A COUNCIL'S cabinet is back to full strength after a disgruntled councillor who resigned last week agreed to return.

Councillor Robbie Payne yesterday withdrew his resignation, after walking out of Hartlepool Borough Council's cabinet meeting in fury a week earlier.

Coun Payne quit following Mayor Stuart Drummond's decision not to reinstate the allotments at Briarfields, because of the authority's financial problems.

But following discussions with the mayor, Coun Payne has agreed to go back.

Mayor Drummond said: "I'm pleased Robbie will continue his role as a cabinet member.

"What happened was a storm in a teacup, and we have talked things through sensibly.

"I have agreed to put Briarfields back on the agenda as part of the budget process, although my views on reinstating the allotments have not changed."

Coun Payne said: "I feel passionately about the Briarfields allotment situation and I'm pleased that Stuart has agreed to put Briarfields back on the agenda."

Fourteen allotment-holders were ousted from the site by the council in 2003, after the authority planned to sell the £3m plot to developers for executive housing.

However, the local planning inspector turned the idea down, and the Local Government Ombudsman later said the council had acted out of "maladministration" over its handling of the issue. It was suggested the land be given back to the gardeners.

Full council agreed the idea in principle, and Coun Payne worked with gardeners to discuss how best to get the overgrown site back in order.

However, last week Mayor Drummond used his casting vote to reject £75,000 funding for the project, prompting Coun Payne's outcry.

The gardeners, while disappointed, have not been deterred.

Allotment-holder Dr Peter Pickens said: "It's a temporary setback. I'm hopeful it will go ahead eventually."