A rise in council tax of more than four per cent is one step from approval after it was given the green light by Bolton Council's cabinet.

The cabinet met at the town hall on Monday to consider the proposal, one of multiple measures intended to address a multi-million hole in the budget for the 12 months up to April 2024.

Some of the other measures include cuts of more than £4 million, more than half of them across adults' services and children's services, and the use of reserves to the tune of £10 million.

But the rise in council tax is the most contentious, because it comes at a time when residents are struggling with the cost of living crisis.

READ MORE: Bolton's council tax set to rise in spite of opposition.

Included in the increase of 4.34 per cent is four per cent on top of Bolton Council's portion of the bill, as well as 4.8 per cent added to the Mayoral General Precept and 6.6 per cent added to the Mayoral Police Precept – the Greater Manchester Combined Authority's portion of the bill.

There are some variations in Blackrod, Horwich and Westhoughton, where there is also a Parish Precept to be paid.

Although the bulk of the discussion is for the budget debate next week, some issues were raised when the cabinet met at the town hall on Monday, in particular over the Mayoral General Precept and the Mayoral Police Precept. 

Roger Hayes, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, asked council leader Martyn Cox if he supported an increase in this portion of the bill.

READ MORE: Bolton's council tax set to rise – but what will I pay?

On the general precept, Cllr Cox said: "The mayor [Andy Burnham] felt fire workers were underpaid over the last 10 years and wanted some room for manoeuvre."

On the police precept, Cllr Cox added: "I made it clear to the mayor I was supportive because we've got a police service that's doing what it should do. For years it was a failing service and it was allowed to fail for too long, but credit where credit is due the management was replaced.

"I have been impressed, I think other leaders in GM have been impressed. There's a marked improvement in police performance. I won't go through all the indicators but one is arrests. The number of arrests in Bolton doubled. 

"I was prepared to back the chief and his team and not have a political fight over policing. I think we have the right person who is doing the right things and who is getting results. It was with this in mind I backed the increase."

At the budget debate next week, opposition parties to the Conservative Group in charge of the council are allowed to table amendments.

The Conservative Group needs a majority for approval of the proposal, and it needs support from others as it holds only 26 of 60 seats.