MP to introduce new bill in fresh bid to leave Bradford Council

Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore is to introduce a new version of his Local Authority Boundaries (Referendums) Bill to Parliament, which, if passed, will enable his constituents to hold a referendum to break the Keighley and Shipley constituencies away from Bradford Council.

Moore first introduced the original bill earlier this year, but due to parliamentary rules that stipulate that legislation must be completed by the end of a legislative session, Moore has submitted an updated version of the bill to be on the order paper for Parliament. The presentation of the bill is scheduled to take place next Wednesday 7th December with Mr Moore presenting the bill to fellow MP’s after Prime Minister's Question’s.

Since being elected, giving his constituents the opportunity to leave Bradford Council has been one of Moore’s top priorities. Mr Moore's reasons for this are extensive, but include the fact that Moore’s constituents pay the highest council tax in the area whilst getting a limited-service provision back in return, as well as Bradford Council's historic failures on children’s social care provisions.

As a unitary authority, Bradford Council is one of the largest in the country, currently presiding over a population of approximately 550,000 people. Moore believes that this is far too large, and argues that this causes negative results for his constituents via poor service provision and Council decisions focusing on Bradford city itself rather than the the outlying areas of the district. Mr Moore references Bradford Counci's recent decision to ignore a Public Poll held in Keighley to protect the ‘Green Space’ adjoining North Street as a case in point.

Moore’s Bill aims to create two smaller unity authorities, one which is focused on Bradford City itself, and the other on the outlying areas.

Robbie Moore MP said:

"Bradford Council is one of the largest unitary authorities in the country with a population of over 550,000 people. This is far too large, and we are constantly experiencing the downfalls of this through a lack of service provision. Time and time again, Bradford Council solely concentrates on delivering for Bradford city itself, with Keighley, Ilkley and our wider area not getting the attention we rightly deserve, despite contributing the highest council tax and business rate funds.

My Bill will seek to change this by creating two unity authorities, one which is focused solely on Bradford City itself and the other focused on delivering for our area, and I look forward to presenting this bill to Parliament on Wednesday 7th December.

Bradford Council has failed us for far too long, whether it be children’s services, highways, proposals to rip up our green belt, or ignoring the Public Poll in Keighley to keep our Green Space green. It is time for a new smaller, more efficient local authority, so we can put our interests first and have a local council which delivers on our local priorities."

priorities."