Residents today demanded 'Give us our money's worth' as it was revealed Bradford councillors could earn as much as £1 million this year.

They said councillors' work should be monitored before the payments were made - and described some of their representatives as "invisible men."

Tenant leaders representing estates across the district revealed:

l Some people didn't even know who their councillors were and had never met them

l Many residents were unaware where and when their ward members' surgeries were

l Some councillors attended important meetings but left quietly after half an hour or less.

The Telegraph & Argus predicted 11 months ago that councillors' allowances would top £1 million following the modernisation of Britain's fourth biggest council.

Now it is clear the forecast is likely to come true this year, with allowances soaring to the record total by next March.

The increase has been caused because the authority has increased allowances for the council leader to £25,000. Other top councillors - including political group leaders and portfolio holders and members of the executive committee - have been awarded £17,500.

But the biggest change in the system is that all members also get a flat rate £7,500 basic allowance.

Under the old system they got £2,212, but were able to claim attendance allowances for individual meetings on top.

The number of higher-paid special responsibility allowances has also been cut in the new system.

The changes are in line with the Local Government Act, which says attendance allowances should end and councillors be suitably recompensed.

Figures released today showed allowances for the year ending in March totalled £656,900, an increase of £139,300 over the previous year.

The increase is due to the implementation of the new system which came into effect in January.

Today people made it clear they were willing to fork out - but only if members earned it by improving services.

John Rawnsley, chairman of Bradford and District Tenants' Federation, said people wanted to see improvements, especially in meeting targets for house repairs, cleansing standards and grass cutting.

Susan Brook, of the Newlands Single Regeneration Partner-ship, said: "There are some very good councillors but you could describe some as the invisible men.

"You don't see them and people don't know who they are."

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