AFTER more than 15 years at Warrington Borough Council as Chief Finance Officer, Director of Corporate Services and Deputy Chief Executive, Lynton Green has announced he will be leaving the council.
With a local government career spanning 38 years, and having been the council’s Section 151 officer for the last 15 years, he will be departing in September.
Cabinet member for finance, Cllr Denis Matthews, said: “Lynton has been an exceptional servant to Warrington, and has helped to steer the council through 14 challenging years of austerity. While many councils have declared financial distress and sought exceptional financial support from the government, Lynton has navigated Warrington through multiple pressures to deliver balanced budgets year-on-year with his measured approach and sound judgement.
“Lynton has always had an open door to both elected members and officers. We will miss his counsel, his principled nature, and his humility. We are grateful for his service to both the Council and the people of Warrington.”
Commenting on his retirement, Lynton Green said: “I’m extremely proud of what we have achieved in my time at the council. I will always firmly believe that Warrington punches above its weight with what it has delivered in recent years.
“Having served in local government for almost four decades, now feels like a good time for me to pursue my next chapter, which will also allow others to implement a different focus and approach for Warrington into the future.
“I will dearly miss working at the council, but now truly feels like the right time for me to explore my next challenge.”
His departure follows on closely from former Chief Executive Prof. Steven Broomhead, who retired at the end of June.
The departures follow a damning Best Value inspection report which has resulted in the appointment of Government envoys to help oversee the council’s finances following concerns over the level of debt which at one point was approaching near, £2 billion.
In an email to colleagues announcing his retirement from the council, he said: “I believe the commercial approach we have taken for the past 12 years has protected Warrington from the worst of austerity, contributing over £20m per year towards supporting frontline budgets.
“Despite our financial stability in this respect, I recognise that following the best value inspection report, we need to “reset” – particularly around financial management and governance. Bearing this in mind, the time feels right for me to leave to pursue my next chapter, and to allow others to implement a different focus and approach for Warrington.”
6 Comments
Another rat leaving the nest
You need to publish the accounts for the last 5 years before you go !
Lynton must not be allowed to leave without facing up to his wilful failures to account to standards, his wasting of money on junk, and his failure to even understand due diligence
His failures in public office are certainly a breach of professional standards m arguably beyond the threshold of criminal and FRC should come alter him to ban him from any similar positions , and as an accountant.
He is not a servant of Warrington. He wasted hundreds of millions. He leaves in disgrace,
“The Section 151 Officer is responsible for the proper administration of the council’s financial affairs. This includes ensuring lawfulness and financial prudence in decision-making, developing and maintaining a long-term financial strategy, and providing financial advice to both elected members and council officers. They also play a crucial role in risk management, resource allocation, and ensuring the efficient and effective use of council resources.”
It’s is difficult to see with which if any, of these qualities, he has met those requirements. In view of the damning Best Practice report, we have to also assume it was his actions that resulted in the Auditor’s criticism and the unacceptable delay in getting the council’s annual accounts (spanning several years) signed of in a timely manner.
What Mike said. Mather next.
Then Park, to have a complete clear out.
They should all go – but this is Warrington and you can expect them to all become honorary alderman voted through by the council majority.