A DUP councillor under investigation for alleged conflicts of interest in a council's decision-making processes has been appointed chair of its committee on governance.
Linda Clarke is being probed by a standards watchdog over her role in planning and public funding decisions at Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.
An investigation was launched in 2019 after it emerged Mrs Clarke did not declare an interest on planning applications lobbied on by her husband, DUP MLA Trevor Clarke.
Read more: DUP councillor suspended from planning committee over applications lobbied on by MLA
A further complaint was made after it was revealed Mrs Clarke was involved in awarding more than £4,500 in council contracts to her son's printing firm.
Mrs Clarke is employed as an administrator in her husband's South Antrim constituency office.
Last week another DUP councillor who works in Mr Clarke's office was suspended from the planning committee for failing to declare interests on applications the MLA was lobbying on.
John Smyth breached the code of conduct by not declaring an interest or leaving the meeting when Mr Clarke made representations, the watchdog found.
The case related to a meeting in 2019 when Mr Clarke spoke on three applications, including one he was representing as the agent through a controversial consultancy business.
Mr Clarke denied his venture Versatile Consultancy breached Stormont rules prohibiting paid advocacy, but he later ceased its operations following criticism.
Following last month's local government elections, Mrs Clarke was appointed as chair of the council's policy and governance committee after being nominated by her party.
The chair is entitled to an additional wage of £6,240 on top of their basic annual councillor pay of £16,394, according to the council's scheme of allowances.
Green Party councillor Rachel Woods expressed concern about Mrs Clarke's appointment while investigations are ongoing.
She said: "I personally do not think that anyone under investigation should be appointed to elevated positions and that this only furthers mistrust and lack of confidence in parties and council systems."
The former North Down MLA said Antrim and Newtownabbey council should "review its procedures and guidance for councillors" in light of the watchdog's findings on Mr Smyth.
She said: "The public already has a negative view of the planning system and matters such as not declaring interests only further this."
TUV said the council should have a "serious rethink" about Mrs Clarke's position on the committee given the ongoing investigations by the standards watchdog.
"In fact, one would hope that Mrs Clarke would recognise herself that remaining in that post while the investigation is live is an untenable position," a party spokesman said.
The DUP did not respond to requests for a comment.
Mr and Mrs Clarke have previously insisted they "made all the relevant declarations and adhered to all rules".
A council spokeswoman said: "The council provides comprehensive training to all planning committee members which includes; planning matters, declaration of interests and standing orders.
"The planning committee is also reminded at the start of each meeting regarding declaration of interests.
"The council has no further comments to make on this matter."
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