LEADER of Dorset County Council Spencer Flower has been charged with failing to declare an interest in planning policy.

The CPS has authorised Dorset Police to institute proceedings against Cllr Flower under Section 31 and 34 of the Localism Act 2011.

This Act imposes a duty on members of a local authority to disclose certain pecuniary interests on taking office and to refrain from participating in council business which will affect these interests unless dispensation is given.

Cllr Flower, 72 of Verwood, has been charged with three offences- it is alleged he failed to declare an interest in Zebra Property Solutions LTD (ZPSL), a company for which he was a non-executive director whilst leader of the council.

It is also alleged that he failed to declare his interest in the same company to Dorset County Council.

It is also alleged that he failed to disclose his interest in Synergy Housing Ltd (SHL), a company, in which he was also a non-executive director, before a meeting of Dorset County Council on February 25, 2013 at which its Core Strategy for the provision of social housing was discussed. It is alleged that Cllr Flower participated and voted during this meeting.

When contacted by the Dorset Echo on Monday night, Cllr Flower said he would speak about his position as county council leader and his intentions on Tuesday morning.

Cllr Flower led East Dorset District Council from 2008-13 (he remains on EDDC) and has been leader of Dorset County Council since May 2013 Calls have been made for Cllr Flower to ‘consider’ his position as leader pending the outcome of legal proceedings.

Labour councillor Mike Byatt, who represents Weymouth on Dorset County Council, said: “This is a serious situation.

There is a need for a proper legal procedure but I think Spencer Flower will want to reflect on his current position as leader of the council whilst this is ongoing.”

Leader of the Lib Dem group Janet Dover said: “He should consider his position whilst the legal proceedings are ongoing.

“The reputation of the county council should be preserved at all times and I would like him to consider what the best way forward would be to preserve that reputation whilst these proceedings are ongoing.”

A spokesman for Dorset County Council said: "We have only just been informed about these charges, and there will be a meeting today (18) to discuss the implications, if any, for the county council."

Cllr Flower will appear at Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court on December 2.

A police statement released this evening says: "The Crown Prosecution Service in Wessex has authorised Dorset Police to institute proceedings against Dorset County Council Leader, Spencer Flower, 72 of Verwood, with three offences under section 31 and 34 of the Localism Act 2011.

"This Act imposes a duty on members of a local authority to disclose certain pecuniary interests on taking office and to refrain from participating in council business which will affect these interests unless dispensation is given. These offences relate to Councillor Flower’s involvement with the East Dorset District Council and the Dorset County Council."

John Locke, Senior Crown Prosecutor for the CPS Wessex Complex Casework Unit said: "I have authorised Dorset Police to institute proceedings against Councillor Spencer Flower for three offences under sections 31 and 34 of the Localism Act 2011, which imposes a duty on members of a local authority to disclose certain pecuniary interests on taking office and to refrain from participating in council business which will affect these interests unless dispensation is given.

“It is alleged that whilst Cllr Flower was leader of East Dorset District Council he failed to declare his interest in Zebra Property Solutions LTD (ZPSL), a company for which he was a Non-Executive Director. It is also alleged that he failed to declare his interest in the same company to Dorset County Council.

“The third allegation relates to Cllr Flower failing to disclose his interest in Synergy Housing Ltd (SHL), a company, in which he was also a Non-Executive Director, before a meeting of Dorset County Council on 25 February 2013 at which its Core Strategy for the provision of social housing was discussed. It is alleged that Cllr Flower participated and voted during this meeting.

“I carefully reviewed all the evidence provided to me by Dorset Police and was satisfied that there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and that it is in the public interest to prosecute Cllr Flower for these three offences.

“Cllr Flower has been asked to attend Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court on 2 December 2014.

“Proceedings are now ongoing and the defendant has the right to a fair trial. It is very important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”