Schools chiefs faced a hostile barrage of questions about ambitious plans to rebuild ageing schools through a controversial private-finance initiative.

Bradford Council officers are drawing up a huge bid to build new secondary and special schools in Bradford fit for the 21st century. But the new buildings would be owned by the company that had built and financed them and school support workers such as caretakers, cooks, cleaners and receptionists would be shifted to the private firm's payroll, the Education Overview and Scrutiny committee was told last night.

Phil Green, director of education at the Council, told committee members a huge backlog of repairs was needed on the district's 200 schools, costing about £50 million. Buildings were deteriorating at the rate of £7 million per year but only £5 million per year was available.

"£200 million is a conservative estimate of what we need," he said. "The money that is being made available is through PFI. That's why we are exploring it."

He admitted school governors would lose some of their autonomy if their school was rebuilt through a PFI.

"No governing body is under any obligation whatsoever to sign up," he said.

Councillor John Briggs (Lib-Dem, Baildon) said after Mr Green's presentation he felt as though he "had been mugged by a couple of timeshare touts".

Councillor Mark Blackburn (Lab, Shipley East) asked whether schools would still be able to raise income by letting their premises to community groups in the evenings.

The meeting was told this would depend on the precise terms of the PFI contract.

Councillor David Ford (Green, Shipley West) said new 'community trusts' were being developed in Scotland as a different model to PFI. "Governing bodies need to be made aware that there are possible other op-tions," he said. "My great concern is we are committing ourselves to a long-term contract."

Michael Pollard, a school governor representative, claimed Bradford Council would have to fund a shortfall of £3 million per year to service the debt to the PFI company.

Mr Green agreed there was an "affordability gap" but said £3 million "could be wildly out" and it was wrong to speculate about a figure.