Council finance achievements highlighted

WARRINGTON Borough Council’s achievements in the realm of local government finance were highlighted at a conference in the town.
The conference organised by the Southern section of CIPFA North West – the regional body of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy was told of innovative policies Warrington has already implemented to general savings.
Shaer Halewood, CIPFA North West vice president and Warrington Borough Council’s chief accountant, said: “Delegates at the conference heard about the
innovative policies Warrington Borough Council has already implemented and new ones currently being considered to generate savings.
“The council currently needs to meet very challenging targets, partly because of government budget cuts but also to promote the town’s economy. We’re doing this through innovation and creativity.”
The event opened with presentations from Lynton Green, Warrington Borough Council’s chief finance officer, and Cllr Russ Bowden, the council’s executive member for finance, giving an insight into the council’s current financial situation and the strategic ideas being generated to tackle financial challenges.
These were followed by presentations from housing options manager Dave Cowley and corporate finance manager Danny Mather, explaining how the ideas had been implemented in practice.
Finally Cecilie Booth, director of Sector, the council’s treasury advisors, gave a presentation about the due diligence that was undertaken to ensure the projects were
robust and legal, and RBS director Edward Simons spoke about the matter of investing in the bond market to raise revenue – another area being explored by Warrington.
Shaer Halewood concluded: “I was delighted that CIPFA North West’s Southern Section decided not only to hold its event in Warrington but also to focus on some of the innovative proposals that Warrington Borough Council has undertaken.
“These proposals have helped towards meeting the challenging money-saving targets the council has had to face whilst supporting Warrington residents and the local economy. The information presented at the conference will be used in other public sector organisations to help them to find their own savings and to support their own areas as Warrington has.”