Council chiefs are to be grilled over plans to bring in a private company to run Brad-ford's schools.

Members of the Council's economic scrutiny committee are furious that the radical proposals are moving ahead before they have had chance to examine them.

Committee chairman Councillor Simon Cooke said he was "appalled" by the situation and has put the issue on the agenda for the meeting on May 16.

He is inviting Council leader Councillor Ian Greenwood and chief executive Ian Stewart to attend and answer questions.

Coun Cooke, a Conservative, said: "The way in which Bradford Council's Labour leadership have sprung these proposals on members and staff is one of the worst examples yet of the secretive and unaccountable manner in which the current ruling group runs the Council.

"This is a major decision that will affect the jobs of hundreds of Council employees and the education delivered to the district's children.

"For the Council to claim that the matter is too urgent for a call-in decision is a nonsense.

"It deserves a long and detailed scrutiny by all those with an interest in change."

Coun Greenwood said that Labour members of the Council's executive had prevented the scrutiny committee from delaying the decision because it was vital that important negotiations on the proposals continued.

But he had no objections to attending the meeting to answer questions.

"I welcome the fact that they are going to scrutinise this," he said.

"We would like the widest possible consultation.

"If they come up with suggestions that are thoughtful and reasonable then we will take them on board."

City Hall union and teacher representatives are also likely to be at the meeting so that they can hear the Council's responses.

Liberal Democrat education spokesman, Councillor David Ward, said he welcomed any discussion on the issue but was cynical about how much difference it would make.

"It is a little bit after the horse has bolted," he said.

"It seems like it is a token gesture, really. We can't believe they will change it when it has already been approved by the Labour group."

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