BOLTON Council is expected to set its budget tonight, including the rate of council tax for the next financial year.

This is the first budget to be set by the minority Conservative administration which took over last May.

Opposition parties tabled amendments to the Tories' proposals with Labour calling for the council's meals on wheels service to continue by scrapping a new assistant director post and dipping into the public health budget reserves.

Labour, the largest party in the council, has also called for an extra £2,500 for each area forum and for more money to be allocated to the most deprived areas.

Ex-council leader Linda Thomas's amendment has also said that plans to scrap free parking at weekends in the town centre's three NCP should not go ahead.

UKIP's amendment has called for more to be done to support bowling greens.

The part of the council tax bill which the local authority sets is due to rise by two per cent in April.

This comes after Andy Burnham approved his council tax precepts for fire, police and transport.

The Lib Dem amendment describes the rise in council tax set by the Greater Manchester mayor as "indefensible".

The bottom line of the council tax bill for Bolton households is expected to rise by 3.05 per cent.