Bolton Council could soon be restricted to publishing its residents’ newspaper Bolton Scene just four times a year.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said he was determined to stop council taxpayers’ money being spent on “frivolous town hall propaganda papers” at a time when many local papers were struggling to survive.

Under proposed new government rules, councils will be banned from publishing newspapers in direct competition to local press.

Publication will be limited to just four times a year, and content will be restricted to factual material relating directly to council services and not comment or commentary.

Councils will also be prevented from using taxpayers’ money to lobby central government through private sector lobbying firms and publicity stalls at party conferences.

Mr Pickles said: “An independent local press is an essential part of our open democracy, helping local people scrutinise and hold elected councillors to account.

“The rules around council publicity have been too weak for too long allowing public money to be spent on frivolous town hall propaganda papers that have left many local newspapers looking over the abyss — weakening our free press.

“The proposals will make sure that councils focus taxpayers'

money on where it should be spent — protecting frontline services.”

Conservative councillor Andy Morgan, a long time supporter of the plight of local papers, said he agreed with Mr Pickles’ stance.

He said: “At times like this we should be supporting our local newspapers, like The Bolton News. We spend vast amounts of money on producing Bolton Scene, and other publications, when some of that cash could be spent on buying adverts in local papers.

“I would also like to see some of the money invested in the website which, since the re-design, I find hard to navigate. If we invested in that we could publicise events on there and save on other costs.”

Last night, Town Hall bosses defended Bolton Scene.

Alan Eastwood, director of the chief executive’s department, said: “Bolton Council has produced Bolton Scene for many years. We do so as part of our commitment to inform the public about the work of their council, as we are required to do under local government legislation.

“We agree with Mr Pickles that all council newspapers should present the facts about the latest developments in a clear and unambiguous way and without further comment. Bolton Scene has always sought to do this, regardless of the party in power.”