WARRINGTON Borough Council will keep a 'tight watch' on the anticipated impact of Brexit as negotiations progress.

Senior Town Hall figures continue to raise fears over how leaving the EU could affect Warrington.

During Monday's full council meeting, Cllr Ian Marks (LD – Lymm North and Thelwall) asked deputy leader Cllr Russ Bowden: "Is the council intending to carry out a Brexit impact analysis for the town?"

Cllr Bowden (LAB – Birchwood), who is also executive board member for corporate finance, confirmed it would be kept 'under review'.

He said: "Brexit negotiations have obviously taken a lot of Government time and resources.

"We have an indecisive Prime Minister and negotiations have been hampered by what is going on around the Cabinet table.

"I think we need to take a view, as a council, when we have something to assess and the actual details are known – then we can assess the impact.

"We don't know what it will look like. We don't have any detail yet on any trade arrangements.

"I don't think there is a need for a separate Brexit plan but I think it is something we should keep under review.

"I think we have to see what the nature of the deal is and then decide."

Last month, amid uncertainty, council leader Cllr Terry O'Neill admitted he believes leaving the EU could bring 'a fresh round of austerity measures' for the authority.

And on Monday, Cllr Bowden told councillors the 'overwhelming view' across local government is that it will have a 'negative impact'.

He added: "If it is a hard Brexit, or there are things that we haven't anticipated, then I think that will be the time to look at the impact of those.

"Through The Business Exchange and Warrington & Co, we have good links with local businesses.

"If they are already seeing the impact before stuff has happened then we need to be on top of it all, so I would keep it under review.

"If at some point we think we do need to do it (a Brexit plan) then we will do it.

"It is obviously something that we have to keep a real tight watch on."