A row has broken out between councillors in Newcastle over key regeneration projects for the town centre. Labour councillors have called-in a key Cabinet decision over the progress of the Ryecroft development.

The six councillors who called-in the decision had 30 minutes to outline the reasons for calling-in the decision and to address their desired outcomes. Councillor Mike Stubbs (Lab), the lead call-in member, went through a litany of council meetings where he said scrutiny had not taken place or where more information should have been delivered.

Councillor Stubbs said there were three main reasons for calling-in the decision, lack of scrutiny, lack of transparency and a significant change in the in-year budget. He told councillors: "The decision in question was made without significant consultation of either full council nor the finance assets and performance scrutiny committee which has left many of our councillors feeling unheard and marginalised.

"It is crucial that Cabinet decisions are informed by voices and needs of the community but importantly follow the constitution. Lack of transparency is number two, concerns have been raised about the transparency of the decision making process.

"Our residents and councillors deserve clear, well documented and transparent procedures to provide insight into how and why decisions are made. And finally a significant change in the in-year budget is clearly reportable for full transparency, full council should have been reported to, as per the financial regulations."

Over £250,000 has been given to a developer for initial tests for York Place, Midway and Ryecroft (Nub News).

Despite the call-in relating to the recent Cabinet decision over finalising a masterplan for the hotel and residential developments and agreeing terms with developers to enable these developments to progress.

Councillor Stubbs continued: "it is important to understand at this point if the call-in we are discussing today is not an opposition to progress but a commitment to responsible governance our propose is to ensure that the decisions made by this council or in the case the Cabinet are routed in the best interests of the community and are arrived at through collaboration, consultative accountable process."

At the moment £256,500 has been given to Capital and Centric for initial feasibility tests and business cases for initial proposals for York Place, Midway and Ryecroft which will then be evaluated and if needed amended to what the council requires. If it is decided to go ahead with the proposals the next step is a planning application, planning permission and then build.

Council Leader, Councillor Simon Tagg confirmed that the monitoring officer confirmed that the decision is within the councils budget and policy framework. In his response to Councillor Stubbs, Cllr Tagg said he was disappointed by the political nature of the call-in and his administration had a history of moving key regeneration projects forward.

Councillor Tagg said: "First of all looking at this call-in and I'm disappointed and I know other members are too of the political nature of this call-in from the Labour Group. Since the summer of particularly 2023 almost every Cabinet we have had has had a report back on the regeneration plans for the future high street fund / town deal. 

"So I'm quite confident that what Councillor Stubbs is saying is not correct and again it's disappointing that we have that from the Labour Group. As well as all the details that have gone to Cabinet about this, particularly since the summer of this year also it's gone to both scrutiny committees. 

"Under this administration we have seen key regeneration projects move forward in the same way we are doing this with the refurbishment of Kidsgrove Sports Centre and of course works now started on the Castle car park."

Committee members were given three options to make a decision, firstly the original Cabinet decision stands; secondly make a recommendation which changes the substantive decision and refer the matter back to Cabinet for consideration; or finally, to offer advice or make recommendations which do not change the substantive decision.

Councillor Stubbs moved that the committee back the motion "That council receive a presentation from Capital and Centric outlining their vision for the developments within the Town Centre." However, Councillor Paul Waring (Con) moved a motion that "the decision of Cabinet stands, that the committee endorses Cabinet's decision and congratulates the administration on the important progress being made and the committee admonishes the Labour Group for their politically motivated posturing."

The politically neutral scrutiny committee voted down party lines with councillors rejecting the motion by Councillor Stubbs and supporting the motion by Councillor Waring with six votes to five.

READ MORE: Plans to demolish and redevelop Fenton church and community buildings withdrawn 

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