Tory and Liberal Democrat councillors have voted to give a £4.6 million pay-out to Bradford Bulls - despite strong protests from the Labour group about the effect it could have on other services.

During a heated debate Labour leader Councillor Ian Greenwood demanded the issue should be discussed by all councillors and not solely by the Council's executive committee.

Coun Greenwood stressed that his group supported the Bulls and the pay-out might well be a good deal.

"We are not antagonistic but we need to know the financial impact on other services," he said.

"There is no need for this decision to be taken in haste. Members and the people of Bradford have a right to know the full implications."

Deputy Labour group leader Councillor Barry Thorne said: "People not getting window repairs are going to wonder how the Council can do this."

But Council leader Councillor Margaret Eaton said the Council's commitments, including education, would be honoured and unaffected.

She said the payment, to be spread over two years, would be met by the sale of land and properties owned by the Council, which had been speeded up, and some borrowing.

Coun Eaton said the receipts had not been included when the authority decided its funding priorities for this year and that full details of the transaction would go to all councillors.

The one-off payment will end an agreement with the Rugby League club, signed by the Council in 1986, which commits the authority to pay the club more than £300,000 a year until 2019. The Council will retain ownership of the land and allow the Bulls to use it on a 150-year lease at a peppercorn rent.

It will enable the Bulls to join forces with another commercial partner to upgrade the run-down stadium.

Coun Eaton said the existing arrangements were a millstone round the Council's neck and it was already committed to the pay-out in the long run.

Bulls chief executive Abi Ekoku said after the meeting: "We are absolutely delighted the Council has seen fit to seek a long-term resolution.

"We have many contractual details to sort out but I am sure they are resolvable. It allows the club for the first time to sort out its long-term future.

"We have no retail plans for the site but we will need to look for commercial partners."

Alan Tranter, vice-chairman of the Bulls' Independent Support-ers Association, said: "The majority of fans will be ecstatic. What we need is an Odsal we can develop and make a heritage. They are allowing us to go back to Odsal and be in charge of our own destiny."