THE future of area boards in the town remains uncertain – as the impact of damaging cuts continues to take its toll on the authority.

Area boards were introduced to the borough in 2008 to provide support to communities battling for improvements in their areas.

Five are currently in place but the matter has been on the agenda of a scrutiny working group, which has been seeking to find the 'value of money offered, their effectiveness and functionality and their role within the wider neighbourhood service'.

The council confirmed the future of them is a matter for elected members to 'decide' and it is believed a review of the issue could take place following the elections on Thursday – if enough councillors back a proposal calling for it.

A spokesman said 'we are always looking to make efficiency savings'.

"Warrington works better when we all work together and area boards have been part of this partnership approach for several years," he added.

"They give residents a voice in their communities and enable councillors, council officers and partner organisations to work more effectively on their behalf.

"Area boards have a successful track record in resolving neighbourhood issues, developing plans and getting funding to the right places at the right time.

"That funding must be match-funded locally too, so effectively the investment in communities is doubled."

Former Conservative leader Paul Kennedy, who made a submission to the working group prior to his retirement from the council, has been on the south area board since it commenced.

He said: "While many members of the board are elected borough and parish councillors, a number are residents – and from what I can tell they are most committed and certainly contribute to ideas and discussions.

"When the south board first started the parish councils that I represent could see no benefit of it and saw it as a threat to them.

"It is clear that some parish councils have realised that indirectly they can access grants, and have done so, for example, Hatton Parish Council was instrumental in setting up Hatton village action committee, which has received a number of grants and set up a film club and lunch group.

"I suppose the question to be asked is should it have needed an area board for what has happened in Hatton to have happened.

"One answer might be that an area board should be time limited and tasked with stimulating such initiatives, then where there are parish councils, ceases and leaves it to the parish councils to take matters forward and fund them with the precept where appropriate.

"There is a thought that area boards have highlighted the failings of parish councils, in so much that often they are reactive rather than proactive, whereas area boards have been far more proactive and dynamic, working with partner organisations such as the police and NHS bodies."