MOVES to give voters their say on council tax increases have been condemned as a sham by leading Conservatives.

Town Hall bosses have called a series of public meetings to allow residents to put across their views as party bosses prepare to draw-up one of their most controversial budgets in years.

But Tory leader Cllr Alan Rushton hit out at the project, claiming the meetings were being held too late to have any bearing on the outcome of budget negotiations. Another Conservative, Cllr Paul Brierley, also criticised officers for arranging the meeting for his Bradshaw ward at lunchtime on a weekday.

Cllr Rushton said the three main political parties were already drawing-up their budget proposals for a special meeting on Wednesday, February 26.

He said: "Most of the parties are already well-advanced in their budget negotiations and there have been a number of meetings with finance officers. The budget is a hugely complex matter, yet these public meetings will not be concluded until February."

Any future budget will need the support of at least 50 per cent of the Bolton's councillors. But many believe negotiations will go to the wire as the dominant Labour group no longer holds a majority.

Cllr Brierley is furious that the Bradshaw, Breightmet and Tonge forum, to be held at Longsight Methodist Church in Harwood on Wednesday, January 21, will take place at 12.30pm when people are at work.

He said: "This is a sham. By holding this meeting during the day, instead of early evening when all sections of the community can attend, they are excluding half their voters."

A council spokesman said the previous area forum, which was held during the day, had been well attended.

She added: "It was decided to trial daytime meetings at some of the area forums, particularly in the winter, and this was agreed by a majority of members. The meeting at which the budget is due to be discussed happens to be the second of the Bradshaw, Breightmet and Tonge Area Forums scheduled during the day."