MEMBERS of Stockton Borough Council's cabinet will today be asked to defer a decision on regeneration proposals for Billingham to allow a final round of consultation with the town's residents.

With a reorganisation of the Billingham Regeneration Partnership Board's structure under way, cabinet member Councillor Barry Woodhouse will propose the recommendation to the cabinet meeting to allow a reformed board to further develop its role as community leader for Billingham.

The new board may then want to carry out a further round of consultation later in the year, before the matter is brought back to the council's cabinet.

Coun Barry Woodhouse, cabinet member for the North Borough and acting chairman of the Regeneration Board, said: "I recognise that, even though we have carried out three rounds of consultation, some people do still have concerns about the proposals.

"Whichever way forward is ultimately taken, it must be based around the funding opportunities that are likely to be available. It must also be a realistic and deliverable proposal, and it should be based on the wishes of Billingham people.

"Billingham has the opportunity now to benefit from investment of some £25m in new facilities, but this will not be open for ever and we cannot magic money out of thin air, or pretend the council has money that it hasn't.

"A fourth round of consultation will further demonstrate a real commitment to listening to the views of Billingham people."

Councillor Woodhouse said the Board had done a lot of good work for Billingham, but that much of it had not been fully recognised. There was now a need for it to become a registered body with its own constitution so it can be demonstrably part and parcel of Billingham life.

He said: "I hope the board can come back to the cabinet with a consensus view from Billingham.

"However, one thing is for sure - with the future development of Billingham at stake, doing nothing cannot be an option."