To enable Cabinet to consider the comments submitted to it by the Community Leadership Overview & Scrutiny Committee’s Outcome of the Council’s Carnarvon Terrace Regeneration Project Task and Finish Group, together with the response of the Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Tourism thereto.

RESOLVED that the comments made by the Carnarvon Terrace Regeneration Project Task and Finish Group be noted, and that the response of the Economic Growth, Regeneration & Tourism Portfolio Holder thereto, be endorsed.

Cabinet recalled that, at the meeting of Council held on 14 August 2025, the work programmes for the two Overview and Scrutiny Committees had been approved.  They had included, within the scope of the Community Leadership Overview and Scrutiny Committee to, in relation to the progress and implementation of the Carnarvon Terrace regeneration project, conduct overview and scrutiny of that project and make relevant formal comments / recommendations, as appropriate.

It was reported that, on 3 February 2026, a decision in the name of the Assistant Director (Corporate Policy & Support) had been published constituting the Carnarvon Terrace Regeneration Project Task and Finish Group and setting the date of 10 February 2026 for it to meet.  Authority for that decision had derived from resolution (d) to minute 12 of the meeting of the Community Leadership Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 29 July 2025. That provided for the aforementioned Assistant Director to be authorised, in consultation with the Chairman of the Community Leadership Overview & Scrutiny Committee, to make appointments to Task and Finish Groups and other necessary administrative arrangements.

In addition, the Community Leadership Overview and Scrutiny Committee, at its meeting held on 10 February 2026 (minute 40 referred) had authorised, in view of the restricted timescales involved, the Assistant Director (Corporate Policy & Support),  in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee, to directly report to the Cabinet meeting to be held on 20 March 2026 the outcome of the Task and Finish Working Group's enquiry together with its recommendations and/or comments et cetera.

The Task and Finish Group had duly met on the evening of 10 February 2026 and had AGREED that Cabinet be informed that the Working Group –

(a)     welcomes the use of a pre-market engagement exercise and would advocate this as an ongoing procurement policy for TDC as a good way to ensure TDC’s contract policies and specifications are sound going forward;

(b)     supports the decision to end the initial procurement of the Local Regeneration Projects, including Carnarvon Terrace;

(c)     notes that lessons have been learned; and

(d)     acknowledges and endorses that the actions taken have protected the Council’s reputation.

The Task and Finish Group’s final report was attached as an appendix to the Assistant Director’s report (A.13).

Cabinet had before it the following formal response thereto submitted by the Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Regeneration & Tourism, which was read out at the meeting by the Leader of the Council:-

“I would like to thank the Task and Finish Group for their questions and engagement on the issue of the procurement of the Carnarvon Terrace scheme. I appreciate their support for the approach we have taken so far, and I fully endorse their view that pre-market engagement with contractors should be a key part of the procurement process on such a scheme. I am content to return to the Task and Finish Group at a future point to update them on progress.” 

Having considered the comments of the Carnarvon Terrace Regeneration Project Task and Finish Group and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 131