THE opening of the new council offices has been delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The offices are a key part of the council’s £142.5 million Time Square town centre regeneration scheme and will see 1,200 employees move in.

They were scheduled to open this month but it has been pushed back.

A council spokesman said: “The office move to Time Square will be rephased with a revised schedule commencing soon.”

Furthermore, council leader Cllr Russ Bowden has met with the deputy leader, mayor, political group leaders, chief executive and monitoring officer to discuss the developing situation and ‘uncharted territory’ facing the Labour-run authority.

Warrington Guardian:

Cllr Russ Bowden

They discussed scheduled council meetings up to the end of the current civic year, May 25.

The full council meeting scheduled for next Monday will not be held and it has been confirmed that only a number of council committees will meet in the coming months.

They are the cabinet, scrutiny committee if required as a result of a call-in, the development management committee and the licensing committee if required.

However, the council will look to ensure that meetings proceed either through ‘remote means’ or by appropriate ‘social distancing’.

Cllr Bowden will speak to committee chairs in relation to the implementation of any new arrangements.

And the council is awaiting Government guidance and legislation regarding the management of any vacancies and by-elections ahead of the local elections in May 2021.

It is also awaiting Government guidance regarding the annual council meeting on May 26, in relation to its potential deferment and any impact on the council, as well as arrangements for the mayoralty, leadership and committee memberships.

In an e-mail to councillors, Cllr Bowden said: “As a council, we are in uncharted territory with this developing situation.

“We must ensure that the council continues to function effectively in the coming months and that we can best serve the needs of Warrington residents.

“I trust that the steps detailed above will have your full support.”