Bolton Council’s finances have been given a clean bill of health – but concerns have been raised over how it will cope in the face of continuing cuts.

Accountants KPMG carried out a comprehensive inspection of the authority’s books for the 2017/18 financial year. And representatives told the council’s audit committee it expects to issue an “unqualified opinion” on its financial statements and ensuring value for money.

This means auditors are satisfied the council’s financial statements fairly present its position and it makes “properly informed decisions” over spending and resources.

But committee member Cllr Sue Haworth has raised concerns over KPMG’s finding that “the need to make significant savings over the next three years will continue to have a significant impact on the authority’s financial resilience.”

Following the meeting, the Labour councillor told The Bolton News it was clear there was “one overriding issue” affecting the council’s financial future.

She said: “Upon skilled assessment across the council’s management accounts, reserves, investments and performance the council is judged as an effective decision maker and service provider for the people of our borough.”

“The external auditors are crystal clear in this report that the outstanding matter for councillors and officers is the savings that this council is being required to make.”

Cllr Howarth added that the auditors were non-political professionals, but it was important to “spell out the politics”.

She said: “The Conservative government insist on continuing with draconian cuts to this council that Labour remains vehemently opposed to. Labour opposes cuts because of the breadth of evidence there is that local government services can really improve people’s lives.

“Only this week it has been announced that cuts of £573,000 are required to the public health budget at Bolton Council. Cabinet members councillors Newall and Cunliffe make it clear this is due to government cuts.”

“This is being rebutted by the Bolton Conservatives as Cllr Andy Morgan claims ‘The council has failed to manage its public health budget responsibly’.

“I say this is Tory nonsense rhetoric from the Bolton Conservatives and we have a report from our external auditors showing a council making effective well-informed decisions on the council budget”.

But Cllr Morgan stood by his earlier comments.

He said: “While they continue to fund and support their vanity projects they can’t say that the government is underfunding the council. It’s just absolutely ridiculous that they continue to that they continue to do what they will and then say they can’t fund the mainstream adult services and children’s services – the most important things the council provides, when they fund these pet project to shore up their vote locally.”

Cllr Morgan added: The public of Bolton are not having it. They expect value for money for their council tax, not vanity projects, which are things you don’t have to fund locally. We are at a point both nationally and locally where we have to do our statutory functions, that’s what the council taxpayers expect us to do, not the add-on frilly stuff.”