Bolton residents are being urged to have their say on increasing council tax by 4 per cent.

Bolton Council has outlined its draft budget  and residents have until the New Year to comment during the public consultation before a final decision is made.

The one-month public consultation on the proposals started this week after approval by Town Hall bosses.

Included in the one-year budget is a rise in council tax of at least four per cent, as well as more than £4 million in cuts to address issues such as inflation.

The cuts are a lot less than those included in the last two-year budget, but this is, says councillors, thanks to the local authority tapping into its reserves to the tune of £10 million.

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The proposals suggest council tax is set to rise four per cent next year, compared to 3.12 per cent this year, but this is before any increase to the 'Mayoral Precept', which goes to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

It means a rise of at least four per cent when residents are experiencing the impact of inflation themselves.

The cuts are set to come from four areas of operation – adult services is the most affected, followed by children's services, place and corporate resources. The only area of operation to avoid these cuts is public health thanks to a one-off contribution by the NHS.

Bolton Council leader Cllr Martyn Cox said 'essential frontline services' are to be protected across all areas.

Cllr Cox said: "Like all local authorities, we are facing some difficult financial choices in the year ahead. However, the proposed budget would protect the essential frontline services that we all rely on.

"It is now essential that as many people as possible have their say on these plans, and this feedback will influence the final draft of the budget that will be considered next year."

In response to the proposals, opposition leader Nick Peel blamed the cuts on what he described as 'deliberate and repeated' targetting of local government by central government.

Cllr Peel said: "Bolton Council can no longer take these repeated year on year cuts."

To contribute to the public consultation, residents are asked to use the Bolton Council website.

Once approved by cabinet and council in the New Year, the budget comes into effect in April.