Tories on Bradford Council have pledged to redesign public service around people's needs in their election manifesto unveiled today.

It coincided with the launch of the Tories national campaign by party leader Iain Duncan Smith in Bradford.

Tory promises for Bradford include:

l Extending a new rate relief scheme to small non-profit making bodies as well as small businesses.

l Introducing new mechanisms to consult people on Council Tax increases before the Council takes budget decisions.

l Bringing in a new 'power to innovate' to encourage schools to come up with new ideas to raise standards.

l Increasing over and above inflation the amount spent per resident in residential homes.

l Continuing over the next three years to invest money into schools.

l Forming a mental health and learning disabilities trust with health authorities to deliver a unified service for people in need.

l Forming joint ventures and partnerships with both the voluntary and private sector to develop leisure services across the district.

Tory group leader Councillor Margaret Eaton said: "The Bradford district can and must be even better - better schools, better housing, better ways of tackling crime, cleaner and greener neighbourhoods, more inward investment and long term job opportunities."

The district's Tory and Labour groups have hit the campaign trail, each with the aim of getting a majority on the hung Council on May 2. Labour needs to gain five seats and the Tories ten.

The growing Liberal Democrat group is contesting all 30 seats and the Green Party, which has one councillor, is contesting 13.