THE leader of Worcester City Council says he is prepared to "reconsider" a series of appointments to a big charity after receiving criticism.

Labour Cllr Adrian Gregson has come under fire after being accused of sidelining the Conservative Party in the running of a charity with a £1.1 million yearly budget.

As we first reported in October, four trustee vacancies at Worcester Municipal Charities, which helps the needy, have been filled by present or past Labour politicians.

The trustees are normally split on political grounds, but Cllr Gregson decided to break with tradition and snub the rival party.

He was grilled on it during a scrutiny committee meeting, with disgruntled Tories calling it "extraordinary".

Cllr Marc Bayliss, the committee chair, said: "This is a charity which gives away over £1 million a year, it dwarfs the other charities in the city.

"This council has a long-standing tradition of having a 'three and three' split (of council trustees from either Tory or Labour), and four came up for nomination here.

"By having all four as Labour nominees you've made a decision I don't understand."

Cllr Gregson re-appointed current Labour councillors Paul Denham and Geoff Williams as trustees, as well as ex-city councillor Rob Peachey, and handed the other vacancy to former Labour politician and businessman Richard Boorn.

He told the committee he selected Mr Boorn based on his extensive CV, whereas no details had been supplied for the Tory candidate other than a name.

CVs are normally never handed across when the council's leader places people on outside bodies, with a whole raft of yearly appointments made without the need to delve into candidates' backgrounds.

Cllr Andy Roberts called it "extraordinary" and asked him how members of the public would view the move, labelling it a "a fiefdom".

Cllr James Stanley, who chairs Worcester's Conservative Association, said: "Given such large sums of money are dished out by this charity, it's bemusing the leader of this council has made such decisions on the scantest of evidence."

He also called it "odd", saying the leader should have made sure he had proper information on all the candidates before selecting them.

Cllr Gregson said:"This is not a political committee, it's an independent charity so therefore these appointments are not political.

"The charity is wholly independent of the council, it began in the 1500s and has since taken in other charities, hence it's name 'Worcester Municipal Charities'.

"It takes six nominees from this council but the reference to 'political nominees' is incorrect, they are independent.

"The appointments are made on the strengths and abilities people bring to the post, I had two names to pick from (for a new appointment) and went for the one I knew best."

He told the committee he had no CV about the Tory hopeful to compare it to Mr Boorn, but said he'd be "prepared to reconsider" if one was sent across.

"If I was given some information on Mr Tidy (Alan Tidy, the Conservative nominee) I'd be prepared to reconsider it, that's not to say I'll change my mind, but I'd reconsider," he said.

The committee voted to accept his stance, and to also amend the rules for charitable appointments so selectors must go on the basis of "mini CVs" if there is competition.

Worcester Municipal Charities has between 17 and 19 trustees, who meet monthly to offer grants to the needy.

Six of the roles are filled by the council.