Union chiefs today branded the proposed Bradford Council buildings transfer "scandalous".

They have called a mass meeting next week over fears for more than 3,000 jobs which would be affected by the plan.

They claim there has not been enough consultation over the proposals which could include City Hall, theatres and leisure centres across the region. And they say the deadline already set for April next year means it is being rushed through.

Bradford Council has outlined plans to transfer the running of its buildings to a property manager in a big money deal.

Fourteen firms have already answered an advertisement for a property manager.

Unison branch secretary Liz Devlin accused the Council of getting it wrong by saying the issue was in the early stages.

The union said a report first went to the Council's Exec-utive Committee in December 2001 approving the development of the Asset Manage-ment Project with a second report recommending outsourcing as the preferred option approved on December 18, 2002.

Ms Devlin said: "This is a scandalous sell-off. It is simply not right to suggest we are in the early stages of this sell-off when it is clearly nearing its final stages with the Council timetable for the handover of its assets set as April 1, 2004.

"There is no provision for public consultation within that timetable."

The union also claims that community groups leasing or renting Council property could face the possibility of eviction or higher rents.

Ms Devlin said: "We have persistently asked the Council to provide details of community groups that could be affected and properties that were left in trust but the Council has not provided the information."

But today Council leader Margaret Eaton insisted no decisions had been taken and the authority was simply testing the market to see what interest, if any, there might be.

"Naturally, people like the unions and the parish councils are concerned because it is an unknown quantity for all of us," she said. "But I am sure it will become clearer and there will be much more consultation once we know what there is to consult about.

"All we have done so far is go out to see what interest there is in any form, and members will then look at it.

"It's about looking at better options for managing a large portfolio of sometimes very old and decrepit buildings, but members can exclude buildings they don't want included."

The Unison meeting takes place at 12.30pm on Thursday, at St George's Hall.