COUNCILLORS have approved proposals to charge for demolition applications and other Building Control services.

Bradford Council currently does not charge for a number of services such as demolition applications, safety inspections at sports grounds and additional building control inspections, meaning the cost of providing those services falls on the taxpayer.

Last year the service, which is also responsible for inspecting dangerous buildings, ran £200,000 into the red.

Bradford Council's Regulatory and Appeals Committee approved the changes at a meeting yesterday, where members of the department spoke of the pressures facing their service.

Demolition of Idle business site approved

A report to the committee had revealed that staff levels in the Building Control department have fallen from 68 to 28 in the last 10 years.

Members were told that the changes, including £200 for each demolition application, would raise around £77,00 a year.

Similar charges existed in neighbouring authorities, including Leeds.

Members voted to approve the charges.