CONSULTATION has begun into a sweeping range of cost-cutting measures planned by cash-strapped Bradford Council.

The local authority needs to make £40 million in savings to help avoid bankruptcy.

Proposals include the closure of Sugden End household waste recycling centre at Cross Roads – plus two others in the Bradford district – a council tax rise, the sale of some public buildings, job losses and a review of leisure and library services.

But at an extraordinary meeting of the council's executive, it was claimed that many parts of the consultation were too vague.

The council says it needs to plug a £120m gap in its finances over the coming years – and is currently waiting to hear if the Government will answer a request for "exceptional financial support".

Council leader, Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, told the meeting: "We used to get 62 per cent of our money from Government grants. Now it is just nine per cent.

"It is heartbreaking to see things cut, but as a council we have an absolute responsibility to balance our books, and that means we have to become a smaller council. We don’t want to do this, but we are left with no choice."

Worth Valley councillor Rebecca Poulsen, the Conservative group leader, said she had been left "almost speechless" by the budget process so far.

She criticised a delay in communicating the plans to other councillors.

And Cllr Poulsen added: "The report is vague – there is not enough information for the public to provide feedback. The consultation says the council is reviewing sports and leisure facilities. It doesn’t say what you’re planning to do, are you closing facilities? Raising prices?"

To give your views, go to bradford.gov.uk and click on 'Have your say – budget proposals 2024-25'.

Keighley MP Robbie Moore is calling on the council to scrap its plans to close the Sugden End site and another in his constituency, Golden Butts at Ilkley. He has launched a petition, at robbiemoore.org.uk/SaveOurTips

John Grogan, Keighley's Labour parliamentary candidate, is urging the council to "mothball" any significant facilities – including the household waste sites – closed due to the cuts, so that they can be reopened in the future. He says: "If a new Government is elected later this year it will be a huge task to put things right, but at least if facilities are mothballed the decision to close could be reversed."