Labour Group leader Nick Peel is to remain on top at the town hall although the group surrendered two seats at the local elections. Cllr Peel requested the support of at least one other group when the council returned to action at its AGM on Wednesday (May 22). On an evening when the eyes of the world were on Downing Street he received this support from the six councillors of Horwich and Blackrod First, plus one independent councillor, who alongside the 26 councillors of the Labour Group took them to a majority.

Cllr Peel is to remain on top at the town hall for at least another year as a result. ALSO READ: 'Adopted Boltonian' Andrew Morgan becomes Mayor of Bolton . On his return to power, he told The Bolton News: "I think we have had 12 months in power, we have had a steady ship, and we want to carry on.

"We are in for another 12 months and of course there is no election next year so maybe it is two years before we put our mandate to the people." On his priorities in power, he told The Bolton News: "We want to make a lot of progress with social value, which is about keeping the 'Bolton Pound' in Bolton, looking at procurement and how we secure as much spending power as possible for people in Bolton. "We want to do a lot more on the environment and a lot more on property rationalisation because the budget pressure is not going to change.

There is the general election but even with a change of government the budget pressure is not going to change overnight." ALSO READ: Where's.