A TOWN councillor has said it is "rich" of a government minister to suggest local authorities should pass more money down to parish councils given the cuts they have imposed.

Local government minister Kris Hopkins said he intended to write to 31 councils in the UK as they were not passing enough money to parish councils.

Latest figures show a total of £31 million of council tax support funding will be handed to parishes between now and 2015.

Cllr Christopher Peacock, for Westhoughton North and Chew Moor, also sits on Westhoughton Town Council.

He said parish councils in Bolton were mostly funded through a precept paid directly by taxpayers, but threw down the gauntlet to the government to give more cash to Bolton Council to pass on.

Cllr Peacock said: "It is a bit rich of a minister to attack councils for not giving enough to parish councils when the government has taken so much from Bolton Council in cuts.

"If he is happy to give Bolton Council the money then I'm sure we would be happy to talk about it."

Mr Hopkins said: "‘I applaud the can-do councils who are collaborating with parishes by passing down the money due so they can continue to deliver a range of vital services for local people including running leisure centres, maintaining public spaces, parks and play areas and providing support for the elderly.

"The rest of this money should also be passed down and I expect billing authorities and parish and town councils to make sure this happens."