Title

FINANCE

Warrington's £60m investment to be scrutinised behind closed doors

Details of a £60m green energy investment by Warrington Council will remain under wraps despite being called in by opposition councillors.

Details of a £60m green energy investment by Warrington Council will remain under wraps despite being called in by opposition councillors.

Senior Labour councillors have given the go-ahead to proceed with a £63.5m ‘ethical investment' in a solar farm in Doncaster, to be funded by borrowing.

Warrington said it has taken advice from experts including EY and carried out due diligence, but details have remained confidential.

Conservative councillors have labelled the investment ‘highly risky' and called in the decision.

They have voiced frustration that a scrutiny meeting later this week where the investment will be discussed is expected to be held behind closed doors.

Opposition leader Nigel Balding said: ‘This gamble equates to £600 per household in Warrington or approximately 58% of the council tax raised in any one year.

'Anything like this can have a massive and long-lasting impact on Warrington residents.'

Last week it was revealed Warrington had budgeted for an £18m loss from its investment in failed energy firm Together Energy.

FINANCE

The public will accept straight talk from politicians so long as there is a rationale

By Michael Burton | 20 May 2026

By claiming the public could have both high public spending and low taxes, the main parties opened the floodgates to the siren voices of the populists, says ...

FINANCE

Reform's good local government problems

By Ann McGauran | 20 May 2026

Ben Bradley talks to Ann McGauran about the implications of Reform UK’s huge election gains for reorganisation and delivering efficiencies – and he shares th...

FINANCE

Regeneration: Developing devolution

By David Blackman | 13 May 2026

UK plans for fiscal devolution, announced by chancellor Rachel Reeves, could significantly reshape how city regions fund transport and regeneration projects....

FINANCE

Reform UK councillors back down in row over airport loan

By Neil Merrick | 11 May 2026

Doncaster City Council is to borrow £57m to help reopen its airport after Reform UK councillors backed down from a direct confrontation with its leadership.

Martin Ford

Popular articles by Martin Ford