At the last full meeting of Bolton Council, the Conservative-led administration opted to increase Council Tax by over four per cent, alongside cuts of £4 million, and the use of council reserves worth £10 million.

These decisions show an administration out of ideas for our borough which so desperately needs them. We need ambition, not more managed decline.

According to the most recent data, Bolton is to all intents and purposes in recession, and we therefore need a Council which takes an active role in supporting our local economy and town, not one where the only idea they can muster is a tax rise and a cut to crucial services.

Whilst I do not have a direct say in Council decision making, I do represent the interests of thousands of constituents in Bolton who like me want to see the return of our once vibrant and busy town centre. To create jobs and boost our local economy and making our high street a great place once again.

Our Council must implement a rental relief scheme, giving people a 6-month rental holiday on their initial tenancy to allow them to pay half rent for the following 6 months, and full rent after a year.

This scheme would give people the opportunity to ’take a punt‘ on an idea they may have had on the back burner for a long time. Some would come and go, but others would come and stay, becoming permanent fixtures.

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The point here is less the idea itself, more that there are options and policy decisions that the Council could take to support our economic development, provide jobs, and encourage growth. But we need them to match this ambition for the town with action.

It is not just the Council at fault, but also the Conservative Government. Its decision to starve local councils of funding is part of the reason Bolton Council has made the decision to increase everybody’s tax, as we have lost £225 million of the budget since 2010.

The next Labour Government will ensure local government is properly funded, will hand power to communities to innovate and introduce local policies for local people, and will support our high streets by rebalancing the tax system.