The leader of Dorset County Council, Cllr Spencer Flower, will stand aside until the legal case against him has been concluded.

Cllr Robert Gould, deputy leader of Dorset County Council, will fulfill his role until then.

The Conservative leader of Dorset County Council was last night charged by police with three offences of failing to declare an interest in a property company.

The Crown Prosecution Service yesterday authorised Dorset Police to instigate proceedings against Cllr Spencer Flower, 72, of Verwood, with three offences under section 31 and 34 of the Localism Act 2011.

He will appear before Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court on December 2.

The charge comes after a lengthy investigation into Cllr Flower’s involvement with a company called Zebra Property Solutions while he was part of the decision making process on drawing up the Core Strategy at East Dorset District Council.

He was leader at EDDC between 2008-2013 before becoming Tory leader at Dorset in 2013.

The prosecution is the first of its kind under the Localism Act.

His decision to step aside came after meetings with key figures at County Hall on Tuesday morning.

A number of councillors from all parties urged him to consider his position on Monday night.

Today the chairman of Dorset County Council, Cllr John Wilson said: “I saddened by the news that Spencer Flower has been charged. I know this has been investigated for some time and I was hoping there would be no case to answer.”

Cllr Wilson said it would be inappropriate to comment further as he was chairman of the county’s standards and governance committee which might have to look at the issue at some stage.

He said: “Cllr Flower’s position as leader is something you would need to speak to him about. But I agree the reputation of Dorset County Council is the most important thing.”

Cllr Flower is married to Cllr Toni Coombs, who is Dorset County Council’s cabinet member for education and communications.

Both are current members of East Dorset District Council. It is unclear as to whether Cllr Coombs' position will be affected by her husband’s decision to step aside.

More reaction to follow.