Council chiefs have been accused of withholding a report into the department responsible for its controversial education, IT and buildings contracts.

Members of a key committee meet today to recommend improvements to how the Council buys services, but its members have been told they can't see the document.

The report's author is known to have recommended better guidance for procurement staff and more training for senior officers.

But members of the corporate improvement committee claim their work is hamstrung without full sight of the paper.

The Council's recent procurement problems have included:

l an Audit Commission investigation of the multi-million-pound bid to contract out the Council's swimming pools, libraries and sports centres. It is now on ice pending the Commission's report but £3 million has already been spent;

l £750,000 of unforeseen costs in the Bradford-i computer contract; and

l being asked to find a £7.5 million shortfall in its contract with Education Bradford.

Councillor Dave Green (Lab, Wibsey), deputy leader of Bradford's Labour group and its procurement spokesman, said: "If the scrutiny committee is to do its job properly it needs all the information available.

"It is an absolute farce to do things differently."

Councillor Howard Middleton (Lib Dem, Bolton and Undercliffe), a committee member, said: "Although we have got legislation like the Freedom of Information Act, it seems more difficult to get information now."

Fellow committee member Councillor Martin Love (Green, Shipley), Bradford's Green group leader, said: "I would be worried about any documents being held from members.

"There could be valid reasons why it should be kept out the public eye, but there is no reason why the committee should not see it."

However Bradford Council's executive member for corporate matters, Councillor Kris Hopkins (Con, Worth Valley), said the report isn't secret and will be published in March.

"I have been told members will get to see this document when it becomes public in two to three weeks' time," he said

A Council spokesman added: "We are not publishing at the moment.

"There are certain bits in the report that we don't agree with, so we are talking to the author. We will be publishing it in a few weeks."