THE leader of Burnley council has ordered an inquiry into claims that some councillors misused their power by trying to influence allocation of local authority homes.

The claims arose when a council employee was disciplined over allegations that she helped a relative to bypass the waiting list for a council house.

A council spokesman said: "Several weeks ago an employee in the council's housing management service was dismissed. This followed allegations that the policy for allocating council houses had not been followed.

"After an internal appeal, heard by the appeals committee last week, the employee concerned has been reinstated. However, she has also been demoted to a more junior post and has had salary deducted by way of punishment for misconduct.

Council leader Kath Reade said yesterday (Wednesday): "After consultation with officers of the Labour group, I have asked the chief executive as the council's monitoring officer to carry out a full and urgent inquiry into all the issues surrounding this case and in particular the involvement of members and officers in housing allocations.

"He will present a report to the council as soon as possible. It is essential that the integrity of the council's housing allocations policy is upheld."

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