Bradford Council leader Ian Greenwood has challenged what he called an “unacceptable” Government policy which means the Labour-run authority will miss out on a major grant to help it cope with funding cuts.

He told a meeting of the Council’s executive yesterday he will express his dismay in writing to the Government, blaming “bad accounting and bad administration” for the fact Bradford will not receive extra cash to help it cope with the consequences of October’s spending review.

It was revealed Bradford’s spending power for 2011 to 2012 would be reduced by 8.81 per cent, only 0.9 per cent below the threshold of 8.9 per cent which would entitle the Council to receive transitional funding to help it cope with the slashing of its budget.

At the meeting, at City Hall, Coun Greenwood said: “In my view it is entirely unacceptable we miss the significant dampening because we are at 8.81 per cent.

“We will be writing to the Government to say we think such a sharp cut-off point is not acceptable, and is frankly bad accounting and bad administration.”

The overall reduction in Government funding to Bradford in the next year is £53.7 million with a further £26m to be cut the following year. According to a report to the executive, the cuts are likely to be offset to some extent by some non-ring-fenced funding being transferred from the National Health Service.

Coun Greenwood said he recognised cuts were inevitable as a result of the financial climate but he pledged to protect jobs and services as much as possible.

He said: “Our view, very strongly, is these reductions are too fast and too far. We accept reductions would be made as a result of the consequences of the international downturn. We know it is very difficult times for those people that receive our services and are worried about them, and those people that work for us and are worried about their jobs.

“We understand that and will try to protect them to the best of our ability.”