Leaders of Bolton's political parties share their messages for the new year.

CLLR CLIFF MORRIS, LEADER OF BOLTON COUNCIL AND LABOUR

The end of the year gives me the chance to reflect upon the year just gone and the changes to come.

The past year has been another year of good performance at the council, especially with the difficult and challenging economic and financial circumstances that we find ourselves in.

It’s been a year which has seen our work to improve the local economy begin to pay off, with work starting to the transport interchange; a town centre cinema; and the Logistics North site, which will bring many more businesses and jobs to the town, including MBDA and Aldi who are the first two major companies to sign up.

We’re also working hard with businesses to offer apprenticeships and improve people’s skills.

We have seen improvements to social care with improved intermediate care making sure people can stay out of hospital and live independently, and improved facilities for people with autism. Bolton is now making a faster rate of progress in extending life expectancy than across the rest of England average.

We have also made massive improvements in educational attainment. Our primary schools now compare with the best in the country and our secondary attainment is at the national average.

As we move into the new year you will be aware that we need to make a further £43m of cuts during the next two years and that we’re currently consulting about proposals to meet this shortfall. The final decisions will be taken by the Cabinet and full Council meeting at the end of February.

I recognise that these very challenging times present personal and professional pressures for us all. The fact that, despite this, we continue to deliver so much for the community is testament to the dedication and hard work of council members, staff and partners across the town.

Wishing you a prosperous and peaceful New Year.

CLLR DAVID GREENHALGH, LEADER OF BOLTON CONSERVATIVES

New Year is a time for reflection on the year that has passed, and also on what the future holds.

2014 was a year when the union of our strong proud nations held firm, albeit somewhat narrowly. It was the year when we commemorated the centenary of The First World War, and remembered throughout the land in moving tributes, the millions of lives lost. It was a year of sporting highs and lows.

Economically, I believe in 2014, we have turned a huge corner. At the start of the year, there were many who doubted the economic path this Government had taken. Now those same doubters are asking the Government how they have done it so they can do the same, for 2014 has continued to see the economy improve at a faster rate than predicted.

Local councils are being asked to bare a considerable amount of the savings, but these challenging times create opportunities for local councils: opportunities for innovation and greater partnership working, as the way we deliver services improves with better outcomes for local people.

2015 will see the opening of our new town centre cinema, part of a huge private investment in The Market Place; our new Transport Interchange will near completion; thanks to Government City Deal monies, Logistics North [Cutacre] continues to attract new major businesses to the town; and the new devolved powers and money from this Government to the Greater Manchester region undoubtedly creates huge potential for the future.

Bolton must always be “open for business”. Our leaders must always go that extra mile to encourage business to Bolton, and our education system should work alongside businesses to ensure our young workforce have the relevant skills needed for local employers.

As a proud Boltonian, I believe Bolton is capable of great things. May I wish everyone in the Bolton family a very Happy, Healthy and Rewarding New Year!

CLLR ROGER HAYES, LEADER OF BOLTON LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

I would like to wish everybody a happy and prosperous New Year. I hope you all had a peaceful Christmas.

2014 saw a further gradual recovery in Britain’s economic situation following what had been probably the worst recession since the 1920s. This recovery should continue during 2015, but the world economy is so fragile that relatively minor events could blow it off course.

This year we will have a General Election on May 7. It will give people some very serious choices to make: a continuation of the (mostly) sensible policies of the Coalition Government, a majority Conservative Government which seems likely to be ruled by right wing dogma, or a return to a Labour Government which got us into this mess in the first place.

Whatever the outcome, it seems certain that the large cuts made to public sector spending will remain. For Bolton, this will mean further cuts in services; roads deteriorating further and the problem of litter getting worse.

The one bright spot for local government could be the ‘city region’ deal given to Greater Manchester by the Government. This will allow Greater Manchester to have a far greater say in how Government funds are spent in this area, allowing priorities set locally to be followed. It will also some ‘new’ money to come to Greater Manchester. The ‘down side’ is that this deal is conditional on there being an Elected Mayor for Greater Manchester. However, it will not be the London style of Mayor – the powers will be far weaker and can be overruled by a majority of the 10 Greater Manchester Councils.

We are promised that creation of an Elected Mayor for Greater Manchester will in no way reduce the powers of Councils like Bolton. Technically that is correct, but I think it will have effect in the longer term – we shall have to wait and see.

CLLR PAUL RICHARDSON, DEPUTY LEADER OF BOLTON UKIP

I am very pleased to have been elected last May as one of the first two UKIP Councillors in Bolton. Our purpose throughout this first year in office has been to show that UKIP can operate successfully in local government by better representing the views of the man and woman in the street, unencumbered by the party ideology so beloved by the other groups.

We can promise that next May we intend to make further progress, with a view, over time, to removing the Labour majority on the Council and laying the foundations for the change that this town urgently needs.

We have wasted no time in identifying some of the issues that have been beggaring the town for a generation such as the unfair distribution across all twenty Bolton wards of what little money is available; a lack of policies encouraging proper integration of minority communities and the mass destruction of familiar and well-loved buildings which are part of Bolton’s proud heritage.

The proposed new system of governance involving the devolution of power and money from Whitehall to the Greater Manchester region might seem to be sensible at first glance from an administration point of view. However, the real question is “Will this increase or decrease the effectiveness of the individual Bolton elector’s vote?” We fear that it will decrease.

The start of the solution to the decline of the town lies in the hands of the electorate next May. There is only one way to commence the changes that are needed in how this town is run and that is for electors to give their votes to the only party that offers change – UKIP.

We wish all residents of Bolton, irrespective of creed, colour or lifestyle, a very happy and prosperous New Year.