A new City Centre Company set up more than a year ago to revitalise Bradford has disappeared without achieving anything, it was claimed today.

The private-public partnership was set up to manage and regenerate the city centre. Its aim was to make Bradford one of Britain's top cities.

But it was at the centre of controversy because there were proposals to transfer services - including cleansing - to its remit.

The possibility of putting car parking under its wing was also considered and the company was expected to focus on retail following criticism in surveys that there was insufficient variety and too few big names.

The City Centre Company was set up after councillors visited Coventry to look at a similar successful model and widespread public consultation took place.

High powered Filtronic chief Chris Schofield was chosen to chair the first meeting of the shadow board in February last year.

But since then cleansing and parking services have remained with the Council, virtually little has been heard of the company and it has made no announcements.

Now the company is expected to be replaced by an urban generation company with Government backing. Regeneration agency Yorkshire Forward and the Council would work in a joint venture partnership if it gets the go-ahead.

At today's full Council meeting, Labour spokesman for regeneration Councillor Dave Green, who originally spearheaded formation of the company when his group was in control, today demanded an explanation.

Coun Green (Lab, Odsal) said: "Since leadership of the Council changed, the company has done everything apart from anything."

He said he doubted a figure of £3,500 for the setting-up of the company given by the Tory group was the full picture. "My bet is that it is never going to see the light of day. You can set up committees and partnerships all day long but at the end of the day they just drift into indecision."

A member of the shadow board, who did not want to be named, said: "Actually it dealt with the Christmas lights and Centenary Square. But apart from that, it didn't really do anything."

The Council's executive committee member for the economy Councillor Simon Cooke said that when it was set up they had never expected to be considered by Yorkshire Forward as a city to be earmarked for an urban regeneration company.

Mr Schofield was unavailable for comment.