THE council leader says he has been advised the objection over the council’s accounts, which are yet to be signed off, will be resolved in the next month.

The Labour-run authority failed to sign off its 2017-18 accounts before the deadline of July 31 in 2018 due to a valid objection questioning whether its investment into Redwood Bank was legal.

In addition, the objection – lodged by retired chartered public finance accountant Chris Haggett – asked whether it was in the public interest.

The council has paid around £30 million to buy a 33 per cent share in Redwood Bank.

It also received an objection to its 2018-19 accounts.

Grant Thornton, the authority’s independent external auditor, will not be able to sign them off until the 2017-18 accounts are done.

During the leader’s forum in Burtonwood earlier this week, council leader Cllr Russ Bowden told residents the public have a right to object to the accounts.

“So going back to 2017-18, we had a public objection to the accounts, that still hasn’t been dealt with by Grant Thornton and until that is dealt with by Grant Thornton then the accounts can’t be signed off,” he added.

“I am advised that this will get resolved in the next month or so and then we can get the accounts signed off.”

Grant Thornton UK LLP has released a short statement following the comments from Cllr Bowden.

A spokesman said: “We have a commitment and a responsibility to maintain the highest professional standards in our work.

“The 2017-18 audit for Warrington council is a complex and unique matter and we expect to reach a resolution soon.

“We are also working with the council to resolve the 2018-19 audit at the earliest opportunity.

“As a result, we are unable to comment further at this time.”