Bolton residents face above inflation council tax rise

A meeting of the full council on Wednesday evening (February 18) confirmed bills will increase by 4.99 per cent from April, 2026.

The town hall agreed a two-year budget in February, 2025 which included £7.8m of savings proposals over two years.

This year’s budget does not contain any further cuts to spending or services, bosses say.

Some two per cent of the rise is ring-fenced to be spent on adult social care.

The meeting heard the increase in council tax would equate to around £1.19 per week for a typical Bolton household.

The proposed one-year budget for 2026/27 includes the use of £10.6m of reserves to balance the budget. This year’s budget also includes a three-year indicative savings target for 2027/28 to 2029/30 of £30m.

‘People want to seen an improvement to their local environment’

(Image: Henry Lisowski)

Proposing the budget council leader Nick Peel, said: “In this two year budget for growth, we are continuing to build back those priority areas in neighbourhood services that have previously been seriously damaged due to austerity.

“People want to see an improvement to their local environment and we are delivering that. “We funded a £2m investment programme into parks, play areas, recreational space and sports pitches in every part of our borough.

“This is the third year running with no cuts to highways budgets, neighbourhood services, street cleaning, parks and play areas and fly tip enforcement.

“Last February we invested £1.2m into new areas of service delivery in neighbourhood services. “This included employing new staff for the first time in years looking after cemeteries and our green spaces. And what a great job they are doing.”

Tories ask for 2.99 per cent increase

(Image: Newsquest)

The Conservative opposition proposed an budget amendment, which would have only led to a 2.99 per cent increase in bills.

They said it would largely be funded by spending an additional £1.7m of reserves and taking £1m from cash earmarked to be spent on children’s social care.

Tory leader Nadim Muslim said: “This year, we saw 70 per cent of residents disagree with proposals to increase council tax by 4.99 per cent each year.

“In fact, 43 per cent of residents believed there should be no increase whatsoever.

“But Bolton Labour have ignored what they think.

“The cost-of-living crisis, worsened by the damaging economic policies of the government resulting in lower growth, higher inflation, higher unemployment, and a higher deficit, are all contributing to the poor state of the UK economy. And Bolton does not remain immune to that.”

That amendment was defeated. The only other councillor outside the Conservative group in favour of it was the borough’s single Reform UK member, Sue Haworth.

How extra money will be spent in wards

The budget report also stated that one-off funds have been returned from Greater Manchester Waste, with Bolton to receive £1.35m.

How that to spend money was the focus of a budget amendment tabled by the Liberal Democrats, which gained the support of the majority of councillors so was therefore added to the budget.

It means £500,000 will be divided to be spent on small projects by ward councillors, at £25,000 per ward

£212,000 is for cemetery access improvements with driveway resurfacing at Astley Bridge and Heaton cemeteries.

£506,510 will go on improvements to parks, play areas and open spaces throughout the borough.

The budget report noted an improvement in central government funding to the council.

It said: “The overall net impact of the December settlement is an improved funding position from that forecast in the budget report presented to council in February 2025.

“Although this is a welcome development, there remain significant pressures on the council’s finances and a programme of savings and efficiency measures will be required for future years.”