SPLITS in the ruling Tory group at East Riding Council over the appointment of Paul Robinson as deputy police and crime commissioner are set to come under fresh strain.
Mr Robinson says he wants to stay on as a councillor despite being given the new £45,000-year-old deputy's role by commissioner Matthew Grove.
Councillor Grove intends to resign his seat on East Riding Council in the new year but has backed his new deputy's wish to remain as a backbench councillor.
Some senior Tories at County Hall have called on Councillor Robinson to resign his seat in Howdenshire.
They include group leader Stephen Parnaby and David Rudd, who chairs a new-look panel overseeing the commissioner's work.
Now, the Mail can reveal opposition Labour politicians are considering a full council motion calling for Cllr Robinson to give up his council position.
As well as putting him under further pressure, the move could also force Conservative councillors to vote against one of their own.
That would risk reopening internal party wounds with some Tory councillors believed to be supportive of Cllr Robinson's stance.
However, others regard the commissioner and his deputy as rebels for not following the party whip on a number of votes in recent months.
They are also seen by some senior Tories as the key plotters behind an attempted coup during the selection process to choose candidates ahead of the last East Riding elections.
Councillor Rudd said: "I don't doubt the enthusiasm of both Matthew Grove and Paul Robinson but there is a lack of experience there on policing issues.
"We believe there is also a conflict of interest with his role as a ward councillor and it has been suggested he won't stand down, which we felt was important.
"Matthew Grove tells everybody how much work there is to do and I don't doubt that, which is why we think the deputy can't really be a part-time job.
"The panel was also concerned that he is not from the South Bank."
Cllr Rudd said he was "disappointed" by the commissioner's decision to appoint Cllr Robinson.
"He has not really taken our concerns into consideration.
"They were not just our concerns, they came from members of the public and people high in public life.
Cllr Robinson said: "I have spoken to the council's monitoring officer about holding these two positions and he has told me there isn't a problem.
"I have also written to Stephen Parnaby indicating that I wish to come off the licensing committee and corporate and communities scrutiny because of potential conflicts with my new role."
He said he was also intending to assume a "hands-off" role at his family-run drain-cleaning company.
