Councillors have voted to hive off the district's 27,000 council houses in a stormy meeting, where the public galleries were packed with protesters.

There were shouts, boos and applause from members of the public during the two-hour debate when Tory and Liberal Democrats supported the proposal while the Labour group and single Green Party member David Ford hit out and said the tenants should have a real choice between different options.

Now housing director Geraldine Howley will ask the Government for a place on its stock-transfer programme.

She will consult with tenants on proposals by the Council to set up a number of non-profitmaking housing associations with boards containing tenant members. But the ultimate decision will lie with the tenants who will take part in a massive ballot later this year on whether to opt out of council ownership.

The resolution was passed by 43 votes to 38 on the hung council, defeating an amendment by Labour Councillor Dave Green that no decisions should be taken without a full investigation of all viable alternatives, giving the tenants a clear and understandable set of choices for the future of their homes.

Coun Green (Lab, Odsal) said the tenants were being "fitted up" with only one option.

He said "monumental and irreversible" decisions should not be rushed into.

He added: "The controlling groups have made it clear from day one that they wanted to get rid of council houses."

He said the decision had already been made before the Council decision because a meeting was already planned to discuss the new landlords, geographic area and shadow boards.

Councillor David Ward (Lib-Dem, Idle) was booed from the public gallery as he said that "insidious and nasty people" were praying on the tenants' natural concerns with misinformation.

He said the tenants could be trusted to make the right decisions and said the protest was about trade unions, and not people.

But Labour group leader, Councillor Ian Greenwood, said: "The tenants feel patronised, demonised and totally ignored by the current process.''

Councillor David Ford (Green, Shipley East) said: "This is prejudging a decision by tenants. The council house is the jewel in the crown of councils."

But executive member for housing, Councillor Chris Hopkins, said the proposal addressed the future of the badly- neglected houses which needed £800 million to redress their problems.

He said a 30-year plan would make council housing something to be proud of instead of a shameful blight on the community.

"The estates are in a downward spiral of depravation."

He stressed that the decision would lie with the tenants who would be free to vote for or against it.