The leader of Bolton Council has justified the rates of council tax paid by people in the borough - but admitted it is an unfair tax.

New figures released show that the average rate of Band D council tax which will be paid in 2024/25 by people in Bolton is the 79th highest out of 317 local authorities.

The average amount which will be paid is £1,778.22.

The rate has gone up 5.01 per cent.

The data has been published by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities and is based on the average for a Band D property.

The Band D average has increased in every local authority in England, with two exceptions: Harlow district council, where the average is unchanged from 2023/24, and Lancaster district council, where the average is down 0.24 per cent from 2023/24.

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Bolton council leader Nick Peel addressed these figures.

He said: "There are number of things to say - the council tax system is unfair.

"It is better than the poll ax but is it unfair as it is not based on ability to pay.

"The second thing is that years of under funding councils have been forced to raise tax in order to protect services.

"When you compare Bolton to other metropolitan boroughs with similar numbers we are around the middle.

"People ask the question 'why when my council tax goes up are my services being reduced?

"If council tax was not going up services would be reduced by more.

"Council tax has gone up by about five per cent..

"That is worth about £5 million.

"There have been cuts of £8million.

"It council tax had not gone up services would have been reduced by £13million.

"We have had a growth in demand for services, particularly in adult social care and children's social services.

"But any tax which is not based on ability to pay is an unfair tax, this includes VAT which is the most pernicious tax going."