THE wife of a well-known Worcestershire councillor has had to reject claims of a 'conflict of interest' in a County Hall squabble.

Councillor John Smith is a long-serving member of Worcestershire County Council's Conservative leadership, where he is responsible for health and well-being.

But his wife Frances Smith, who is an elected district councillor in Wychavon, is vice-chair of a powerful watchdog-style panel which is designed to hold him to account.

County Hall's health overview and scrutiny committee probes issues like obesity, smoking prevention, hospital services and council spending on health-related matters.

A dispute about the arrangement has been going on for several weeks inside the council, with its legal chief having to step in and rule that the appointment should stand.

Several members of the opposition Labour group have tried to get the appointment scrapped, saying it could throw up problems.

It was ratified last week by the full council.

Councillor Frances Smith has responded by calling the debate "sad", and has told the Worcester News she would not allow her personal life to intervene with her position.

She has been doing the role for several months anyway but it was only in May that Councillor John Smith was given responsibility for health in a Tory leadership reshuffle.

Labour Councillor Graham Vickery, the group's health spokesman, said: "This is not personal - John Smith is someone I have much regard for, but there is a principle here which needs consideration.

"Councillor (Frances) Smith has been vice-chair of that committee for 12 months but it's only recently that her husband took over the role of responsibility for public health."

He added: "This is clearly an issue of transparency and a conflict of interest."

Her nomination came from district council representatives who sit on the committee, and it has been agreed at County Hall after the authority's legal chief Simon Mallinson got involved.

Mr Mallinson said Mrs Smith will "not be able to participate in matters relating to Mr Smith" if the committee decided to probe them in the future.

He has also admitted it could throw up a potential "conflict of interest" if that were not the case.

Conservative Councillor Alan Amos, who chairs the committee, said: "I can only say it's rather disappointing this has been turned into an attack on Mrs Smith.

"My knowledge of Mrs Smith is that she will not be told what to do, think or say by Mr Smith."

Today, Councillor Frances Smith said: "I can understand where they have been coming from but as I made plain at the start, it was a district council decision.

"But it's a bit sad the way they went about it (Labour politicians).

"I've always been open and honest, as has John, that's the best way to do things."

Councillor Frances Smith is the current chair at Wychavon District Council.