Councillors are to discuss the future of Bradford Council's award-winning environmental task force next week.

The team was set up in 2006 with £4 million of Govern-ment neighbourhood renewal funding to run for two years.

And as that period comes to an end in March, councillors are being asked to consider ways of keeping the service going.

The Council and other sources added £500,000 to the green team which was tasked with tackling grot spots, litter, graffiti and vandalism and to make improvements to 13 of the most deprived wards in the district.

It tackled 16,000 environmental issues in its first year and so far in its second year has removed a total of 1,920 tonnes of waste with 2,928 loads removed from fly-tipped sites.

Due to the results, funding for a further three months until the end of June has been found to keep it going.

Ian Bairstow, the Council's assistant director for waste management and street scene, said: "The task force is funded by the neighbourhood renewal fund and that funding runs out at the end of March.

"There is now some funding called the working neighbourhoods fund that is being released. We are currently looking at the guidelines that have been put on the fund to see how we can apply it to the task force. In the meantime three months' worth has been released to buy us enough time to sort it out.

"We are looking to try to pick the best things out of the task force that work really well and deliver these and other initiatives."

The task force is a partnership between the Council, Royds Community Assoc-iation and Bradford Comm-unity Environment Project.

It works with other agencies, such as National Probation Service, West Yorkshire Fire Service, West Yorkshire Police and Bradford Community Housing Trust to deliver projects in key areas.

Thirteen area-based clean teams' work on removing fly-tipping, litter, cutting back vegetation, tackling weeds and responding to issues reported by the public. And two teams remove graffiti and work on educational themes with community groups and children.

In addition, 16 environmental wardens are on "patrol" and developing strong links with the residents, responding to their complaints.

The service was recognised with an award in December for its contribution to improving lives at the Making a Difference in Yorkshire and Humber 2007 awards.

A report will be discussed at the Council's environment and waste management improvement committee on Wednes-day at City Hall at 5pm.

Members will consider calling on the decision-making executive to ensure its future by securing further funding.