Bradford Council’s chief executive surprised an audience of business professionals by delivering a blistering attack on the Coalition Government, which he accused of wanting to dismantle the state.

Tony Reeves also accused ministers of favouring the South East at the expense of the North and causing a funding crisis for councils which were faced with axing staff and trying to deliver services with scarce resources.

Mr Reeves told the Bradford Professionals Network: “The Government is determined to dismantle the state. That’s the basic approach.

“In the interests of political balance I would also say that the previous Government took a top down approach which increased bureaucracy.

“Changes to funding for local authorities has seen resources diverted from urban council areas to the shires.

“While Dorset has received a bigger share of funding, Bradford has seen a 14 per cent reduction and that’s not fair."

Mr Reeves also accused Grant Shapps, local government and housing minister, of not listening to the concerns of councils such as Bradford.

Speaking at the same event, Bradford Council's Labour leader Ian Greenwood attacked the Big Society which Prime Minister David Cameron hopes will encourage local people to run many of their own affairs through volunteering.

Coun Greenwood dismissed it as a way of getting people to take responsibility for things the Government should be doing.

He doubted that enough people would volunteer to make it work , except in more affluent areas where more people were in a position and able to get involved.

Coun Greenwood said: “For instance, if people in Ilkley wanted to take over running the King’s Hall there would probably be enough people with the experience and ability to make it happen. On the other hand I think it would be less likely to happen in West Bowling, which I represent.”

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