THE Liberal Democrats were accused of being Labour's "puppets" as Cllr Barbara Ronson was voted in as the first female leader of Bolton Council on Wednesday night.

Just minutes after the party unveiled the team it hopes will lead the borough into a new era, Conservative leader Cllr Alan Rushton warned there were already rumours of a vote of no confidence in the administration.

The Lib Dems took power on Bolton Council for the first time after growing from the smallest to the largest group overnight at the June 10 election.

But they angered Conservative councillors at the council's annual meeting by refusing to vote in a dispute over who would run which scrutiny committees -- effectively leaving the decision to Labour.

It follows an open letter in which the Lib Dems declared they believed the scrutiny function should be shared between both opposition groups.

After the meeting, Cllr Rushton said he had concerns over the Lib Dems ability to deliver reform after 24 years of Labour power.

He also raised fears over the party's lack of "strength in depth", which he claimed was demonstrated by the appointment of Iqbal Patel as vice chairman of the planning, even though he only joined the council three weeks ago.

Cllr Rushton said: "It seems that the Labour group say 'jump' and the Lib Dems say 'how high?"

But he added: "We feel there is time to recover the situation rather than the Lib Dems just becoming the puppets of the Labour Party."

The Lib Dems new executive member for environment, Cllr David Wilkinson, described the comments as "shameful".

He said: "I am disappointed he didn't have the guts to say these things in the council chamber.

"We want all parties to work together for the good of the borough and it was the Conservatives who ended talks and decided they want to take no part in scrutiny."

Following the Lib Dems election success, the group has 21 seats in the council chamber compared to Labour's 20 and the Conservatives 19.

The scrutiny committees have been set up as a check on the activities of the members of the council executive committee and can be a powerful weapon for opposition groups.

Conservatives, who will take control of the licensing committee, ran the scrutiny committees last year as part of a deal which kept Labour in power.

Deputy Labour leader Cllr Linda Thomas said: "We take our role in opposition very seriously and this is just Tory sour grapes.

"We have apprehensions about the Lib Dem administration but we respect the wishes of the electorate."

At the meeting, the chamber voted to make Cllr Ronson executive member for corporate resources while her deputy Cllr Roger Hayes will be executive member for direct services and area working.

Cllr Bob Ronson will take charge of social services and health, Cllr Carol Swarbrick, education and integrated children's services; and Cllr Martin Cox is the new culture boss.

Cllr Julia Silvester was put in charge of human resources and development while 75-year-old Cllr John Rothwell, is the new executive member for social inclusion and community.