COUNCIL tax looks set to rise by just under four per cent in Bolton.

Bill payers could see an increase of 1.99 per cent, with an additional two per cent rise added to that for adult social care.

Last month the council’s Conservative controlled cabinet approved a two-year budget strategy covering 2021/22 and 2022/23 including the requirement to find total savings of £39.5m.

Of that, £37.5m is proposed to be found in the first budget year.

Borough treasurer Sue Johnson said the budget had been prepared on the assumption of a 3.99 per cent rise in rates. 

But this rise is still subject to a vote by councillors next year.

Should a lower rate be proposed then the council would have to make further cost savings.

Council leader Cllr David Greenhalgh said the council was keen to mitigate any effects on children’s and adult care services, around 62 per cent of their entire budget, by working with community and voluntary partners.

He said: “The challenge we now face cannot be underestimated. We recognise that this is a massive amount of savings we will have to find in the space of a year.

“We are committed to ensuring no vulnerable person in the town in receipt of support will lose that support, and we are also mindful of protecting those front line services that residents have a right to expect in return for the council tax they pay.

“Our top priority is not to compromise in any way the delivery of service and service quality for the people of our town. We will be exploring alternative service delivery models to enable us to do things better and make savings.”

It comes as council leaders said they have been faced by a ‘perfect storm’ with the effects of the Covid pandemic lowering the authority’s income at a time when they were already having to make difficult financial decisions.

Under new proposals up to 1,881 of the council’s 2,934 workers are under review. It is estimated 262 roles will be lost. Around 128 posts would be scrapped and 134 vacancies will remain unfilled.

Cllr David Greenhalgh, council leader, said: “Even before the pandemic struck we were already facing a difficult set of financial decisions this coming year. However, since March, we have been hit by a perfect storm of lost income plus increased pressure and demand for our services as a result of the pandemic.

“While we have had a lot of support from the government to deal with the pandemic itself, and grants to help businesses, it has not been enough to offset council pressures and the losses we have faced.”

Plans show 104 roles are set to be lost in children’s services and 30 in adult services. The corporate division is set to have 52 fewer staff while the directorate of place could lose 76 posts. A review of school crossing patrols could halve the roster, to save £107,000 per year.

Several roles involved in the running of Albert Halls look set to go, with a new business model suggested. Another 15 jobs in neighbourhood services and another 15 in highways are under threat.

Formal consultation will now take place with staff, councillors and unions.

Cllr Greenhalgh added: “We are willing to listen to people’s concerns, and willing to rethink certain proposals as long as those who oppose can come up with viable and costed alternatives.

“I also want to make sure we are doing everything we can to strengthen our local economy and encourage and support businesses to invest in Bolton as we recover from the pandemic. This is crucial to the livelihoods of our residents but the council’s own ability to generate revenue is also dependent on this success.”