THE Mayor of Worcester had to use her own vote to keep a key council role after a bid to oust her.

An attempt to force Councillor Pat Agar failed after she voted for herself to remain as deputy chairman of the city’s planning committee after the entire 17-strong Conservative group called for her to quit.

The Tories also wanted the city’s deputy mayor, Coun Paul Denham, to quit as head of the licensing committee, but that was also defeated.

During fierce clashes at the Guildhall, the Conservatives said they wanted to “protect the mayoralty from political controversies” by finding replacements.

Back in April, the city council sought legal advice which suggested politicians who take on the ceremonial roles could find it difficult to chair key council committees at the same time.

During a full council meeting on Tuesday, Tory group deputy leader Coun Marc Bayliss said: “The message from that advice is clear – while not illegal, it is clearly not advisable.”

Labour, which had 14 councillors present, had to rely on support from the two Liberal Democrats and Green politician Neil Laurenson to tie the ballot at 17-17, forcing the mayor’s casting vote. Coun Lucy Hodgson, a Conservative, said: “We’ve had all the scandals with MPs and on the doorsteps you hear people say, ‘You’re all as bad as the rest of them’.

“This is about the public perception.”

Labour rejected the attacks, pointing out the Tories have previously had their own party members take on mayoralty positions while sitting on key committees.

Back in 2002/3, Coun Robert Rowden was leader and deputy mayor, while in 2008/9, fellow Tory Coun Andy Roberts was chairman of licensing and deputy mayor too.

Coun Adrian Gregson, city council leader, said: “The council made its decision last month and it would be much more incumbent on us to get on with developing services for the city, rather than look backwards.”

He said there were no “hard and fast rules” over the choice of mayor or their deputy.