KEIGHLEY town councillors hit out against what they said was a lack of attendance by district councillors at full meetings of the town council.

They made their feelings known to this year's Lord Mayor Keighley Central ward councillor Abid Hussain and to Worth Valley ward councillor Russell Brown, who were both at the latest Keighley Town Council meeting yesterday evening. (July 27)

Cllr Julie Adams said: "I've been a councillor for 18 months and this is the first time I've seen a district councillor here, which is quite sad really.

"If these people were to attend, then we would have a better understanding of Bradford, but unfortunately at the moment it seems to be a bit of a 'them and us' situation.

"We need to be seen to be working together."

Cllr John Kirby also said that attempts at co-operation between the town council and Bradford Council were being undermined by the lack of a district councillor presence at the town council's meetings.

"How can we work together if they're not here?" he asked.

He noted that Cllr Brown sits on Bradford Council's Keighley Area Committee but was the first Worth Valley councillor from this body to come to a full town council meeting.

Cllr Hussain responded: "My motivation as lord mayor is to build bridges between different communities and faiths, and yes, Keighley's nine district councillors should be working with the 30 Keighley town councillors."

Cllr Brown responded that he would be happy to talk to his fellow district councillors and suggest they come to a town council meeting, but said they do already have a busy schedule of civic duties.

Cllr Kaneez Akthar pointed to Bradford Council's difficult financial situation, highlighting that this means the town council is now receiving more applications for funding from Keighley organisations.

She said it made sense in these circumstances for Bradford Council to know what kind of assistance the town council is able to offer.

Cllr Anayat Mohammad said that in a year when both Bradford's Lord Mayor and Deputy Mayor – Keighley East ward Cllr Doreen Lee – are from Keighley, the town has a real opportunity to have its profile in the district raised.

Cllr Brown said: "I agree that we need to blow our own trumpet more and I do as much as I can to promote the town.

"There are some amazing things going on in Keighley that nobody knows about.

"I hope we can get Keighley moving forward and recognised as a district that's doing great things.

"And with Bradford Council's budget issues we need to have a strong business base here, or things could get much worse than they are now."

Keighley town mayor Cllr Mohammed Nazam thanked the two ward councillors for attending last night's meeting, saying: "It's a step in the right direction."