A top level probe has been launched into the actions of a leading Bradford councillor.

Councillor Susanne Rooney is under investigation for failing to declare she had an interest in a decision being made by Council colleagues.

The Eccleshill councillor - Executive member for Education and Life-long Learning - lobbied for cuts in traffic on a busy Bradford road - while failing to inform colleagues she owned a house there.

Her colleagues on Bradford North Area panel agreed to £15,000 being given towards traffic-calming measures in the area.

Now Coun Rooney - who owns the end-of-terrace home with her MP husband Terry in Mount Terrace - is at the centre of a Council probe and could have to explain her actions before the new Standards Committee, chaired by the Bishop of Bradford the Right Reverend David Smith.

Coun Rooney is required by the Council's own rules to declare any interest she may have in a matter being discussed and then leave the meeting.

Coun Rooney insists she simply forgot to tell the panel and said: "If I have made a mistake it is an honest one."

But retired accounts clerk Thomas Craig, who has lodged the complaint, says it would have made the street and the surrounding area a "tranquil crescent in Eccleshill, undoubtedly increasing the value of the properties at the same time."

But today Coun Rooney said she was only supporting residents for traffic-calming measures after a child was knocked down.

She said although the panel had agreed funding, no decision had been made about exactly where it would be located.

She insisted there was "no way" house prices - including her own - would have increased in value. She added that she and her husband had never thought of selling the house.

The property was the Rooney's family home until Mr Rooney was elected MP in 1990 - they now live in Rooley Lane. Coun Rooney said their Eccleshill house was now used by family friends.

The Council's standing orders say any member with an interest should declare it at the earliest possible time. The rules apply even if the councillor is not a member of the committee making the actual decision. A national Local Government code of conduct for councillors also says interests should be declared.

Now the Council's monitoring officer Gerry Danby is following agreed procedures and carrying out a preliminary inquiry.

He will decide whether it involved a breach of standing orders and the national code of conduct.

The monitoring officer would also consider whether any allegations may involve criminal proceedings.

His report will go to the Standards Committee which could uphold the complaint, dismiss it, censure or advise the member or pass it further.

But Coun Rooney said: "It is declared on the Council's main register of interests and I was appearing with a community group. I was not sitting on the panel.

"I was not aware that if I was not sitting on the panel that I had to declare an interest.

"I was not trying to hide it. If I have made a mistake it is an honest one."

Mr Craig, 75, a retired accounts clerk of Mount Avenue, said the request was for access only and road closures.

He has written to the Council: "It can be seen that the effect of these measures would be to restrict through traffic at Mount Terrace and Norman Terrace, transforming these terraces into a tranquil crescent in the heart of Eccleshill."

Mr Craig said today: "I feel strongly about the fact that her interest was never declared.

"Leader of the Council's Liberal Democrat group Councillor Jeanette Sunderland has written to Mr Danby, saying she finds the matter disturbing and wants a formal investigation through the Standards Committee.

She said today: "I believe Coun Rooney and her husband may benefit from the change from a busy rat-run to a tranquil crescent if they choose to sell their property."

Mr Danby said: "We have received a complaint about a councillor which will be dealt with in accordance with the members complaints procedure which was approved in February."

A spokesman from the Department of Environment and Transport in the Regions said it would be up to the Council to deal with the matter if it found a member had broken its standing orders or code of conduct.

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