FRESH concerns have been raised over when the council’s accounts will be signed off as an auditor deals with ‘one of the most complex’ objections in its history.

The authority failed to sign off its 2017-18 statement of accounts before last year’s July 31 deadline due to a valid objection questioning whether its investment into Redwood Bank was legal.

Penketh resident Chris Haggett, a retired chartered public finance accountant, lodged the objection.

Grant Thornton is the council’s independent external auditor.

And during Thursday’s audit and corporate governance committee meeting at the Town Hall, Cllr Kath Buckley (CON – Lymm South) aimed criticism at the firm.

She said: “Obviously, this has been going on for a very long while, we have been given assurance after assurance, month after month, meeting after meeting that it would be sorted out and it’s just going on and on.

“Can we have your absolute assurance that this will be sorted out because it’s bringing Warrington Borough Council into a situation it doesn’t want to be in?

“You are the auditors and you’ve been promising again and again and again that this will be sorted.”

A Grant Thornton representative refused to put a ‘defining timetable’ on when the matter will reach a conclusion as it would be ‘unfair’ on the team leading the investigation.

But it has been confirmed the company has received legal advice over the objection, which is ‘one of the most complex’ objections it has ever dealt with.

Furthermore, councillors were told Grant Thornton was keen for it to be wrapped up as soon as possible, as the authority’s 2018-19 accounts will not be able to be signed off until the previous year’s accounts are done.

The council’s finance team also said the authority has received an objection to its 2018-19 accounts.

Mr Haggett wrote to committee members ahead of the meeting to express his fears.

Earlier this month, the auditor said it expected to ‘reach a resolution soon’ over the issue.

But Mr Haggett believes this could ‘potentially mislead’ the public and committee, while labelling it as unrealistic.

He also says the matter is at an early stage in the objection process.

In the letter, he added: “There are detailed legal requirements over the stages of consultation and resolution that lie ahead, which will make it lengthy.”