Plastic bags could become a thing of the past in Bradford, after a pledge from the Council last night to support schemes that will reduce their use in the district.

A motion from the Green Party, those councillors behind a bid to "ban the bag" in Saltaire, drew cross-party support. They welcomed a decision by the Council to buy and give out 36,000 eco-friendly "bags for life", which were unveiled at the meeting. They come in two sizes and will have "I'm a Green Bag" printed on the side.

It is hoped this will go some way to reduce the millions of plastic bags which are used across the district each year. Figures show approximately 300 disposable bags are used per year by each person in the district - of which only one in two hundred are recycled.

Councillor Kevin Warnes told the meeting the Greens wanted to reduce the number of free non-disposable plastic bags available, and in Saltaire they were already consulting retailers and residents. He said they had found a local supplier and hoped the initiative would be "mostly self-sustainable".

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, the executive member for the environment, said the Council was launching a campaign in the New Year.

Other decisions taken at the meeting were: - A Liberal Democrat bid calling on the Council to reject a licensing policy for the district, because it does not deal with problems which have arisen since the smoking ban, failed. Group leader Councillor Jeanette Sunderland said: "The new policy covers issues likely to cause a public nuisance. None of the provisions cover problems with smokers and drinkers who go outside and stand around on the doorstep or the pavement and it is an increasing problem."

- The Council welcomed the Royal British Legion's Honour The Covenant Campaign in a Liberal Democrat motion which calls on the country and the Government to honour its duty of care to armed forces personnel.

- Board members of Bradford Centre Regeneration could be subject to a public question time after calls by the Liberal Democrats were voted through. Councillor David Ward asked that the chief executive of the Council write to BCR requesting the session.

- Calls for the renewable energy targets in new developments to be re-introduced to the draft Regional Spatial Strategy were agreed. The Liberal Democrat amendment to a Green motion called for a ten per cent minimum target.

- A Conservative amendment to a Labour motion which calls for measures to ensure the number of mixed residential units are maximised in urban areas was voted through.