Warrington Borough Council

The local authority derives its powers and functions from the Local Government Act 1972 and subsequent legislation. For the purposes of local government, the Warrington is within a non-metropolitan area of England. As a unitary authority, Warrington Borough Council has the powers and functions of both a non-metropolitan county and district council combined. In its capacity as a district council it is a billing authority collecting Council Tax and business rates, it processes local planning applications, it is responsible for housing, waste collection and environmental health. In its capacity as a county council it is a local education authority, responsible for social services, libraries and waste disposal.

Elected members have approved a number of significant commercial investments by the local authority. In September 2016, Warrington Borough Council became one of the first local councils in the UK to buy clean-tech bonds in Swindon Solar Park through its owner, specialist investment management firm Rockfire Capital.[3]

In September 2019, the council acquired a 50% shareholding in the energy provider Together Energy for £18m.[4][5] In September 2020, Bristol Energy's brand and residential accounts – 155,000 meter points – were sold by Bristol City Council to Together Energy for £14 million.[6] In August 2021, Warrington Council's total financial exposure to Together Energy was reported to be £41.2m.[7] In October 2021, Ofgem issued a provisional order to several suppliers, including Together Energy, who had not made Renewables Obligation payments; Together Energy's obligation was over £12m.[8]

Other loans and investments include a 33% stake in Redwood Bank and a £202m loan facility to the founder of The Hut Group.[9][10][11]

In September 2021, the council confirmed that its borrowing had reached £1.7 billion, but that the current value of its investment assets were £2.173 billion.[12]