WARRINGTON Borough Council's controversial decision to buy Birchwood Park will come before the scrutiny committee after the deal was 'called in'.

On July 24 the executive board voted for the authority to buy the site in a deal worth in the region of £210 million.

But Labour councillors Andrew Hill, Graham Friend and Diana Bennett have called the decision in.

It will come before the scrutiny committee at a special meeting on August 14.

Cllr Hill (LAB – Rixton and Woolston), who is the lead signatory on the ‘call in’, said: "The scrutiny is an important part of the democratic process with such a large amount of taxpayers' money being spent on the project."

The scrutiny committee could offer advice to the executive board, or ask for the matter to be referred to full council.

The deal could see the council earn more than £10 million a year in rent.

In 2015, Warrington Collegiate withdrew its application to enter into a 10-year loan deal with the council after Cllr Colin Froggatt (LAB – Poulton South) requested for the decision on whether the council should grant the loan to be 'called in'.