CALLS are being made for the Mayor of Worcester to resign from a key council position in a spat with the Conservatives.

The Tories want Councillor Pat Agar, who was handed the historic chains in May, to quit as deputy chairman of Worcester’s planning committee.

They also want the city’s deputy mayor, Coun Paul Denham, to be removed as chairman of the licensing committee, a vital body which rules over taxis, pubs, clubs and restaurants.

The Conservative group say the mayoral roles are non-political - and therefore neither of them should be allowed major roles of influence.

But the duo, both of whom belong to the Labour Party, have hit back by saying the Tories are trying “to create a constitutional crisis”.

A full council meeting is taking place on Tuesday, where a motion will have to be voted on calling on both to be axed.

It follows May’s shock Labour coup, which led to the party taking control of the authority for the first time since 2000.

Coun Agar said: “Considering the planning committee role is a non-political one anyway, I’m a bit startled by this.

“It’s surprising - these ‘regulatory’ committee roles are not about politics.”

Coun Denham, who also become deputy Mayor of Worcester last month, said he would not be forced out either.

“We had legal advice before the last full council meeting and were told there’s no hard and fast rule over this,” he said.

“They did say they’d prefer it if the Mayor did not chair a committee, so if I become Mayor next year I would not be in charge of licensing anyway.

“Both of these committees are ‘quasi-judicial’, meaning no party politics is involved at all, and I’d certainly never abuse it in a political way.”

The motion has been put together by Councillor Marc Bayliss, the Tory group’s deputy leader, who says both of them should “do the right thing”.

He said the legal advice did make it “pretty clear” it was inadvisable to take on key committee roles whilst being civic leaders.

“It’s nothing personal towards Pat or Paul whatsoever, but there are other councillors who are capable of taking on these roles,” he said.

“The Mayor should step back and enjoy a year of civic representation, not have to deal with controversy.

“I wish them well in their civic roles, and they ought to do the right thing and concentrate on that.”

Labour's defence is based on the fact previous Tory councillors have held dual-roles - notably Coun Andy Roberts, who was deputy city mayor and chairman of the licensing committee in 2008/09 before taking over the chains the year after.

But the Tories say the legal advice issued in recent weeks - which was paid for and sought externally - was not sought five years ago.