OPPOSITION councillors have called on the ruling Labour group to re-think the children’s centre cut-backs and said the authority’s large reserves could be used to plug the funding hole.

Tory Cllr Bob Allen pointed out that in the council’s latest accounts it states that there is £204 million of “usable reserves” and while Labour has argued that this is for one-off funding, Cllr Allen said there is a way round it.

He said: “I take the point that if you take this money from the reserves then the assumption is that you have to take that same amount each year for children’s centres — so it’s not a one-off, but even if you did that for five years, it wouldn’t make a huge dent in the reserves.”

“The Labour executive have decided that this is where they want to save, they could have looked elsewhere and have decided to put millions into things like the Horwich Leisure Centre and The Octagon Theatre.”

He added: “There are lots of places they could have chosen, but they have chosen this.”

UKIP leader Cllr Sean Hornby agreed, adding: “This council is sitting on these huge reserves that they could use here.”

“Children’s centres was one of Labour’s main things about ten years ago and they wanted one in every ward.

“I have seen the good work that goes on in my own ward — it is the kind of work that may not have an effect straight away but it becomes apparent as a child grows up.

“I think to close them is a false economy and will end up costing us more in other areas in the future — such as tackling anti-social behaviour.”

Council to axe 13 children's centres in bid to save £1.5 million

Lib Dem chief Roger Hayes added: “I understand some of this is to do with government cuts, but it is also about the council’s priorities.

“They can find money for saunas at Bolton One and to do up the town hall — as well as £90,000 for the former Chief Executive.”

He added: “As a principle I think the children’s centres should be kept open.”

In response, deputy leader Cllr Linda Thomas said: "Reserves are one-off monies and we need to find £1.4 million every year.

"It would be putting off the inevitable as we have to find further cuts overall, and our services are getting near to the bone.

"The Tories will have to accept their government’s responsibility for these cuts and it would be more helpful if they supported us and lobbied their government instead of trying to blame us.”