Bradford Council chiefs will be handed £5.5 million after making improvements in reducing teenage pregnancies, tackling drug abuse among young people and dealing with perceptions of anti-social behaviour.

Local Government Minister Rosie Winterton said Bradford had made improvements on targets they set over based on priorities in their area.

The local targets – called Local Area Agreements – were drawn up after consultation with agencies at the sharp end of providing services to the public, such as police, health and social workers, Jobcentre staff and highways.

The 35 ‘targeted priorities’ in Bradford also include getting more pupils achieving at least five A*-C grades at GCSE and reducing the number of youngsters not in education, employment or training.

Mrs Winterton said Bradford will be given £5.63 million of a £26 million share handed out across Yorkshire and Humber. She said: “Strong elected local authorities are key to meeting the challenges we face today.

“As local leaders councils know their areas and its unique challenges best and with the continued Government support being made available today they can meet local priorities from care, to libraries, to youth services – that matter most to their residents.

“There is no doubt that councils will have tough choices ahead as finances become tighter, but that is no reason to lower their sights on delivering service quality people rightly value.”

The Government said they would support successful councils through the additional cash which they can reinvest in local priorities to protect frontline services, build their local economy and create jobs despite the tighter financial climate.

The agreements were part of a shake-up of targets aimed at devolving power to local areas and are meant to identify the “specific priorities that will most improve the quality of life” of residents and reflect their “individual challenges and circumstances”.