Council’s decision to lend private company £3m for shopping centre revamp on hold

The decision of the Conservative administration of West Northants’ unitary council has been called in for scrutiny

By Sarah Ward

A move by West Northants cabinet to loan £3m to a shopping centre owner will now face delays after a collective of opposition councillors has called in the decision.

The ruling of the council’s executive to lend Evolve estates the large sum in order to relocate fashion store H & M into its Grosvenor Centre premises and create new office space, will have to be put on hold for now after the action by opposition Labour leader Cllr Wendy Randall, which has been supported by the Liberal Democrat and independents on the authority.