Bradford Council’s ruling Labour group has hit back at Conservative claims that the authority’s decision-making process is being allowed to drift.

It follows the cancellation of the first executive meeting of the new municipal year which was scheduled for yesterday.

Tory group leader Councillor Anne Hawkesworth said a number of “hugely important decisions” were due to be taken at the meeting on issues including affordable housing, the Future Jobs Fund and a review of uniformed services.

“The politicians are there to give a policy direction to the officers, but the officers cannot get on with implementing decisions if no decisions are being made,” she said. “Sadly it appears that Labour are either unwilling or unable to take any decisions whatsoever.”

Council leader Councillor Ian Greenwood responded: “Coun Hawkesworth has spent the last ten years letting the district drift and taking many incompetent decisions that proved to be wrong and cost millions.

“The only time-critical item on the agenda was the annual accounts which will be considered on time.

“If she is so concerned about the Future Jobs Fund her time might be better spent persuading her Government to reverse the decision to cut it and explaining why the Tory Council failed to spend over £1m of this funding designed to deliver jobs.”