A bitter secrecy row has blown up between Bradford councillors over a closed doors decision to form an interim racial equality council.

It has been agreed that the temporary service will be based in Bradford, with surgeries held twice a week in Keighley.

But the way the major decision was taken in private has provoked the first serious row since Labour lost overall control of the council in May.

The issue was put on the agenda of a special executive committee on Tuesday at the request of Labour group leader Councillor Ian Greenwood.

He believes the decision was taken by leading Tory and Liberal councillors, but they say it was made legally by council chief executive Ian Stewart and they merely advised him at a meeting -- in line with standing orders.

And Cllr Greenwood's amendment that consultation should take place on the formation of the interim racial equality council, and that there should be a commitment to retain a separate REC in Keighley, was defeated by the Tories and Liberal Democrats during the heated hour-long meeting.

Bradford Racial Equality Council, which previously had been funded by the council and the national body, folded earlier this year amid an inquiry into alleged financial irregularities and an employment tribunal verdict that it had discriminated against a woman worker.

Since then people have faced problems if they needed advice or help with industrial tribunals.

Deputy Tory council leader Cllr Richard Wightman told the meeting that the decision to form the interim REC had been taken in a normal way by the chief executive, using his delegated powers.

Cllr Wightman said his group and the Liberal Democrats had advised the chief executive on the decision he took after talks with the London-based Commission for Racial Equality.

But Cllr Greenwood said: "The decision should have been taken by this executive. Arrangements for racial equality services have been a matter for concern. It is not appropriate that arrangements for an interim REC should be taken behind closed doors, in private and with no press present. There should have been above board discussions."

Cllr Greenwood said Keighley REC had always been separate and -- unlike the troubled Bradford organisation -- there had never been a "suggestion of anything improper".

He added: "This isn't open politics. It's about trying to hide behind the structure. We don't accept that politicians should hide behind officers where difficult and unpopular decisions are made."

Deputy Labour group leader Cllr Barry Thorne said people in Keighley were outraged to learn that they would not have a separate organisation when they had been unaware any decision was being taken.

Cllr Wightman said there would now be widespread consultation on the long-term future of racial equality provision in the district by the council and CRE. Reports would go both to the council and executive.

CRE commissioner Mohammed Amran said at the meeting that he was unaware that the Keighley organisation had been separate.