WARRINGTON Borough Council's executive board has been accused of backing the scrutiny committee 'into a corner' over a decision to grant a 10-year loan to Warrington Collegiate.

The scrutiny committee met at the Town Hall last night, Monday, after Cllr Colin Froggatt (LAB – Poulton South) asked for the decision to be 'called in'.

But following debate for more than one hour, councillors deferred the 'call in' on the grounds of exceptional circumstances after Cllr Chris Vobe (LAB – Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft) put forward a motion.

The decision over the loan, which the Warrington Guardian believes to be around £11 million, was made behind closed doors by the council's executive board earlier this month.

Cllr Froggatt believes the decision should not have been taken in private and argues not enough thought has been given as to the financial cost involved but was unable to attend last night's special meeting.

At the meeting, the council's solicitor Tim Date informed the scrutiny committee that the matter 'needs to be resolved' by August 1.

He also said if the committee did decide to adjourn the matter then the executive board would be 'entitled to proceed' with a decision at its meeting on Thursday.

Liberal Democrat leader Bob Barr initially spoke of his desire for the meeting to be adjourned before changing his stance due to his fear that the chance to scrutinise the decision may not reappear.

"Effectively the executive board is forcing us to consider matter the matter without Cllr Froggatt or they will go ahead," he said.

"It seems to be undermining open and transparent decision-making.

"I think we have missed the chance to deal with the issues and I am looking for an explanation of why it is so urgent.

"Almost nothing is discussed at executive board meetings, decisions are made behind closed doors and could be made by two or three people and pushed through and rubber stamped by the executive board.

"I think now we have risked getting a chance to scrutinise the decision – I fear we had a chance and blew it."

Cllr Russ Bowden, who is charge of the council's budget, confirmed that the decision would not 'impact' the council.

He added: "I do apologise in relation to the timescale, if there is no decision by July 31 the collegiate will be in a small amount of difficulty."

Warrington Collegiate first approached the council in April this year and has co-operated with Barclays, who it has a loan with, since speaking to the council.

Lynton Green, the council's director of finance and information services , said: "They have given a notice over debt to Barclays. It is a position they have put themselves in by giving a notice to Barclays."

Former executive member Cllr Linda Dirir (LAB – Penketh and Cuerdley) was among the councillors criticising the situation.

She said: "The fact that an executive board meeting has been pencilled in seems to be pre-judge what we are going to do here, I am concerned."

Cllr Wendy Johnson (LD – Grappenhall and Thelwall) added: "I feel disappointed and backed into a corner – it is absolutely ludicrous."

Cllr Vobe said the decision to defer would allow for 'greater openness and transparency'.

He added: "I think we made the right decision – the collegiate has put themselves in this position."

Conservative leader Cllr Paul Kennedy, who backed the call-in, arrived back from the east Midlands to speak at the meeting and has offered his advice for all involved.

"I want the whole matter to be brought in part 1 of discussions so it is all open, I would have said some of the things i was going to refer to would be in part 2, so would have asked for everything to be moved into part 1," he said.

"I feel uneasy – some of the money would be used to assist an organisation in financial difficulty.

"If a decision is made but is not constitutionally correct then the decision could be void.

"If the executive board goes ahead with this loan, could they be held financially liable? That is a serious question.

"Warrington Collegiate is in trouble but they should go to the Skills Funding Agency and tell them about the difficulty, that would help resolve its problem.

"If it does not go ahead the executive board will be reined in which is a good thing.

"If the collegiate is unable to raise its finances it is the collegiate's problem not the council's, it is an abuse of executive power if it goes ahead, and taxpayers' money."

Cllr Kennedy declined to confirm the loan figure.

If the 'call in' went ahead, the scrutiny committee could have offered no advice, in which case the original decision could be implemented, offer advice to the executive board or to refer the matter to full council for advice.

The executive board will make a decision on Thursday but there is a possibility that the scrutiny committee could hold a meeting to examine the issue next Thursday or Friday.