VIDEO: Warrington Borough Council Chief Executive Prof. Steven Broomhead has defended the council’s controversial loan to the Hut Group.
Despite a FOI investigation by a national newspaper, Prof Broomhead said there was “absolutely nothing wrong with the loan” which he went on to describe as a “good piece of business.”
He added: “I can assure you it was absolutely done properly.”
He also said the ongoing saga with the council’s accounts not being signed off after five years, was now a national issue and “no fault of the council.”
He is hopeful that they can be eventually signed off early in 2023.
Meanwhile, Prof. Broomhead, said most people complaining about the controversial Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes at Westy, were not local residents, but those who had been using Grange Avenue as a “rat run.” He said there was no plan to remove the controversial planters on Grange Avenue any time soon.
He blamed the traffic issues in the town on the “consequences of being a busy economic town.”
He also confirmed the proposed Western Link was still “under active consideration,” although the council was looking at its affordability.
He also predicted silverware would return to the Halliwell Jones Stadium in 2023, with one if not two pieces of silverware, after a difficult first season for Head Coach Daryl Powell, following a rebuilding process.
Check out the video above for the full Q&A.
Council defends investment portfolio pulling in £25.3 million surplus from investments
