A special meeting of Dorset County Council’s full council has been called next week to decide the immediate future of Conservative leader Cllr Spencer Flower.

The 72-year-old politician of Verwood was charged by police last Monday with three offences of failing to declare an interest in property planning in East Dorset.

He is due to appear before Bournemouth magistrates on Tuesday.

The day after he was charged, he said he would “step aside” from the leadership for an initial six weeks after he was charged with the criminal offences.

But he remains as council leader.

Deputy leader Cllr Robert Gould has been “fulfilling” Cllr Flower’s duties during this six week period, but has not been designated acting leader.

But now all 45 members of the Conservative-controlled council have been summoned to a special meeting on Wednesday at 10am.

A statement from DCC said: “The county council is asked to consider the arrangements for the office of the leader of the council. As the leader has advised that he is unable to fulfil his duties for a period in excess of six weeks, members are asked to consider whether:

• To remove him from office and appoint a new Leader, or

• To appoint a county councillor to act as leader on a temporary basis until the annual meeting of the county council on 23 April 2015, or until such a date as the current leader is able to resume office.”

Councillors were advised on Tuesday morning but it’s not clear who has instigated the meeting.

However the move follows growing disquiet over Cllr Flower’s decision not to relinquish his post while the legal proceedings are ongoing and the fears that damage is being done to the reputation of the county council.

It means that Cllr Flower, who is also an East Dorset District councillor, could be replaced as the leader of Dorset County Council after just 19 months.

The leader of DCC’s Liberal Democrat group Cllr Janet Dover had expressed concerns about how Cllr Flower’s decision to stand aside temporarily but not step down as leader would be perceived by the public.

Cllr Flower’s future was also to be discussed at a meeting of Dorset County Council’s Conservative group on Saturday morning.

Group secretary Cllr David Jones said council members would either vote for a new leader or appoint an acting one.

“On Saturday, Spencer will address our meeting and then leave. He still remains suspended from the group.”

Cllr Jones said he could not comment on what would be discussed about Cllr Flower’s future as group leader.

Cllr Flower’s wife, Cllr Toni Coombs remains on DCC’s cabinet as portfolio holder for both education and communications.

“This whole episode has us done harm,” said one Conservative councillor who did not want to named.