Bradford Council last night voted in favour of signing up to a ‘super-council’ for West Yorkshire - despite some concerns.

Conservative members abstained from voting on the issue at a meeting of full Council, while the Liberal Democrats were against the concept of a West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

But Labour voted in unison and the scheme will now move forward to the next stage.

The Combined Authority will have sweeping powers across West Yorkshire and will be tasked with overseeing a £1 billion transport fund and a £400 million economic investment fund.

Council leader Councillor David Green said: “The only way you can have proper regional links is through a Combined Authority.

“It gives further opportunities for Bradford people to find employment in Leeds and the rest of West Yorkshire. People from Leeds can come to Bradford to work, or people from Halifax can go to Wakefield to work.

“To improve Bradford’s economy, we have got to improve West Yorkshire’s economy. And to do that we have got to improve the transport infrastructure.”

He continued: “We do not want to go back to being a little Englander.

“This is something that we have two choices on.

“Either we bury our heads in the sand and in 20 years someone will look at it and condemn our actions, or we can start taking control of Bradford’s and West Yorkshire’s destiny, and let our children and our grandchildren have a better opportunity for a better life. It is a real investment in the future.”

Coun Glen Miller, leader of the Conservative group on Bradford Council, said: “We have concerns. My greatest concern for this district is I don’t want Bradford to end up like Europe – a net contributor but not getting returns for our residents. We are not against it, but at the moment we still have concerns.” Liberal Democrat group leader Coun Jeanette Sunderland said: “We are unconvinced by the money trail – money raised in this district should be spent here.”

She added: “I hope I am proved wrong and I hope it is a fabulous success. But at the moment there are too many unanswered questions.”

If approved by all concerned, the Combined Authority could be formed by April 2014.

Meanwhile, councillors voted unanimously in favour of donating £25,000 in memory of murdered soldier Drummer Lee Rigby.

The money will be split between Help for Heroes, local branches of the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen’s Association and the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Families Association, and the welfare fund of the Second Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, in which Drummer Rigby served.