A storm has erupted after this month's full meeting of Bradford Council was cancelled - because there was ''not enough business''.

Council leader John Ryan was today accused of being "embarrassed and frightened" after cancelling Tuesday's meeting.

Councillor Ryan, leader of Britain's fourth largest Metropolitan authority, said: "I am not calling meetings just for the sake of it."

But today angry members of the Council's Conservative and Liberal Democrat groups - which had been preparing to attack him about cash for education, Odsal Superdome and cuts in benefit - claimed he was running scared.

They alleged it showed Council business was being decided undemocratically in Labour meetings.

But Coun Ryan said he strongly denied the claims, adding that an extra meeting was held in January and one normally scheduled just for the budget in March would also deal with other business.

He said the minority groups had access to all information on City Hall business and everything was in the open.

The Council had been opened up even more to the public since he became leader, he said, and he denied decisions were being taken by Labour behind closed doors.

Full Council meetings deal with issues referred to them by committees and motions put by members. People can also present petitions which are then referred to the appropriate committee.

The row has erupted just as Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott prepares to announce that people should have more say in town hall spending.

It could result in mini-referenda being held over budgets for important areas such as education.

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, leader of the Council's Liberal Democrat group, said issues they wanted to raise included the extra £9.4 million cash which they claimed had not been paid to education, serious concerns over the schools review, and cuts in benefits.

And Councillor Margaret Eaton, leader of the Council's Tory group, said her members had also intended to ask strong questions.

But Coun Ryan said the groups had been given the opportunity to express their view on Superdome at Tuesday's meeting and the £9.4 million had been directed to education.

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