WARRINGTON Borough Council must identify another £23.2 million worth of savings that need to be made in 2019-20.

The executive board discussed the authority’s worrying financial position during Monday’s executive board meeting at the Town Hall.

In his report to members, deputy council leader Cllr Russ Bowden said if Warrington increased its council tax rates to the same level as Stockport it would raise an additional £14.3 million every year, and an additional £4.1 million a year if it increased it to the average of the north west authorities.

Currently, the overall savings required in 2019-20 are estimated at a total of £30.9 million.

However, savings currently identified amount to £7.7 million, leaving £23.2 million worth of savings still to be identified to balance the budget.

During Monday’s meeting, Cllr Bowden said: “Of course, what residents see is council tax going up and services going down.

“But, really, council tax is going up and failing to replace the reduction in Government funding, which has happened over a number of years.

“We have had to make £122 million worth of cuts since 2010.”

Council leader Cllr Terry O’Neill highlighted the importance of delivering services for the town’s most vulnerable residents despite budget cuts.

He said: “I think, personally, because of our entrepreneurial spirit people assume that we are cash rich.

“They see all these marvellous buildings and think ‘oh business rates, we have got lots of money’.

“People don’t realise we only keep 27 per cent of our business rates.

“It is a fact that our council tax rates are one of the lowest in the north west.

“On top of that, I, personally, am very worried about the impact of Brexit on Warrington and on a lot of our businesses because it really is difficult to find anything good to add, or discuss, about the way this Government is handling Brexit negotiations.

“However, we will continue to do our best for the town, we will continue to do our best with our entrepreneurial spirit and we will try to do our best to retain our services for our most vulnerable people.

“That is all we can do as a council.”