16-06-2025
Warrington Council could have to pay £1,100 per day for advisers
Warrington Council could face a £363,000 bill if the government ultimately decides to send special advisers to the town following concerns about the way it is inspection was ordered by the previous Conservative government after criticism of the council's £1.8bn debts, which mostly relate to its commercial inspectors' report found Warrington was failing in five areas, including leadership, culture and use of council said advisers, known as ministerial envoys, could cost £1,100 a day plus expenses.
In May, Warrington Council said it welcomed the idea of ministerial envoys being appointed."This is a supportive decision and will help us to deliver the changes needed," it a report written for a full council meeting later said there would be "significant costs" associated with implementing the recommended example, hiring a new executive director and an independent chair for the council's audit and governance committee would cost the local authority an estimated £196, inspection report said there was "resistance" in the council's response to external challenges and that the inspectors were not confident that town hall bosses had the "will and capacity" to make changes without external also found a lack of strategic direction, councillors being "highly respectful" of powerful officers, and a "defensiveness to internal and external scrutiny".If the government decides to send three envoys to the town for the proposed five-year period, they would mainly advise the council, which would remain in day-to-day though, the envoys could step in and take over "as a last resort".
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