PROPOSALS to cut a “mind boggling” £43 million from Bolton Council's budget — resulting in hundreds of jobs being lost — will now be put to the public.

Members of the council’s cabinet yesterday heard the report from chief executive Sean Harriss on how the cash-strapped authority intends to make the revenue savings between 2015 and 2017, following a reduction in government grants and rising costs.

Up to 500 jobs could be lost in the implementation of the proposals.

Plans include merging administration teams in the council into one department, sharing services with other authorities and depending more on community groups and charities to carry out litter picks and youth services work.

Mr Harriss said: “I think the most significant issue here is this authority has had reductions of £100 million already, and delivering a further £43 million will be particularly challenging for the council.

“It is important to point out that this council has looked at a range of opportunities before coming up with the proposals in this budget.”

Labour councillors said children’s social services and green space provision would be protected, but leader of the Liberal Democrats Councillor Roger Hayes said the same parts of the authority were being targeted for cuts "year after year".

He said: “I understand the political priorities, but I would argue that this goes beyond 2010 — I have been a councillor since 1984.

“Most years we have had cuts, and most years it has been the exactly same services that have suffered most.”

Cllr Ibrahim Adia said the authority had a legal obligation to provide certain services, particularly with adults and children’s services, which meant these had to be protected.

The creation of a £500,000 pilot fund to help community groups, charities and businesses aid wider environment and youth services, he added, would help the situation.

He said: “The community empowerment fund will actually support community groups in those areas, where there has been a bit of a gap, as well for youth work. There is actually a bit of extra money going in “

Council leader Cllr Cliff Morris said: “There are the most challenging cuts we have had to face. These figures are mind boggling at the end of the day.

“I know we have taken different cuts though the years, but at this rate we won’t be able to afford any more cuts because there won’t be anything left to cut.”

The public consultation will appear on the Bolton Council website from Thursday, November 13, and in editions in Bolton Scene over the next few months.