A regional government agency was last night attacked as a "monstrous quango" in a stormy Council debate over a controversial regeneration report.

Yorkshire Forward was condemned at last night's full Bradford Council meeting for failing to consult councillors over a report by consultants on spending of Government regeneration cash, which contained heavy criticism of the Council.

Councillor Simon Cooke, executive member for the economy, said he was appalled that he and other councillors had not been consulted over the survey carried out by KPMG for Yorkshire Forward and blasted it as a "monstrous quango".

He said he had tried to stop Council officers being tainted by the report. "There are some valid things and we can't dispute everything. But they should have involved politicians."

The Council approved a notice of motion expressing its concern that the report on the district's Single Regeneration Budget schemes had not included consultation with members.

The report praised some aspects of the schemes but said there had been an environment where communities were forced into competition and issues had been affected by politics.

It said there had been a "plethora" of local and national government initiatives to add to an already confusing situation.

The report criticised duplication and said it had created inefficiencies, extra bureaucracy and had held back the district's ability to deliver regeneration at the scale necessary to address its social and economic problems.

Councillor Dave Green (Lab, Odsal), who proposed the notice of motion, said: "Everyone will have read it - but who in this room has been consulted?"

He called for a full investigation by a democratic and accountable body, like a Council scrutiny committee.

Coun Green said the Council should be heavily involved because it was a member of the SRB Partnership Boards.

Coun Cooke said he was appalled there had not been consultation and members needed clarification on what Yorkshire forward expected them to do.

l Councillor Phil Thornton (Lab, Shipley East) said the construction of the Bingley trunk road had brought "heavy-handed destruction of the countryside". He said there had also been significant damage around the north and south bogs which were famous nature conservation sites.

But Councillor Colin Gill (Con, Bingley) said: "Most of this is completely untrue."