Multi-million pound plans to redevelop Odsal Stadium were at the centre of a secrecy row today.

The Telegraph & Argus can reveal Bradford Council has agreed behind closed doors to contribute £110,000 to a study of the site and its landfill tip.

The rest of the £300,000 survey will be funded by developers, Horsforth-based Sterling Capitol, and other interested parties.

The decision was taken by director of regeneration Richard Willoughby and discussed at a private meeting by senior Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors.

It was also agreed at the meeting that updates on the progress of the long-delayed project should be given to residents.

The decision to contribute to the scheme has not been made public, although the Council has previously announced decisions taken in private would go on the Internet.

There has been no full progress report in public on the Odsal Stadium scheme since the Council was modernised in January.

Unlike the collapsed Superdome project - where quarterly progress reports went to the regeneration committee which the public could attend - discussions on the new plans have taken place in private meetings at City Hall.

Sterling Capitol was chosen by Bradford Council, which owns the stadium, in April last year. It then proposed an £80 million scheme with a 30,000-seat stadium.

But the Telegraph & Argus revealed exclusively in June, again after private meetings, that Sterling Capitol is now in partnership with shopping giants Tesco for the development of Odsal.

Sterling Capitol is now expected to submit an application for scaled-down plans next month.

It is understood the private meeting to discuss funding the land survey was attended by executive member for regeneration Councillor Simon Cooke, Labour spokesman for regeneration, Councillor Dave Green and Liberal Democrat spokesman John Briggs.

Mr Willoughby said today: "The decision was quite properly taken as an officer."

He said it was necessary to take a decision quickly as they needed to put the work with a contractor within a few days.

But Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe - whose constituency includes Odsal - said: "In view of the sensitivity of Odsal, decisions should be taken in public. It should not be behind closed doors."

Labour group leader Councillor Ian Greenwood said: "We have made it clear time and time again that these meetings should be in public.

"There should also be a proper dissemination of what happens at these meetings for the press and public."

But Coun Cooke said: "We would not be in the situation we are in but for the last controlling group.

"This was money which we had to spend. If it was held up to go to another meeting there would have been considerable delay. The Labour member at the meeting did not call for it to go on a public agenda, and he is the ward councillor."

No comment was available from Sterling Capitol or Tesco.