UPDATES on a multi-million pound city centre office development and a planned £80 million transport scheme that could see Market Street pedestrianised and local transport hubs transformed are among a raft of budget announcements made by Bradford Council today.

A new cycleway from the city centre to Thornton, a plan to plant a tree for every child in the district and a delay to museum cuts are all mentioned in the Council's 2020/21 budget report, which will be discussed in the New Year.

But along with any investment, Bradford ratepayers will likely see a 3.99 per cent hike in Council Tax in the coming year - roughly an annual rise of £54.79 for a Band D property.

And to balance its budget for the coming year, the Council will have to dip into its reserves, using £2.2m of emergency funds.

The Council made a raft of budget announcements late this afternoon in advance of the January 2 Executive meeting. It is the first time in several weeks the Council has been able to make any budget announcements due to the pre General Election purdah period.

Council told pedestrianisation of Market Street could help revitalise city centre

Among the announcements are:

- The appointment of Muse Developments as partner for the £25.8m One City Park project, which will see a new office building built on the site of the former Tyrls police station next to City Park. It will be partly funded through grants from West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

- A £21 million package of Children's Service support

- An extra £1m to tackle the climate emergency, including work to boost recycling, increase the Council's fleet of electric vehicles, and the roll out of more 20mph zones across the district

- £324,000 to draw up plans that will help Shipley and Keighley access a potential £25m from the Government's Towns Fund, which will help regenerate the two towns.

- Deferring a previously announced cut of £500,000 to the district's museum to "give more time to remodel the museums service"

- A £700,000 "public health" investment for libraries to allow them to provide an "enhanced health and well being offer"

- An investment in the Council's homelessness strategy

The Council has also announced that it will make an £80m bid to the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund to improve transport links across the city. If successful this will lead to a new Park and Ride at the top of the M606, the previously announced modernisation of Bradford Interchange a new cycleway connecting the city centre with Thornton and city centre "active travel" proposals.

The pedestrianisation of Market Street would also be included in these proposals.

The Council says the rise in Council Tax will be a 1.9 per cent Council Tax rise and a 2 per cent Social Care "precept."

A Council Tax discount for care leavers will be extended to those aged 22-25.

Previously announced cuts will be made to tourist information centres and the Council's events and festival budget.

Bradford Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe added: “Nine years of national Government austerity has been tough for this Council and for the people of Bradford District. We have steered Bradford through this period by prudent management of the Council’s budget.

“The Government has given us one year of funding to support adults and children’s social care. So, we are taking the opportunity to make this a budget of investment in services but this can only be for one year whilst we wait for the Government to decide what it does next on public service spending. Councils and social care needs to be at the top of their list.

“Our budget of this year invests in regeneration, inclusive growth, environmental sustainability, culture and support for the most vulnerable in our communities. This will all help to make the Council and the district fit and ready for the future.

“However, given the current uncertainty around Brexit and the policies of the new national government, plus the increasing demand for social care, we know we cannot stop transforming services or assume that austerity is over. It clearly isn’t.

“We will continue to do what local government is good at doing – fostering a healthy and prosperous district that everyone can share in and enjoy – and I am confident that Bradford, city and district, will continue on its current upward trajectory and continue to grow its economy for the benefit of all.”

The budget will be discussed at a meeting of Bradford Council's Executive, meeting in City Hall at 10.30am on January 2.

The Telegraph & Argus will look at the various announcements in more detail over the coming days.