THE number of councillors in Bolton could be radically cut as part of cost-saving plans put forward by the town’s Liberal Democrat group.

The proposals, which would see elected officials reduced from 60 to 40, could save Bolton Council £250,000 a year.

Lib Dem leader Roger Hayes also wants councillors’ allowances reduced.

So-called special responsibility allowances (SRAs) are paid in addition to the basic allowance of £11,082 to councillors who have a higher workload.

Cllr Hayes said: “Council staff numbers have been cut by around 25 per cent, with no real reduction in workload. Councillors now have control of fewer functions and the number of meetings has also reduced.

“When SRAs were introduced, they were expected to apply to only a few councillors. It is astounding that they are now paid to nearly half the 60 councillors, and to nearly three quarters of the Labour group, amounting to more than £190,000 a year.”

Later this year, the Labour group will announce proposals of how it will deal with further cuts to the council’s budget, due to take effect in 2015.

But council leader Cliff Morris hit out at Cllr Hayes’ proposals, describing him as a “hypocrite” who was happy to collect his own special allowance, as leader of a party of just three councillors.

He added: “No one is asking him to take it — he could put it back in the coffers.

“There has been no increase in the last four years in terms of SRAs, so we have saved 10 per cent, we also made £140,000 in cuts to the members budget.”

Cllr Morris and Conservative leader Cllr David Greenhalgh also pointed out that the Liberal Democrat party voted to oppose plans last year for a Parliamentary boundary review — which could have led to a review of council boundaries.

Cllr Greenhalgh added: “It is ironic that the Lib Dem MPs scuppered the Parliamentary boundary review.

“It would be cost effective to deal with parliamentary and council boundary reviews together, so all options can be considered.”

He added that Tories in Bolton were backing an across the board reduction in councillors’ expenses.