AN executive board member insists the council is 'open and transparent' and confirmed 'part two items' discussed at meetings will only be done to protect commercial confidentiality.

The decision to provide a 10-year loan to Warrington Collegiate, which was made in private, has been criticised by councillors.

But the executive board has now deferred its final decision on the matter until September after it is discussed at a rearranged scrutiny committee meeting.

Part two topics on the agenda at council meetings are usually not open to the public and press.

But Cllr Russ Bowden (LAB – Birchwood), executive member for corporate finance, said any claims of the council working in 'secret' or 'behind closed doors' are false.

He said: "This is an open and transparent council – we only use part two items to protect commercial confidentiality.

"All council members have access to part two information.

"I welcome any challenge by the scrutiny process and will happily stand on our record of generating income for this council in order to protect vital services for our residents."

He also praised the council's work for helping to generate more than £2 million of income in the past year.

"This exceeds our budget target and means that we are being creative and innovative in avoiding to make front line budget cuts," he added.

"The quality of our finance management and governance is recognised by our external auditor and by Moody's in its recent excellent Aa2 credit rating for the council.

"Our work is delivering major investment in Warrington, supporting our key partners - like Warrington Collegiate - and generating income for the council.

"We have to do this to try and offset some of the damage done by Government cuts of around £77 million since 2010."