The opposition Liberal Democrat Group has given its support to the 2.98% rise in Council Tax for next year. The budget was agreed at a Warrington Council meeting on Monday evening.

Finance Spokesperson Cllr Ian Marks said, "The utter shambles of Brexit is having a profound effect on our economy and our Council budget. Civil servants are being diverted from their normal business to prepare for the possibility of a no-deal Brexit. What a waste, when they should be concentrating on the NHS, education, housing and other vital services. Austerity has gone on far too long and according to the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies, the present system of local government finance is not sustainable. Yet as the Public Accounts Committee says, the government is in denial over local authority funding.

The latest threat to close the Sandy Lane Community Recycling Centre in Stockton Heath has been put on hold, thanks to the power of local protest.

The Labour Council reversed the decision to shut it down next year and has asked officers to find ways to reduce running costs to allow it to stay open. Officers have to report back by May next year.

Lymm Councillors and local residents are extremely disappointed and angry with the decision to award planning permission for a large development on the site of the Lymm Hotel.

At a meeting of Warrington Council's planning committee, permission was granted to remove all the existing buildings on the site to be replaced by a children's nursery, a residential care home and retirement with care apartments.