Thousands of people across the district who have opted for "home rule" through town and parish councils will have to pay the running costs of the organisations from next April.

They will be given the chance to have their say on projects they would like to see in their town or village.

But they must be willing to pay more money for extra services. Bradford Council is withdrawing funding for the councils after more than 30 years and all nine "mini" authorities will have to levy precepts from their parishioners for the first time.

The councils say there will be full consultation with the public about why the precept is necessary. They will be asked to suggest projects but will be told they will have to pay through the precept for them.

The thousands of people who have chosen to have their own parish and town councils are likely to pay an average of £6 a year for precepts which will be an extra on their council tax. If they want their own councils to take over services such as cleaning, the precepts could be even higher.

The Council is paying £120,000 this year for the administration of Keighley, Silsden and Denholme town councils and Ilkley, Adding-ham, Cullingworth, Haworth, Cross Roads and Stanbury, Oxenhope, and Steeton with Eastburn parish councils.

People in Denholme are being invited to a public meeting in the Mechanics Institute on Thursday at 7pm to discuss the precepts and projects.

Denholme mayor Ann Jay said: "We will be explaining to people why there is a need for a precept and why we need to go with the flow."

The Office of Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is considering giving the go-ahead to new parish councils in Clayton and Wrose after people voted heavily in favour of them.

Bradford Council director of finance Steve Morris said the number of parish councils being set up was escalating, while few had existed when the local authority started paying their running costs in 1974.

Peter Hill, chairman of Haworth, Crossroads and Stanbury Parish Council said their first precept would be an average of £6 a year but they would take a long, hard look and consult local people before taking up projects or services.

John Phillip chairman of Keighley Town Council's finance committee said they had not set next year's precept. He added there would be full consultation about the budget and precept.

Bryan Hobson, chairman of Cullingworth Parish Council, said: "We will be able to do things like the Christmas tree lights but not take over any services. We don't have savings.

"It will be a step towards independence, though, if we are funding ourselves."

Bradford Council deputy leader Simon Cooke said: "The time is right to put the parish councils in Bradford on the same footing as elsewhere in the country where they pay their own running costs.

"It gives them greater responsibility and more control over their own destinies."