A powerful new panel has been set up to co-ordinate Bradford's Lottery applications in a bid to attract as much cash as possible.

The committee, set up by Bradford Council, will cut down duplication and make sure the district gets its fair share of the jackpot.

It has been set up amid fear that Lottery applications are being submitted in an 'ad hoc' way with no overall strategy. There are also national concerns about some regions of the country winning less cash than others. The role of the group will include:

Making representations to the Government on the distribution of Lottery cash

Examine local Lottery bids at an early stage with a view to offering support and partnership

Advise community groups on how to submit winning bids

Recommending which of the district's bids to lend support to, in line with the Council's Corporate Priorities Fund.

Councillor Dave Green (Lab, Odsal) who will sit on the panel with colleagues Ralph Berry and Barry Thorne along with an opposition council member, said: "There are a number of Lottery applications around that aren't being pulled together centrally to make sure there's a co-ordinated response and we make best possible use of the funding available. I think in six months' time, it will be a success."

Councillor Thorne (Lab, Keighley) added: "At the moment it's done on an ad hoc basis. The present Government sees local authorities as the main driving force in seeking Lottery funding.

"What we don't want is seven bids for swimming pools in Bingley going in and having them all in one place - that isn't sustainable. You need a strategy to work with - at the moment it's absolute chaos."

He said Bradford did not have a good record in attracting sports-related Lottery cash and having a central panel may be able to help.

Councillor Margaret Eaton (Con, Bingley) said: "Anything that helps the city to be successful in attracting funding I would agree with, but I have reservations about the council controlling something too much - if only the pet schemes of the controlling group are successful then there's a concern."

The panel would not be able to stop any other group across the district from submitting their own independent bids for cash.

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