Bradford Council is one step closer to joining a ‘super-council’ covering the whole of West Yorkshire.

The Council’s executive agreed to join the new combined authority, which would make county-wide decisions on transport and economic development.

The new body would also take on the role of the local transport authority.

Council leader David Green said the new combined authority would mainly draw power and money down from central Government, rather than take powers away from Bradford Council.

He said the district didn’t exist in isolation, with many people travelling in or out to go to work, so it made sense for the councils to collaborate on some economic matters.

Establishing a combined authority across Bradford, Kirklees, Leeds, Calderdale and Wakefield is a condition of the Leeds City Region Deal, which comes with a £1.4 billion investment in local transport, highways and infrastructure.

All five councils must join the plan if it is to go ahead. If they all agree to the plan, a consultation will begin.

The plan would then go to central Goverment for approval this summer, with the aim of creating the combined authority by April next year.