BOLTON'S council tax will rise by five per cent from April 1 and £2million will be sliced from services.

But Bolton Council leader Bob Howarth says in his 21 years in power he cannot recall a better budget and it is good news for the town.

With £248 million to spend on services and at least £20million special funding on top, Cllr Howarth says there is more growth and money for services than ever before and the average tax rise will mean just 60p a week more for most of the town's householders.

Each council department apart from education was asked to make efficiency savings.

But Councillor Howarth said: "The point to remember is that all these departments have growth more than the efficiency savings.

"These should be done on a regular basis anyway -- even if you do not have targets for the budget. It is good news all the way through. It is extra investment coming in and that is before we count the special funding on top. This budget outshines the others.

"Although this money is targeted so that you cannot choose exactly where to use it, it is money coming into the borough adding to the prosperity of the environment. It is putting money into people's pockets and helping the local economy, job prospects and so on."

But deputy liberal democrat leader Roger Hayes disagreed. At a special budget meeting last night he said he was hearing typical Labour spin and asked: "How can reduced leisure centre income be growth?

"How can reduced crematorium income of £47,000 be growth? The only real growth is the amount of the expenditure being pushed on to the council tax payer.

"We have got to recognise there has been a significant rise in funding, but there has also been a significant increase in the council tax burden.

Added Councillor Hayes: "The special funding is all about implementing government policy, there is no democratic input into spending that money."

Deputy Tory leader Councillor John Walsh said the government's refusal to accept the town's proposal for the Community Regeneration Company to sort out the town's housing has left the funds in crisis. Lack of cash for the police and short-changed council services, was not, he maintained, good news.

"We want to see a budget which can provide quality public services," he added.

Where the axe

came down

ENVIRONMENT -- £402,000. This includes £40,000 job cuts, £10,000 off advertising and publicity with the Town Centre Company, £30,000 off the highways special projects fund, £7,000 off pest control, £20,000 off legal costs £10,000 off marketing and £10,000 off recruitment advertising.

SOCIAL SERVICES -- £79,000 on children's services including £35,000 saved on efficiency savings to the service provided to the Children's Society and inflation related savings.

£127,000 on older peoples' services including £127,000 on reorganisation of residential care, £28,000 on community meals, £20,000 on transport. £192,000 on vulnerable adults services, including £120,000 from extra housing benefit and £55,000 from controlling inflation.

EDUCATION -- No cuts only growth.

CULTURAL SERVICES -- £312,000. This includes £40,000 off the ranger service, £100,000 savings on senior management, £80,000 off leisure centres budget and £75 "general efficiency."

CORPORATE SERVICES -- £436,000.This includes £100,000 savings on Neighbourhood Renewal and general "efficiency savings"

DIRECT SERVICES -- £165,000. This includes £27,000 off greenspace management and savings on maintenance.