A Liberal Democrat councillor has criticised a lack of debate by Bradford Council when it met to agree the preferred bidder for a long-term waste contract.

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland spoke out after the meeting held last Tuesday, when Earth Tech Skanska was picked for the 25-year contract to deal with waste from both Bradford and Calderdale, which is now valued at about £300 million, rather than the £400m first envisaged.

Lib Dem group leader, Coun Sunderland, said: “I was astonished that Labour and the Tories refused to debate the biggest decision Bradford Council will take for years. They circulated a couple of kilos of paper to every councillor, which cost a fortune and was completely a waste of time. What on earth are they frightened of? You have to compare Bradford Council’s process with that of Calderdale Council, where members debated openly, with everyone being invited to comment. What is it that Bradford Council is trying to hide?”

Responding to her comments, Councillor Andrew Thornton, the Council’s portfolio holder for environmental services said: “There have been plenty of opportunities to debate the issue.

“The Municipal Waste Management Strategy has been subject to ongoing debate since October 2005, when it was first considered by the Council.”

He said the project had been scrutinised at various meetings and political groups were provided with full presentations and a drop-in session for councillors was held prior to Tuesday night’s meeting.”