Warrington Borough Council is as financially resilient as France, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates, according to the latest report by international credit agency Moody’s.

For the second year running Warrington has been awarded an ‘Aa2’ credit rating, the second highest possible, giving it a better position than all but 16 countries in the world.

Nations including China, Belgium and Japan all look up to Warrington in terms of financial stability according to the figures.

Moody’s carried out an in-depth evaluation of the council’s finances, governance, strategic plans, economic regeneration schemes and structures. It found that the town has a well-diversified economic area with “low unemployment, a strong institutional framework and a track record of budget delivery”.

The agency praised the council’s budget management – with £76.8 million saved over the past five years and also the authority’s proactive economic development strategy.

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