Bradford Council leader Councillor Margaret Eaton is tipped to retain the leadership of her group in a secret ballot at City Hall on Tuesday.

Nomination papers went out to Conservative councillors this week, though insiders say there is no challenge for the job.

But her position at the head of Britain's fourth biggest metropolitan authority is not automatic - because it will again depend on the backing of the Liberal Democrat group in the hung council.

Last year the two parties voted together to put her in the top seat because no party had overall control, following Labour's rout in the May elections. A change of leadership of the Liberal Democrat group meeting on Thursday could mean a fresh look at the policy, however.

Liberal Democrat leader Councillor Jeanette Sunder-land said the group would go through its normal election processes but policies would "obviously be looked at".

The joint vote for the Council leadership last year was a major blow to the Labour group which had expected to retain it as the party with the highest number of seats on the Council following the election.

Coun Eaton said today: "The past 12 months have been sometimes frustrating, often difficult and always extremely tiring. But I believe we have shown that politicians from different parties can work together for the benefit of the district.

"Perhaps in the past we had the means, but too often lacked the will to succeed. I really do believe that we have now found the collective will to change things for the better. Already we can see some major benefits arising from this more sensible and co-operative approach, for example on housing transfer.

"In the past, politicians would have simply divided along ideological party lines."

Nomination papers for top posts, including the group leadership, also went out to Labour councillors this week in preparation for their annual general meeting at City Hall on Tuesday.

But it is understood two contenders who considered a bid to topple leader Councillor Ian Greenwood have backed down, leaving him almost certain to retain the job. But insiders say there could be in-fighting as members bid to become "super councillors" on the executive committee which takes the Council's key decisions.

Coun Greenwood won the leadership of the Labour group and became Council leader when he ousted John Ryan in a shock result three years ago.

Coun Greenwood said today he could not comment on the affairs of the Labour group. But he added: "The meeting will go through the democratic processes."