SIR – At the last meeting of our Council at City Hall, a petition with more than 1,700 signatures was presented – the largest in the Council’s history.

According to the Council's constitution, because it had more than 1,500 signatures, this was to trigger a debate. The rationale behind this, according to a Government website, is so that ordinary people can have an easy and personal way to influence government decisions.

What I witnessed was a disgrace!

Instead of a healthy debate, followed by a vote, the Council referred the decision to the executive committee. One senior Conservative said he was ‘confused’ over the procedure, because this is not what ‘normally’ happens.

The outcome of this petition is now a foregone conclusion, because the executive is made up entirely of Labour Councillors, who have already made their position crystal clear on every occasion.

This sends the message that, no matter how much support you get for your cause, nothing will change, and it won’t even be discussed properly. Whether you get ten or 10,000 signatures, the result is the same.

Our Councillors should be ashamed of themselves – Bradford deserves better.

Ian Lyons, Liberal Democrat, Parish Councillor (Baildon East), Cliffe Avenue, Baildon, Shipley