Bradford voters will go to the polls on May 4 in a year of massive change at City Hall.

The authority has undergone a radical restructure, with a powerful Executive Committee - like Downing Street's Cabinet - taking all key decisions.

Its work is examined by five scrutiny committees and a standards committee, chaired by the Bishop of Bradford, the Right Reverend David Smith, which monitors the Council to ensure members are above reproach and there are no irregularities.

All three political parties are represented on the committees, and they are open to the Press.

Added to all this the top management structure of Britain's fourth biggest metropolitan council is being overhauled.

New posts taking account of the modernised Council will be advertised nationally, but existing top officers will be able to apply for them.

The Council is also reorganising education from a three to two-tier school system, and middle schools will end in summer.

There is also a possibility of a hung council for the first time in more than a decade if this year's result mirrors last year and nine Labour seats are lost.

All eyes will be on the Eccleshill Ward where Labour's high-profile schools boss Susanne Rooney is up for re-election. She is a key player in the schools review and Executive Committee member for Education and Lifelong Learning.

Executive Committee member for Housing and Environment Jim O'Neill is also standing for re-election in the Odsal Ward.

Former Labour Council leader John Ryan, who recently became chairman of Bradford Hospitals NHS Community Trust, is also hoping to regain his seat in Bowling.

The outspoken deputy leader of the Tory Group Councillor Richard Wightman aims to retain his Rombalds seat.

And Liberal Democrat stalwart councillor David Ward is standing again in Idle.

The Council make-up - decided by voters in May - will be in place until 2002 because there are no local elections next year.

The controlling Labour Group is fighting to keep 23 wards, while the Tories are defending just four and the Liberal Democrats three.

All three main parties are fielding candidates in the 30 wards.

But the result will be determined by the turnout - and Bradford was one of the lowest in Britain last year, with just 16 per cent of potential voters bothering to turn out in some areas.

The Green Party is strongly represented this year, with 12 candidates, and is making an all-out bid to get its first member.

Council leader Councillor Ian Greenwood said: "I believe the Labour Group has given strength, compassion and financial prudence to the district and clearly education is our major priority. We will deliver the schools reorganisation and put extra money into education."

Tory Group leader Councillor Margaret Eaton said: "The 20/20 Vision launched yesterday is a clear indictment of the result of ten years of Labour control. The schools are failing our children and litter abounds on the main roads in and out of the city and deterring investment."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.