Bradford's museum and libraries service has finished well below its targets in the first progress report of a strategy to deliver the district's ambitious 2020 Vision.

But the strategy, agreed by Bradford Council and its partners, reports more successes than failures over performance targets set for 2002 to 2003.

In many cases achievements outstripped expectations, including 540 jobs created through investment coming into the district - compared with a target of 300.

The number of three-year-olds getting good quality, free education places has also exceeded its 88.5 per cent goal, reaching 91.3 per cent.

But the museums and libraries failed to reach the goals which had been set for them for the year.

Today Anne Hawkesworth, the Council's executive member for the environment, which includes libraries and museums, said she believed both services would dramatically improve with a major cash boost agreed by councillors.

This year the libraries and museums will receive £600,000 extra with a further £1 million over each of the next three years.

Coun Hawkesworth said: "They have been in the past very under-funded. This extra funding recognises their importance to the district."

The target for the museums was set at 810 visits per 1,000 population but there were only 636 per head. The libraries should have received 4,250 visits per 1,000 population. In fact there were 4,214.

A Council report earlier this year showed a slump in library attendance and a need for more choice in books, a shake up in opening times and building improvements. It also highlighted that for years the service had been a "cinderella" in the funding stakes.

Head of libraries Ian Watson said the drop in numbers was the lowest in eight years. It was partly due to 20,000 people a year attending the libraries to use the internet. "We are arresting the decline and hope to see an increase in the current year," he added.

Mark Suggitt, head of museums, said the department was taking action on marketing and improved information and signs.

There had been a knock-on from the foot-and-mouth crisis the previous year, he added.

Council leader Margaret Eaton said: "There are a number of successes but it is the basis for even more improvement."

Labour group leader Ian Greenwood said: "The Council is very good at producing documents but fails to deliver."