BOLTON'S tax payers are set for above-inflation rises of about nine per cent. Yesterday the government announced the final figures for local government funding for the next financial year. Bolton's total grant of £159,208 million was marginally less than provisional figures issued last November when rises of 11 per cent were predicted. But the Greater Manchester Police budget is showing signs of being lower than previously thought and town hall chiefs are expecting to collect more poll tax and council tax than expected.

The council has already decided to use the extra money to peg council tax bills and £5 million worth of cuts will still go ahead.

Labour leaders at the town hall have slammed the final government settlement. Council leader Cllr Bob Howarth said: "I am very disappointed, Bolton council tax payers will be paying more for less.

"The increase does not come anywhere near the rate of inflation even if we were standing still. But we are not standing still.

"They always claim they are giving us more money when they are not and once again the difference has to be made up by the council tax-payer and £5 million cuts. "They are hoping to delude people by saying they are cutting taxation.

"What they are doing is switching the burden of taxation from national government to local government".

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