An increase in council tax of more than four per cent is set in stone after it was approved by Bolton Council.

The rise is one of multiple measures intended to address a multi-million hole in the budget for the 12 months up to April 2024.

These other measures include cuts of more than £4 million and the use of reserves to the tune of £10 million.

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

But an increase in council tax is the most controversial as it comes when residents are struggling with the cost of living crisis.

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

Presenting the budget at the town hall on Wednesday, council leader Martyn Cox stressed the increase is the lowest by any authority in Greater Manchester.

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

Cllr Cox said: "No authority in the Greater Manchester area is setting a lower council tax, with the increase representing less than half the rate of inflation."

As the council is under no overall control, the Conservative Group was in need of support from other parties.

In spite of opposition from the Labour Group, the Liberal Democrats and One Kearsley, this support came from Farnworth and Kearsley First, Horwich and Blackrod First, and Little Lever and Darcy Lever First.

The Bolton News:

In return, the Conservative Group supported an amendment by these parties in relation to the use of a £1 million rebate received from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority waste and resources department.

As a result of this amendment, the £1 million sum is to be split between all wards to be spent by the councillors in each one.

Other changes to the budget were proposed by the leader of the Labour Group Nick Peel – who suggested adding another percentage point to the increase in council tax for improvements to several services – and by the leader of the Liberal Democrats Roger Hayes – who suggested asking central government for additional resources – but these changes to the budget were blocked.

The budget, as amended by Farnworth and Kearsley First, Horwich and Blackrod First, and Little Lever and Darcy Lever First, was approved after a vote. It comes into action in April.