The decision-making process governing the transport network looks set for a major shake-up.

Independent consultants are about to undertake a sweeping review across the Leeds City Region, an area comprising 11 local authorities including Bradford.

The Government has just published a draft Local Transport Bill, saying city regions need to get better at making strategic decisions, and encouraging areas to undertake their own reviews.

At present, Metro, operating name of the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority (PTA), co-ordinates public transport services, but changes are likely.

The review, which will cost £115,000, will look at direction and responsibility, planning, delivery and performance monitoring, accountability of elected members, funding and coverage.

The new Bill will see Passenger Transport Authorities, such as Metro, renamed Integrated Transport Authorities'.

The review will examine the possibility of creating an expanded or new Integrated Transport Authority for the area. Metro covers West Yorkshire's five local authority areas, but six authorities included in the Leeds City Region are not covered by Metro, including Craven.

The geographic aspect of the review could mean Skipton, which does not fall in the Metro district, becoming more integrated in the region's transport network.

At the next meeting of the Leeds City Regions Leaders Board on December 3, members will be asked to approve plans for Atkins Consultants to undertake the governance review, with proposals for Metro to contribute £57,473 to cost, with the remaining £57,473 funded from the City Region budget.

Councillor Chris Greaves, Metro's Bradford district spokesman, said: "If there is going to be a major new development, we have got to think about how we integrate the highways angle with the public transport angle.

"Lurking in the background is the issue of road charging, but that's not to say we should do it or how we would go about doing it. Local feeling is still very much against congestion charging."

Coun Greaves said the review would give the region a chance to deliver a clear message to Government about the specific solutions needed in the area.

If the city region leaders board is to play a more proactive role in transport co-ordination, Coun Greaves believes consideration must be given to the time and effort that goes into transport planning.

Stanley King, Metro's vice-chairman, said: "The review has certain advantages in that it is going to reflect the genuine travel-to-work area - for the last 35 years, it has been constrained to the boundaries of West Yorkshire."

He said the process would present a chance to eradicate the "embarrassing" situation where passengers from Skipton clog up the car park at Steeton in order to enjoy cheaper travel in the Metro district.