WARRINGTON Borough Council has dismissed claims that some of Warrington’s planning work has been outsourced to Dublin.

The issue was raised by former council leader Cllr Ian Marks during the scrutiny committee meeting earlier this month.

He said: “I know we did outsourcing to Urban Vision – has that now stopped?

“It is alleged, and I have this from more than one source, that Urban Vision were actually outsourcing to Dublin, would you believe, to get some planning work done.

“In terms of the public that does not go down at all well, they just can’t understand this.”

The council has confirmed it stopped using Urban Vision to provide consultancy support for the processing of planning applications last month.

A spokesman added: “Warrington’s planning work was never outsourced to Dublin by Urban Vision.”

In September, the council confirmed it has Urban Vision to provide support in the determination of planning applications in times of high demand or limited capacity, as well as to provide specialist input on both the local plan and in determining planning applications.

The Warrington Guardian understands the planning enforcement team has also used Urban Vision for assistance with monitoring waste and landfill sites.