I REFER to the recent report about my motion to Council to cut the costs of councillors headlined “Tories back Lib Dem idea to cut number of allowances paid to councillors.”

Councillor Hayes infers that Conservatives are following Liberal Democrats in proposing reductions. This is far from correct and very misleading and I must put the record straight.

For many years Conservatives have proposed reducing the costs of councillors. I offer just one example of many. In the budget debate last year Conservatives proposed a cut of 25% in allowances but all three Liberal Democrat Councillors voted against the idea as did Labour councillors.

To suggest as Councillor Hayes does that the number of councillors should be cut from 60 to 40 to save money is not so straightforward. There is a long process of review by the Boundary Commission leading to new boundaries and an all out election probably not before 2019. Even then the Commission may not propose a cut. In supporting my motion the council could act at once.

Despite this I welcome Liberal Democrat support for my calls for an urgent review of all options to cut costs, including a return to the former committee structure rather than a highly paid executive. This would have the added benefit of giving Bolton Council a more democratic and open arrangement of governance.

Councillor John Walsh

Astley Bridge Ward