THE stark financial choices and decisions facing Bradford Council have been outlined to people in central Keighley.

They attended a public consultation in Central Hall led by district council leader cllr David Green last week.

The initiative was one of several that have been staged across Keighley and Bradford districts to gather people’s views on how council services should be delivered.

Speaking at the consultation in Keighley, cllr David Green warned: "We're only halfway through the programme of austerity. As a council we have a budget of £420 million which we have control over. By 2021 that will be down to £290 million – that's the challenge we face while demand for services is growing.

"We've already made £160 million worth of cuts since 2011. The vast majority of those cuts were made in management, back-office staff and through more efficient procurement.

"The council remains committed to providing the best possible service we can in light of the financial pressures we face.

"But we can't afford business as usual and we can't make the district better on our own."

He emphasised that he and his colleagues were open to fresh ideas from people outside the district council with recommendations on how public services can continue to be delivered effectively.

He said: "In Keighley district and also in Shipley there is a greater prevalence of parish and town councils.

"These structures could help us with the local delivery of certain non-core services. It's easier in Keighley and Shipley where these organisations already exist than in other places where we would need to start from scratch."