A FAILURE to treat visiting district councillors with respect in the past has been blamed for their absence from Keighley Town Council meetings.

Town councillor Amjad Zaman, commenting on proposals aimed at fostering a better working relationship between Bradford Council and the town council, said it was not surprising that most district councillors for Keighley do not come as guest speakers to town council meetings.

"When they've come here before they've not been treated with dignity and respect," he warned.

"What have we done when they have been here? We've gone for their throats, so I'm not surprised they don't want to come.

"When they do attend they are extending an olive branch to us, so we should be extending one back."

Speaking during the latest full meeting of Keighley Town Council, Cllr Barry Thorne said the last time a district councillor attended he had been given "a bit of a rough time" by town councillors over issues he was not responsible for.

Cllr John Kirby said: "Since 2014 I've wanted to work more closely with Bradford Council.

"But where are their Labour district councillors? We've been on and on with trying to get them to come, but they don't turn up.

"There are some district councillors who are exceptions to this, but the others won't turn up because they don't like Keighley Town Council."

However, Cllr Michael Westerman, in his role as chairman of the town council's watch and transport committee, said he had a good relationship with district council councillors and officers. "I'm quite happy with how things are going," he said.

Cllr Anayat Mohammad said the town council would open a channel of communication with Bradford Council's leadership, and noted that one of the items for discussion would be the reason why district councillors steer clear of town council meetings.

Responding after the meeting, Keighley West councillor Adrian Farley said he tried to engage with the town council shortly after he was elected in 2012, but received a "hostile reception" from some of its members.

"I took the view then that I'd just work hard to represent Keighley West's residents," he added.

"There are some town councillors I do work closely with, but I have a busy diary and I'm out for three or four nights a week with various community groups or at council meetings, so I must prioritise meetings of the district council's decision-making bodies.

He added that engagement is a two-way street and said he had not seen many town councillors at Bradford Council meetings.

"At a recent regeneration committee meeting for Keighley that I held in Keighley, some town councillors came but very few," he said.

Cllr Steve Pullen, of Keighley East, said: "I've never been to a town council meeting, I didn't think there was a need to.

"I don't know what they want from us, and I'm not sure why it would be worthwhile to attend.

"As it is, I don't think a district councillor would be able to influence what town councillors do once they've made their minds up about something.

"And while there are individuals on the town council doing an excellent job, you do hear others saying 'Independence for Keighley'.

"That shows they don't know how Bradford Council works and don't understand the system, It's a bit disheartening."