A 90-MINUTE debate at Huddersfield Town Hall on student top-up fees was condemned as a waste of time.

Labour councillor Peter Sykes appealed for Kirklees Council to talk about issues over which it had direct control.

His blast came towards the end of a debate in which councillors were deciding whether top-up fees were good or bad.

Clr Sykes told a full council meeting: "This debate is going to change nothing and is a complete waste of time.

"There are people out there who agree with me and it is about time the council addressed itself to issues it can do something about."

Liberal Democrats who sparked the debate said it was crucial.

It was agreed to write to all Kirklees MPs asking them to oppose the Government's proposals.

Clr Smithson, the Lib-Dem who is the council's deputy leader, said: "This affects Kirklees in as much as we have a university with 16,000 students, the majority of whom are residents of Kirklees.

"It is important that the council spells out its views."