Salford City Council is set to borrow £25m to cover the cost of fire safety works on nine housing association-managed tower blocks.

The  council will hold a special meeting next Wednesday to decide whether to borrow the cash using its prudential borrowing powers, having concluded the test results mean “significant work” on the blocks will be required, including replacing cladding.

However, it maintains that Pendleton Together, which manages the blocks, should ultimately foot the bill for the works.

The cladding was installed during refurbishment works completed earlier this year through a private finance initiative between the council and Pendleton Together Operating Limited.