BOLTON'S ruling Conservative Group say it is 'business as usual after the shock withdrawal of the Lib-Dems support for the party - which risked plunging the council into disarray.

Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr David Greenhalgh said the Tories still had the confidence of the smaller parties to steer Bolton through the coronavirus pandemic and to deliver on the 25 point agreement, drawn up to create a 'working arrangement'. This is designed to keep the Conservatives, which do not command an overall majority, in power.

The Labour Group has already come out and said it would not be seeking" to make any political capital out of this crisis by destabilising the council even more than it has been already".

Bolton Lib-Dems terminated the working agreement last week.

But this weekend, Farnworth and Kearsley First, UKIP and Horwich and Blackrod First Independents groups pledged to continue with the agreement.

Cllr Greenhalgh said: “As far as we’re concerned it is business as usual.

"When we are faced with fighting a global pandemic and one of the most challenging budgets that any administration has had to deliver in Bolton, I do not believe the public wants to see politicians bickering among themselves and putting party politics before our borough. Now is the time for focused minds and stability.

“Without doubt the pandemic has dominated the council’s agenda but we remain completely committed to delivering the change our borough needs and our residents deserve: kick-starting the economic recovery post-covid; delivering on the regeneration plans across the whole borough; creating a cleaner and greener borough; protecting the most vulnerable with targeted help to get people back in work and bringing training and skilled jobs back to the borough.

“I do not see others queuing up to bid to take over during these challenging times, so until such a time, myself and the administration will continue to run this borough in the open and transparent way that we have established.

“I would like to thank Cllrs Paul Sanders, Marie Brady and Sean Hornby for their continued support for the 25 point agreement and the acknowledgement that we run a vastly more open and transparent council.

"I meet with all the leaders of those in the 25 point plan privately every week. They have access and influence, and personally I enjoy the close working we have and respect each of them.

"We will continue to share information and have done during this pandemic with all parties in the spirit of working together to benefit our borough at this time.

“So despite others who may try to undermine, this administration remains steadfast in its direction and focus on returning our borough to the normality we all crave and better times with opportunity and prosperity ahead, with the hope that all parties choose to pull together to benefit our borough.”

Cllr Sanders, who leads Farnworth and Kearsley First said stability at this time was essential.

He said “A stable council is paramount in these worrying times.

"I am pleased that in meetings following the Lib Dems’ departure, that the remaining parties of the 25 Point Plan have agreed our responsibility to all residents in the borough to continue the progressive work that has been started.

"I’m saddened that Cllr Roger Hayes, Lib Dem Group Leader, is no longer sat around the table but I am hopeful that positive cross-party working can continue between all colleagues in all groups.

"As Leader of the Farnworth and Kearsley First Group within the working agreement, I am briefed and consulted continually on matters of council and I can raise specific issues in relation to Kearsley and Farnworth with council leadership and director team. Also as a signatory of the plan, Farnworth and Kearsley First chair the Farnworth Town Centre Regeneration Steering Group, have negotiated ability to propose schemes in Kearsley, seen major investment in our roads and brought Rock Hall to forefront of council’s priorities. For Farnworth and Kearsley Firs to pull-up our drawbridge now would be detrimental to the positive change being achieved.

"I have huge respect for the Group Leaders of the 25 Point Plan Agreement and really enjoy the close working relationship we have.

"When the next vote for who should be council leader takes place, Farnworth and Kearsley First will reflect on the best candidate and their potential cabinet at that time ­— but now it is absolutely clear that Cllr David Greenhalgh is the right person to lead our borough council.

"He has been and continues to be strong, pragmatic and inclusive in his leadership throughout this on-going crisis. I’m convinced that better days are ahead if we all work together.”

Cllr Sean Hornby, UKIP Group leader, said : "We supported the new administration, Bolton clearly said at that election it wanted a change and we have worked with the new administration since then.

"We have worked together very closely, not always agreed, but in the best interests of the people of Bolton.

"We are going through difficult times caused by the coronavirus pandemic but the administration has been open and transparent throughout and has kept all political leaders involved and informed and we have met on at least a weekly basis due to the unprecedented ever changing situation we are in so we ­— and will therefore continue to support this administration.

"However, we will continue to deliver improvements for the residents of Little Lever and Darcy Lever ­— the health centre and library development is underway, we have a masterplan to improve the village centre and will work with the current administration to ensure investment continues to be made in the ward."

Cllr Marie Brady, leader of Horwich and Blackrod First Independent said:"Horwich & Blackrod First Independents wish to see the strong, stable and capable leadership of Cllr David Greenhalgh continue to lead the borough council.

 "When our two councillors were elected in May 2019 to represent Horwich and Blackrod, we negotiated and agreed a 25 point plan.

"This Plan was for the whole borough but included specific points for Horwich and Blackrod and required investment on a scale not seen previously. Our Horwich Town Centre Regeneration scope has been further extended to include Blackrod. To date key priorities have been identified and agreed, traffic and public realm feasibility studies commissioned and a significant upgrade to Old Station Park and its facilities being programmed alongside extensive flood alleviation works.

"The Plan also included resurfacing our roads from the Highways Improvement fund. Area Forum Funding equal to other wards. We also have a firm commitment and funding for improving our sporting facilities.

"The stability of the council is our priority, the remaining signatories to the 25 point have agreed that the positive cross-party working can and must continue between all colleagues in all groups on the agreed priorities for council at this time. "