Bolton Council came under fierce attack last night from a leading Tory for setting a council tax rise of 4.7 pc. From April 1, people will be making payments ranging from £590.33 in the lowest band A to £1770.98 in the top band H. In Horwich, Westhoughton and Blackrod, the payments are higher to meet parish council precepts.

The rise compares with an average 5.8pc increase in Greater Manchester and is in line with the Government's recommendation of 4.5pc.

But Tory deputy leader Cllr John Walsh claimed at last night's special budget-setting Bolton Council meeting that the increase could have been less than 4pc.

He put forward an alternative budget which included:

Cutting the town hall wage bill by one pc to save £851,000.

Cutting Bolton's support for the Greater Manchester Transport Authority.

Improving collection of the £2.4 million council house rent arrears.

Selling council owned property to raise £108,000. Ending Bolton's contribution of £376,000 to the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities for grants to organisation across the county.

He also criticised council chiefs for the £1 million re-furbishment of Victoria Square - £719,000 of which came out of the council's own budget which he calculated will cost council tax payers £10 a year each.

He also claimed council taxpayers were also having to meet the bill to buy £1.3 million of extra Manchester Airport shares bought by the council and the £1 million legal costs following the Birtenshaw land wrangle.

Criticism

He said: "A tax increase of below 4pc with fewer cuts, while still too high would, I believe be far more acceptable to the people of Bolton."

The council's budget allowed for £243.4 million spending with extra cash going into education and social services.

But there will be cuts of £3.2 million from other areas of the council's services.

And the fiercest criticism came about the decision to cut back on later afternoon street sweeping in Bolton town centre, weekend grot spot work and public toilet opening hours as part of £848,000 cut from the planning and environment committee budget.

Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Mrs Barbara Ronson said: "The residents of Bolton will be paying extra council tax, but they will be seeing crumbling roads and pavements, street lights which need upgrading, more litter and mess on the streets and long delays in implementing road safety schemes."

But leading Labour councillors defended the budget they had presented to the council.

Cllr Guy Harkin, deputy council leader, said: "This is the best budget in the 16 years I have been involved in delivering it."

Council leader Cllr Bob Howarth attacked Cllr Walsh's budget point by point.

And he defended the decision to improve Victoria Square.

He said: "You will only see the true effect when the fountains are completed and the leaves are on the trees and I believe that along with the magnificent town hall it will contribute to what will be one of the most attractive town centres in the country."

Cllr Michael Kilcoyne, chairman of Bolton's Labour councillors, defended the money which is being spent in schools.

He said that as a school governor this was the first time in years cuts were not being considered.

"We are actually talking about spending money in schools", he said.

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