THE leader of Dorset County Council has vowed to clear his name after being charged with three offences of failing to declare an interest in a property company.

Cllr Spencer Flower is to stand aside as leader until the legal case against him has been concluded, and deputy leader Cllr Robert Gould will fulfill his role.

Cllr Flower will formally remain as leader Cllr Gould will take on leadership responsibilities.

The Crown Prosecution Service yesterday authorised Dorset Police to instigate proceedings against Cllr 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.

Cllr Flower said in a statement: "I am naturally very disappointed that after an eight-month investigation the police and the CPS were unable to make the appropriate decision and clear me from any wrongdoing.

"During a very long interview with the police back in August I was offered no material evidence of any wrongdoing on my part. I have always been scrupulous in my compliance with the various versions of the adopted members’ code of conduct since I became a councillor back in May 1999.

"However, I and many others believe that this is a personal attack on my honesty and integrity by a number of UKIP activists and others who think it appropriate to play politics with a high profile public figure."

Cllr Flower said the idea he was guilty of any wrongdoing was 'massively insulting' and 'could not be further from the truth.'

He added: "In this country we are all innocent until proven otherwise. I remain committed to my public service duties and want to put the interests of the people of Dorset first, so that we in Dorset County Council can get on with the difficult job of dealing with service transformation at a time of unprecedented budget reduction. I will of course be vigorous in my pursuit to clear my name fully and recognises I can’t fulfil my duties as leader in the way I wish.

"I have asked Robert Gould to cover my role at the county council over the next few weeks, to ensure the proper management of the county council during this personally difficult time."

Cllr Gould will take up his new duties immediately, and will chair the council’s Cabinet meeting tomorrow, Wednesday.

Cllr Flower, who will not attend the meeting, remains a member of Dorset County Council and continues to act as as a local member representing Verwood and Three Legged Cross.

Cllr Gould said: “I have taken on county council leadership responsibilities for a period of up to six weeks. This arrangement is similar to what would happen in the case of illness or absence, and is in line with our constitutional rules. It will allow us to continue the vital work of the county council, at an extremely important time, with the minimum of disruption.

“The county council requires the highest standards of probity and compliance from its members, and takes such matters extremely seriously. We hope this will be resolved as quickly as possible.”

Cllr Flower 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.

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.