Issue - meetings

1.

Title of Item/Report

Yarm Levelling Up Fund (LUF)

2.

Record of the Decision

Consideration was given to a report on Yarm Levelling Up Fund (LUF).

The report enabled Cabinet to reconsider its decision relating to the Yarm Levelling Up Fund (LUF) public realm proposals following a call in and subsequent consideration by the Executive Scrutiny Committee.

The call in forms part of the Council’s constitutional arrangements for scrutiny of executive decision making and enables an executive decision to be paused and reconsidered where concerns were raised about the decision making process.

On 22 April 2026, the Executive Scrutiny Committee considered the call in and resolved to refer the decision back to Cabinet for reconsideration, having identified matters relating to the clarity and presentation of the decision making process that Cabinet was asked to have regard to.

The original Cabinet report and decision record were attached to the report.

At its meeting on 12 March 2026, Cabinet considered a report relating to the Yarm Levelling Up Fund (LUF) public realm proposals. The report set out the outcome of a public engagement exercise in relation to the proposed High Street scheme, the wider financial context, and a range of options for the future use of the remaining funding.

Following consideration, Cabinet resolved to note the outcome of the public engagement, not to proceed with the scheme as originally proposed, and to reallocate the remaining funding. This included retaining a proportion of funding for locally focused schemes, with further development delegated accordingly.

The decision was subsequently called in in accordance with the Council’s Constitution. The call in raised concerns relating to the presentation and interpretation of the engagement exercise, the extent to which its outcomes were reflected in the decision, and the clarity with which options and alternative approaches were presented.

On 22 April 2026, the Executive Scrutiny Committee considered the call in. The Monitoring Officer confirmed that the call in met the constitutional requirements for validity and that the matters raised were capable of scrutiny within the Council’s decision making framework. The Committee then resolved to refer the decision back to Cabinet for reconsideration.

In referring the decision back, the Executive Scrutiny Committee identified matters for Cabinet to have regard to when reconsidering its decision. These matters related to the clarity and explanation of the decision making process.

In summary, they concerned:

•         how clearly the engagement exercise was presented and understood;

•         how the purpose and status of that engagement were communicated;

•         how engagement outcomes were interpreted and taken into account;

•         the clarity with which options and alternative approaches were presented;

•         the articulation of reasons for the decision; and

•         the overall completeness and coherence of the information before Cabinet, including the relationship between engagement outcomes, financial considerations, and the decision taken.

Cabinet thanked Executive Scrutiny Committee for considering the call in and acknowledged scrutiny's legitimate constitutional role.

Cabinet carefully reflected on the matters referred  ...  view the full decision text for item 8.