BOLTON Council bosses will spend £50,000 on consultants — to help them decide which services to cut to save cash.

Town Hall bosses have to save £63 million between 2015 and 2018 – 37 per cent of the current budget.

Cutbacks will affect the adults and children’s service department, development and regeneration plans and the budget for the environment, as well as chief executive and corporate costs.

But in his report to the cabinet, Bolton Council’s chief executive, Sean Harriss, said it was necessary to seek technical and professional support so the local authority is able to make the right choices.

He added: “It is anticipated this work may cost up to £50,000 but should provide the council with better information on which options to consider to deliver financial savings.”

Unions are opposed to the plans. Bernie Gallager, branch secretary at Unison, said: “We believe there is in-house expertise — either from council officers, or politicians that are elected to know the needs of the people of Bolton.

“If an external consultant is brought in we would want to know what their brief or remit is.

“Usually they receive guidance about the area and the council will tell the consultants what they want to do — at which point you might as well do it in house.”

However Cllr Cliff Morris, leader of Bolton Council, said the figure was a one-off payment and part of a bid to ultimately keep jobs.

He added: “What we have to remember is that we have taken out a lot of capacity from senior officers, so sometimes we have to bring in people with expertise — this helps to preserve jobs.”

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Cllr Andy Morgan, deputy leader of the Conservative group, said he would prefer to Bolton Council using the expertise available within the authority first, with consultants to be used only in the final stages.

He added: “We have got the experience in the council to make these decisions and I have sympathy with the unions’ point of view.

“With that said, sometimes it does take another pair of eyes to look at the decisions, without any bias.

“We are looking for assurances that the fee of £50,000 will be capped, and that the consultant would be there to validate the findings of the council officers.”

Cllr Roger Hayes, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said he backed the call by the council executive to appoint a consultant.

He added: “The first point is that we have to watch all our expenditure very carefully and make sure it’s spent appropriately.

“It depends on who they appoint, but I think if this person can give a significant help, then it’s money well spent. “