Chief Exec of Bolton Council admits £300k grant was a mistake

The chief executive of Bolton Council has admitted that it was a mistake to allow the leader of the council to use emergency powers to make a £300k grant to a law firm.

Cllr Clifford Morris, the Labour leader of Bolton Council, angrily defended his decision to bypass councillors and use emergency powers to give taxpayers' money to ambulance chasers, Asons Solicitors, to refurbish their brand new offices.

Coincidentally, Asons have a disputed £300k tax bill in their accounts although there is no evidence of a link between the tax bill and the amount given to the firm for refurbishment of their offices.

Bolton's UKIP councillors have been leading calls for Cllr Morris to stand down and for an inquiry into what has happened.