Families campaigning for millions of pounds worth of improvements in their run-down homes have been warned: "You'll miss out if you don't fill the forms in."

Council officers say residents are 'apathetic' about the paperwork after pressing at public meetings to get their homes included in the council's group repairs scheme.

But they will now get tough and move on to other streets rather than face delays. The officers say it could even mean people having to wait until the following year's programme in the scheme which operates on the basis of 'worst first.'

The officers spoke out at yesterday's executive committee when members gave the go-ahead for £4.5 million of house improvements in Manningham, West Bowling and Lawkholme in Keighley.

It will result in 270 older, privately-owned homes getting improvements to doors, windows and roofs. The repairs will be carried out on blocks, rather than individual schemes. The committee also agreed to performance-related appraisals for top officers after being told most of the new top management restructure was in place.

Labour group leader Councillor Ian Greenwood welcomed the appraisals but said they should be rigorous, rather than just ticking boxes.

He said the appraisals were supposed to help staff as well as judge their performance.

The committee agreed to make compulsory purchase orders for areas which may be needed by developers planning a £200m scheme for the bottom end of the city centre. A progress report will be brought back to members in about two months time.

The orders mean the consortium proposing the development, which would include vast shopping malls and public squares, can press on with work and start to draw up contracts.

e-mail: Olwen.Vasey@bradford.newsquest.co.uk