council.