DORSET County Council leader Cllr Spencer Flower will address a private meeting of Conservative councillors tomorrow amid growing pressure for him to resign.

A special council meeting has been called at County Hall next Wednesday to discuss the leadership.

It follows Cllr Flower being charged by police with criminal offences last week over three alleged offences of failing to declare property planning inter-ests in East Dorset.

The Crown Prosecution Service authorised detectives to charge him last Monday.

Cllr Flower ‘stood aside’ the following day but remains as leader with his deputy, Cllr Robert Gould ‘fulfilling his duties’.

But an increasing number of county councillors are saying the unresolved leadership issue is causing ongoing damage to both Dorset County Council and the Conservative party.

One Tory councillor said: “We need a clean break on this and a new leader. This will also free up Spencer to focus solely on fighting his case.

“There is no doubt that the longer this leadership issue goes on, the more damage it will do. We have already been damaged.”

Several councillors say they are concerned about the effect this issue may have on crucial borough and district council elections in May, which are held on the same day as the general election.

A statement from the DCC said Cllr Flower, who will attend magistrates court on Tuesday for a preliminary hearing, has indicated he will not be able to fulfil his duties as leader until the outcome of his court case.

Next Wednesday’s meeting will consider whether to remove Cllr Flower and appoint a new leader, or whether to appoint an acting leader.

An acting leader would be in place until Cllr Flower was able to resume his duties, or until the authority’s annual meeting on April 23 next year.

Cllr Deborah Croney, leader of North Dorset District Council and also a county councillor, said: “Whatever happens next week, the most important thing is the reputation of Dorset County Council.

“We’re getting some clear messages and advice from the chairman, from the constitution and from the officers ahead of next week and we have our own group meeting on Saturday.”