WARRINGTON Borough Council's money-making strategy – including its flagship town centre regeneration scheme – has been used as an example for local authorities across England and Wales.

The authority's audit and corporate governance committee documents recently highlighted the recognition from the Local Government Association (LGA), which included Warrington as one of the eight councils used as a case study in its Enterprising Councils publication.

It highlights the importance of enterprising as costs and demand 'continue to rise' while 'budgets shrink', with the borough praised for its commercial strategy to 2020.

The document adds that, since 2012, the council has taken 'significant steps' to become more commercial in order to move towards a greater level of 'financial self-sufficiency'.

Activities noted by the LGA include the authority's solar farm investment, deals to buy commercial properties, Time Square regeneration 'which will deliver long-term revenue' and green energy projects.

Town Hall chiefs have again highlighted the importance of its £211 million deal to buy Birchwood Park and £30 million investment into Redwood Bank.

A spokesman added: "The changing nature of the council's business means that partnership working – including work with the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership, new commercial developments and complex contracts for delivery of services – continues to increase.

"It is recognised that as such arrangements develop, robust financial management and monitoring of the arrangements needs to be in place.

"Government funding is progressively decreasing to virtually zero and the council will need to continue to make efficiency savings.

"Other methods of funding such as retention of business rates, invest to save and generation of income are being explored.

"The generation of income and cost avoidance projects focus heavily in the council's financial plan."

Nottingham City Council, Sevenoaks District Council, Rutland County Council, Cheshire West and Chester Council, Wirral Council, Durham County Council and South Norfolk Council were also included in the Enterprising Councils document.

The guidance in the publication 'outlined areas for consideration' for local authorities across England and Wales when 'embarking on an enterprising journey'.

It adds that local authorities 'have always been enterprising', although 'the scale, variation and pace is a more recent phenomenon' as the 'fabric of the public sector' faces fundamental changes.