BURY Council’s leader stepped down last week and warned his successor to watch the borough’s purse strings.

Councillor Bob Bibby stood aside at the first full council meeting of the new civic year, held at the town hall last Wednesday.

In his final speech in the role, Cllr Bibby revealed the council had saved £622,000 of a Government grant from the last civic year and had £6.9 million in the bank.

He said: “The question now is — what will the Labour do with this financial benefit?

“I know Cllr Mike Connolly will be eager to spend it.

“I would warn him that, for the sake of populist announcements today, you may come to regret it in years to come, should you be faced with the difficult decisions which we have had to make.”

Cllr Bibby added: “I wish Cllr Connolly well. I only hope he is as proud of his achievements in four years as I am as mine.”

Cllr Connolly said: “The role of a leader is a challenging one and Bob, I know, has championed Bury wherever he went.

“The electorate has placed its confidence in this Labour group and it’s a confidence we intend to honour.”

Cllr Connolly revealed Labour has already: l scrapped a proposal to remove lollipop ladies from outside 21 schools l guaranteed funding for the Phoenix Centre youth and family in St Mary’s Park, Prestwich l cancelled a review of how children with special needs get to and from school after some parents claimed major changes would force them to quit work.

l axed planned parking charges for Sundays.

l dropped parking charges at the Castle Leisure Centre l began an urgent review of the future of St John’s Primary School in Radcliffe l started attempts to buy the old Bury Police station so the council can “consider all possible options for the revitalisation of Bolton Street”

l started a leaders’ blog on the internet detailing Cllr Connolly’s work and encouraging feedback.

Cllr Connolly also confirmed policy decisions previously revealed in the Bury Times, including scrapping the transformation agenda, which considered privatising services.

He also confirmed the council would bring back monthly Executive meetings — the first will be on June 15 — and reinstate conditionless public question time at full council meetings, as of the next meeting on July 6.

Labour will also review how the youth service works and reintroduce the six local area partnerships to give residents a chance to air their views.

Cllr Connolly said: “Difficult and painful decisions will have to be made right across the council in order to reduce expenditure.

“However, we are determined to ensure that, where changes have to be made, they are made in an open and transparent way and in an atmosphere of partnership and aspiration.”