THE executive member in charge of the council's budget insists the 'biggest challenge' the new Government will face after May 7 is to 'fix' funding for local authorities.

Cllr Russ Bowden (Birchwood - LAB), executive member for corporate resources and assignments, believes action must be taken by whichever party is voted into power to limit the effects to councils in the country amid growing cuts.

The devolution of power has been tipped as a solution to allow Warrington Borough Council to improve its services for residents.

"The council has had to save more than £90 million since 2010, due to reduced funding from the Government," said Cllr Bowden.

"The biggest challenge for the new Government will be to fix local authority funding - councils have borne the brunt of Government cuts, typically losing around 40 per cent of their revenue funding.

"This simply can't continue and there needs to be a serious look at how councils are financed. For example, here in Warrington, we collect around £105 million of business rates every year, and yet we are only allowed to keep 27 per cent.

"Giving a much greater share to councils like Warrington through financial devolution would allow us to invest in the services and infrastructure that Warrington needs. I hope that the new Government will listen to councils and help us to better support our communities."

An Outcome Based Budget process (OBB) has been introduced to deliver growth in the town - a project which Cllr Bowden is tipping to succeed.

"We have assumed that the council will be self-sufficient in the near future, receiving no Revenue Support Grant from the Government and all of our income coming from council tax, business rates and fees and charges," he said.

"One important part of OBB is that it is year-round process, meaning that we are already working on building up our budget for next year, of 2016-17, and beyond.

"A big advantage of OBB is that it allows us to develop a more strategic approach in the council, with longer term planning than under the previous system - it is through OBB that we are developing our budget for future years and so I was delighted to pledge the introduction of the living wage for all council staff from April 2016.

"It is only right that work is rewarded and evidence shows that there are wider benefits to the local economy. This is an opportunity for the council to act as a community leader and influence other employees in Warrington to adopt the living wage as well."

Cllr Bowden has also echoed council leader Terry O'Neill's views in saying that the Bridge Street development work will attract people from across the region to the town.

He added: "The exciting plans for Bridge Street - along with all of the other regeneration projects - will make a real difference in our town.

"All of the ambitious projects of this council administration, together with the strength of our local economy, are really putting Warrington on the map.

"I am confident that we will have a great culture, heritage, events and retail offer that will make Warrington a destination and attract people into the town."