Report of the Chief Executive

The subject of the decision:

Cabinet Decision CA.5 regarding the ‘Refurbishment of Cobbles and Surrender of Lease – Land at Stokesley’ had been called in by three Members of the Scrutiny Committee.  The call-in was concerned with the refusal by the Cabinet to agree to the request by Stokesley Town Council for an increase in the funds which had previously been agreed as part of the negotiations between both councils to surrender the lease over the ‘Stokesley Cobbles’ land.

The Chief Executive presented a report which outlined the requests for call-in.  Copies of the call-in requests, the original Cabinet report and Cabinet’s decision, and the protocol for the meeting were also appended to the Chief Executive’s report. 

Having briefly explained the procedure for the meeting, the Chairman then invited in turn the three Members who had requested the call-in to outline the nature of their requests and to explain their reasons for the call-in of the decision of Cabinet. 

Councillor A Wake stated that he had called in the decision of the Cabinet because he did not think the matter was given proper consideration and, further, that the decision should be made at a Full Council meeting after a proper debate.

Councillor P Atkin explained that he had called in the decision of the Cabinet because he also felt that the matter was not given proper consideration, in particular that Cabinet had not fully considered the safety concerns occasioned by the ongoing maintenance issues, nor had the Cabinet properly considered any impacts on the Conservation Area.   

Councillor Atkin went on to state that he believed that insufficient weight was given to the arguments put forward by Stokesley Town Council, which had outlined the justification for the additional monies.   Councillor Atkin explained that in his view the Town Council had clarified that the request for additional funds was due, in part, to inappropriate maintenance by Hambleton District Council.  This had led to further deterioration of the cobbled areas since the initial refurbishment costs were agreed. 

Councillor Atkin was also of view with that the matter should be fully debated at the next full Council meeting and that a decision on the matter should be made at that meeting by the full Council, not the Cabinet. 

Councillor G Ramsden explained that he had requested the decision be called in because he didnot believe the matter was given sufficient consideration by Cabinet and, in any event, the decision should be made by the full Council as the appropriate decision maker.  Councillor Ramsden continued by stating that he did not believe that arguments regarding the health and safety of constituents had been properly considered, nor had the arguments highlighted by members of Stokesley Town Council.

Councillor Ramsden concluded by saying that the additional sums required to repair the relevant area should be made available by Hambleton District Council. 

The Committee also heard from Councillor B Griffiths as Ward Member for Stokesley.  Councillor Griffiths (who was also acting in his capacity as a Stokesley  ...  view the full minutes text for item SC.7