A beleaguered community group is to hold a second annual general meeting to sort out its management and constitution.

Bracken Bank and District Community Association was criticised by former members after its last meeting ended in chaos.

Some of the protestors this week announced the setting up of an action group to run separate activities on the estate. They have pledged that young people will be invited to play an active role.

The association will hold an extraordinary Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, November 16, at 7.30pm in St Michael's Community Centre on Bracken Bank Grove.

The original meeting in July led to the resignation of at least three members of the management committee.

Some residents claimed the election of officers was not carried out correctly and changes to the constitution were not valid.

Mary Hamid, the former chairman, this month complained to Bradford council about the running of the association.

The association receives a council grant each year to employ two development workers and run the Sue Belcher and St Michael's community centres on the estate.

It is understood the council has told the association to sort out its problems before decisions are made on next year's funding to community and voluntary groups.

Maureen Parkinson, the chairman, had already promised to hold a second annual meeting once important discussions had taken place over repairs to the St Michael's Centre.

She says: "The meeting was in the pipeline.

"The business I had in hand - trying to find £20,000 to repair the roof - has not been concluded."

Mrs Hamid this week revealed an action group is being set up with membership including several long-time volunteer workers in Bracken Bank.

Representatives will be available to answer queries at the estate's Neighbourhood Forum meeting on Tuesday at 7pm in the Sue Belcher Centre.

Mrs Hamid says: "We want to get a lot more things going on. We're setting up something different to get the community involved."

Mrs Hamid says the group will 'offer the hand of friendship' to the existing association and hopes to use the community centres for activities.

It does not plan to apply for a major Bradford council grant but will seek start-up funding from other pots.

Young people in Bracken Bank have been invited to play a key role in the new group, which will hold its first meeting soon.

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