Four of Bradford Council's five political groups have now suggested council tax increases from April - and only one is below three per cent.

The groups will meet tomorrow at City Hall to set the tax for what is expected to be a difficult year of cuts.

Last month the ruling Conservative group proposed £3 million savings and a 4.45 per cent council tax increase.

The Liberal Democrats have now suggested £4 million cuts and a tax of 2.93 per cent, the Greens £3.3 million of cuts and a 4.97 per cent tax hike, while the BNP group has opted for £3 million of cuts and a rise of 3.3 per cent.

The two-year budget proposals also suggest further rises next year of between 4.68 per cent by the Green group and five per cent by the Liberal Democrats.

Liberal Democrat leader Jeanette Sunderland (Lib Dem, Idle and Thackley) told yesterday's meeting of the Council's executive: "We wish to continue our commitment to schools. Regardless of a report elsewhere, we are still funding schools below our statistical neighbours.

"We have tried to keep council tax below three per cent. It will be difficult for some departments, but we think it is possible."

The Green group wants £1 million for safer roads, Councillor David Ford (Green, Heaton) said.

"The Green Party looks to a budget that seeks to cut waste, protect the environment and provide support for the most vulnerable in our district," he said.

Meanwhile BNP leader Councillor James Lewthwaite (BNP, Wyke) opposed giving the company behind Education Bradford the cash it needs to make up a shortfall in its contract with the Council.

"We see no reason to give £675,000 to Serco," he said. "We think they are capable of finding the money themselves."

The Labour group will present its budget at full Council tomorrow.

l The Bradford Canal Project got an expected boost yesterday when the executive backed the continued development of the proposals as a way of regenerating canalside land.

l Members of a Council committee looking at its contracts with third parties have demanded to see a major report.

The corporate improvement committee met yesterday to hear how the authority buys in services like education, but were not ready.

Committee member and Labour group leader councillor Ian Greenwood (Lab, Little Horton) said: "We have got one of the most important issues facing the Council and every time we have tried to discuss it there is some reason why we cannot do so in open committee."