THE scale of the cuts facing Bolton Council next year has been finalised, showing the authority has to save a further £22 million from its annual budget in 2014-15.

And £25 million is expected to be slashed from Bolton Council’s budget in 2015-16 according to figures from a government report released this week.

Council bosses say the cuts were identified as part of a two-year budget which was agreed in February 2013, and the majority of changes to services have already been implemented.

The conditions whereby the authority could freeze council tax for Bolton residents — in return for a grant from the government — will not be announced until the new year.

Bolton Council opted not to accept the deal last year, meaning council tax went up 3.5 per cent for residents.

This year finance officers have predicted a two per cent increase in rates, which would raise an extra £1.6 million for the council. Council leader Cllr Cliff Morris said the settlement was broadly in line with what it had forecast.

He added: “This is still a disaster for local people, as we will need to make significant cuts in services in order to balance the books.”


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Cllr David Greenhalgh, leader of the Conservatives, said the group would call on the authority to freeze council tax for 2014.

He said: “When times remain tough for hard working families we think the money is better in residents’ pockets rather than with the council.”

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Cllr Roger Hayes said it was important for the council to explore all avenues of funding, adding: “I think it would be useful for people who are hard-pressed to have a council tax freeze.”