Senior figures at Bolton Council say the authority must do more to explain how it spends taxpayers’ money — and challenge growing public confusion and 'misinformation' about council finances.
The calls come amid growing national pressure on local authorities, with Nigel Farage and the Reform Party launching high-profile attacks on what they describe as wasteful council spending. Farage has promised to scrap roles focused on climate and diversity, saying councils must “cut the fat” and “deliver value.”
But in Bolton this week, councillors from across the political spectrum warned that much of the public doesn’t understand what the council actually does — and that failing to explain this leaves the door open to misleading claims.
Speaking at the Audit Committee on Wednesday, councillor David Wilkinson, Liberal Democrat for Westhoughton South, said: “There are issues that are floating around these days about value for money, the use of expenditure and how we can broaden the information flow.
"We need to make that information available so people are aware of the background. Whether you like it or not, there will be things that happen where financial issues are going to be pushed — in certain respects misleadingly — and I would like us to be one step in front, to educate ourselves and the public about how local government finances are maintained.