Bradford Council is expected to seek tenders to help invest millions of pounds into its beleaguered information technology.

Britain's fourth biggest metropolitan authority is set to embark on a £40 million project which would have huge implications to its workforce and thousands of customers.

Paper administration and back-room working would eventually vanish as more front-line staff had information and access at their finger tips.

Other outdoor workers, like maintenance staff, would have hand-held computers linking into the authority's vast system.

Director of Finance Steve Morris said if the partnership went ahead it would be the biggest local authority project in Britain. He added that it would have a huge effect on the Council's 23,000 staff and transform the way the authority worked.

Mr Morris, who is briefing councillors, staff and trade unions, said the Council currently had 1,000 information systems - some not even computerised.

He said there would be extensive training if the project named Bradford-i went ahead and staff from both the private company and Council would work together.

The move follows an internal best-value review of the information technology services and PwC Consulting was engaged to work with the Council to find ways of improving them.

Officers will on Tuesday recommend the Executive Committee go out to tender to enter into a partnership and bring top IT services to help the public.

Mr Morris said: "We would expect the company to bring a significant amount of finance which we don't have access to."

The Council may go out to tender during the next few months and it would take about a year to start the project.

Councillor Richard Wightman, the Council's executive member with corporate responsibility, said: "Bradford Council must ensure its systems are fully up to date with the needs of the modern citizen and the Bradford-i project forms the basis for seeing that this takes place."