Best Value Inspection: Warrington Borough Council
Documents relating to the Best Value Inspection of Warrington Borough Council.
This page collates all publications relating to the inspection of Warrington Borough Council announced in May 2024 and conducted under section 10 of the Local Government Act 1999.
As of March 2023, relative to size, Warrington had the second highest level of debt for a unitary authority in England (£1.8 billion). The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities commissioned the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) to undertake a detailed capital assurance review of Warrington Borough Council.
CIPFA’s review concluded the portfolio of debt-funded investments for Warrington Borough Council was very large and that the Council was experiencing decision-making, governance and oversight issues. Having regard to that review, together with the Council’s response and other related assessments, ministers have taken the view that there are clear financial risks, and, if they materialise, that are likely to have significant impact on local residents and some impact on the national public purse.
Accordingly, to support the Council to make arrangements to secure continuous improvement, ministers have appointed Paul Najsarek to inspect Warrington Borough Council’s compliance with its Best Value Duty.