WORCESTER'S newly-elected Green Party councillor has denied accusations he is "dodging his responsibilities" after not taking part in a planning meeting.

Councillor Louis Stephen was elected to the Battenhall ward in May's local elections, with the Greens' now holding two of the Guildhall's 35 seats.

It means for the first time ever Worcester Green Party is entitled to a position on the city's planning committee, which meets every three weeks and is tasked with making huge decisions on new developments.

But at the first meeting after the elections, which took place last Thursday, Councillor Stephen did not attend.

He said it was because he had expressed a desire to sit on the licensing committee instead, which oversees matters like the taxi trade, restaurants and pub opening hours.

But the Conservative Party has accused him of trying to avoid sitting on one of the council's most important bodies, sidestepping any controversial decisions.

All the councillors who currently sit on planning were given new 'refresher' training after the elections, a legal requirement to take part in votes.

Councillor Stephen did not attend the training, but it is understood that the council will hold a session with him if he changes his mind.

Tory Councillor Chris Mitchell, the new planning committee chairman, said: "He told the officers he didn't want to do it and didn't turn up at training.

"It's ridiculous, he's just won a seat to represent a ward and with that comes certain duties."

Councillor Marc Bayliss, who leads the Conservative group, added: "They are being paid to do a job and this shows how unprepared they are to be elected.

"It's truly worrying for Worcester - as a councillor you have to make tough decisions."

But Councillor Stephen has rejected any criticism, saying the rival parties are trying to create bad headlines.

"When we had the talks with all the parties (about forming a Rainbow Coalition) before that fell apart I was meant to be on the licensing committee," he said.

"There is consultation over it, you get a choice, all that's happened is that I didn't realise what committee I was due to sit on.

"I don't know what planet they are on, I expressed a preference to be on licensing but the administration just hasn't caught up.

"I haven't got an issue with being on planning, I'm not going to not take up a vote if it's there."

It means one seat on the 13-member planning committee is technically vacant, with the rest split among Conservative and Labour politicians.

A spokesman for the city council said managing director Sheena Ramsey is "looking into the legal ramifications of re-allocating the seat" if need be.

Over the next few months the planning committee is expected to consider several huge proposals, including the football stadium application at Perdiswell and the Worcester Woods shopping park off Newtown Road.