Changes to grass cutting in Kirklees will be scrutinised.

And residents and pressure groups can present their case to councillors to urge a re-think.

Kirklees Council’s Cabinet last month agreed to cut its parks and open spaces maintenance pot by £1.3m - leading to reduction in grass cutting from April.

It’s angered opposition councillors – both Conservative and Liberal Democrat – who argue it was done without consultation and against council policy.

Now Kirklees Council has set out the process that will see scrutiny councillors hear evidence behind the decision.

Read more: Band of volunteers tackle long grass in Mirfield's Knowl Park after Kirklees Council stop mowing

Clr Julie Stewart-Turner (Green) will chair the hearing with Clr David Hall (Conservative) and Clr Mohan Sokhal (Labour) on the panel, plus two co-optees John Briggs and Fatima Khan.

A Kirklees spokeswoman said: “The decision taken by Cabinet has been subsequently ‘called in’ for review, which means no action can be taken to implement the decision until it has been fully considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee.

“A meeting has been scheduled to take place on Thursday August 20 at Huddersfield Town Hall, commencing at 10am.

“The committee will focus on the grounds of the call in... the committee does not have the power to overturn the decision, however, having considered the evidence presented at the hearing, the Panel can recommend that the Cabinet consider amending the decision.”

Read more: No mow: Kirklees Tory councillors 'call in' Cabinet decision on grass cutting cuts

The day-long meeting will hear from the signatories of the call-in; Cabinet members or council officers will outline their reasons, before other interested councillors are invited to speak.

The public will then get their chance to comment before the panel returns its verdict.

The panel cannot over-rule Cabinet – instead it has three options.

The first is to take no further action, which means the council can introduce the service reduction as planned from next April. It can refer it back to Cabinet with recommendations or proposed amendments; or it can refer it to the next meeting of the Full Council if it believes the decision is not in line with the agreed budget or policy.

Long grass on central reservation of A644, Huddersfield Road, Dewsbury.

Public and pressure groups wanting to speak are asked to register first by contacting Jenny Bryce-Chan at Kirklees Council’s Governance and Democratic Services Team on 01484 221000 by 5pm on August 19.

Written information can be sent to the Governance and Democratic Services Team, Civic Centre 3, High Street, Huddersfield HD1 2TG or scrutiny.governance@kirklees.gov.uk by 5pm on Monday August 17.