Every ward in Bolton will have extra money to spend in their area after a deal was struck to pass the council tax rise in Bolton.

Last minute changes were made ot Bolton Council’s budget after negotiations 

Under the deal a £1million will be split equally between all the wards in Bolton after the borough’s Conservative leadership came to an agreement with smaller parties to pass its budget.

Horwich and Blackrod First Independents leader Cllr David Grant said: “We understand that sometimes money comes in boxes for highways and so on.

“But we wanted to unshackle the councillors to use that money in their communities so for example if they want extra CCTV they can use it, if they want additional litter collections they can use it.”

The Bolton News: Horwich town hallHorwich town hall (Image: Newsquest)

Cllr Grant says that a deal like this is a ‘historic first’ as it marks the first time that non-national minor parties have secured a budget amendment to a borough council budget.

The budget was passed when Horwich and Blackrod First, Farnworth and Kearsley First and Little Lever and Darcy Lever First all agreed to support the ruling Conservative group’s budget.

This was in the face of opposition from Labour, who proposed their own changes to the budget which were blocked, the Liberal Democrats and One Kearsley.

The rebate money was received from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority waste and resources department and will come to around £50,000 per ward.

This means that the borough’s districts, such as Horwich and Blackrod, Farnworth and Kearsley, Westhoughton and Little Lever will all receive substantial slices.

Cllr Grant said: “So the idea was to be fair to all these areas and give councillors the authority and the agility to make a difference in their own communities because ultimately no one knows their communities better than they do."

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In Horwich’s case, Cllr Grant says that he hopes to see the town council granted greater powers to use the money in the community.

He said: “Horwich Town Council is a very progressive council and we’re looking at taking on more responsibilities.

“So we’re looking that moving towards what they call a super parish council which will have those powers.”