BOLTON’S Tory chief has called on Labour to appoint more opposition councillors to important town hall positions in recognition of last week’s election result.

The controlling group saw its majority slashed to effectively one seat after voters went to the polls last Thursday, as the Conservatives, Farnworth and Kearsley First and the Liberal Democrats all made gains at its expense.

Now Cllr David Greenhalgh is urging council leader Linda Thomas to give political opponents the role of chairing committees.

He believes it is particularly important in the case of scrutiny committees which challenge and shape emerging policies.

Cllr Thomas will release the names and positions of cabinet and committees on Tuesday.

And Cllr Greenhalgh is hopeful his suggestion will be taken on board.

He said: “Before the election there was a willingness from the Labour leadership to work together on more things.

“This could be a prime example for them to say ‘look, we acknowledge the result, we feel scrutiny is of huge importance and we will give the scrutiny chairs to opposition councillors'.

“It might be that nothing happens, but it would seem the sensible thing to do and an acknowledgement of the result. They will be more accountable because opposition councillors will have more places on scrutiny committees.”

And Cllr Greenhalgh, who represents Bromley Cross ward, said it would “absolutely right” for Labour to recognise the new balance of power having lost seven seats in the space of one year — albeit offset by one gain in Little Lever and Darcy Lever.

He added: “ It’s important they think the way of doing that is to be more accountable and give scrutiny chairs, that decide the agendas and chair these meetings.”

Cllr Greenhalgh points to a precedent of opposition councillors chairing scrutiny committees in Bolton when the ruling group’s majority has been similarly narrow.

“We had some committee chairs and certainly with scrutiny I feel that is essential,” he said.

And he also points to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority under Andy Burnham as a current example of the approach.

On the year ahead Cllr Greenhalgh added: “We intend to continue to hold the Labour group to account and challenge where absolutely we feel they have the wrong set of priorities for the town.

“But equally, where we feel we can we can work together for the good of the town, we’re happy to do that.”