Trade refuse collection charges will shoot up by about twice the rate of inflation - at the height of a blitz on businesses strewing litter on city streets.

The Council has made a secret decision to slap on the increases, even though it took two traders to court recently for failing to get rid of rubbish properly.

It has also announced a clampdown on all offending businesses in a drive to clean up the city and its approaches.

Tory and Liberal councillors endorsed a decision by city cleansing officer Alan Baff for a five per cent increase in charges for wheelie bins and seven per cent for skips, beginning in October. One of the main reasons was said to be higher costs of landfill tax. The rise follows a 2.5 per cent increase last year and will bring the Council an additional income of £120,000.

The agreement was reached at a private meeting and was opposed by Labour group leader Councillor Ian Greenwood, who said there should have been individual consultation with traders.

In the past the annual increase has been decided in public at the housing and environmental services committee. The authority's first Green Party member, Councillor David Ford, hit out at the decision and said he wanted a full public discussion.

"I believe it is wrong that this important decision has been taken in private," he said.

" The landfill tax is meant to reduce this method of rubbish disposal. Putting charges up is just going to increase fly tipping, and I don't think it should have been done at a time of an anti-litter campaign. I believe there will be many small businesses unable to pay these increases. I think this whole issue should go to the environment scrutiny committee. I will also try to get this on the agenda for a full council meeting."

Jeff Frankel, of the Bradford Retail Action group, said the increases should be kept at the level of inflation to protect businesses.

But executive member for the environment Councillor Anne Hawkesworth said the issue would go to the executive committee - although the decision had already been taken. She said the charges were still below most authorities and the lowest in West Yorkshire, and the Council provided a quality service in a market where there was strong competition from private operators.

The annual cost of wheelie bins will range between £60 and £308 a year. Skips will cost about £78 for each emptying.