RESPECTED international credit ratings agency Moody’s has withdrawn its rating of Warrington Borough Council.

This is because, it says, of the ‘inability of the council to procure that its statement of accounts are audited by external auditors’.

WBC’s accounts are, of course, audited annually by Grant Thornton UK LLP, though I am aware of some past reports of the auditor’s difficulties in signing off valuations of controversial investments.

I understand that WBC states that it has been ‘impacted by the national issue of delays in signing off council accounts’.

I do wonder about the full accuracy of this statement.

Is it not the case that it is the number and level of WBC’ s debts that has brought it under scrutiny?

CHRIS HAGGETT

Warrington