Agenda and minutes

      i.        To receive any apologies for absence.

     ii.        To receive any declarations of interest

    iii.        To receive any announcements by the Mayor.

Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest at this stage

Holocaust Memorial Day

The Mayor thanked all those involved in the organisation of the event held to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day. He also thanked all those who attended this important and successful event.

The minutes of the meeting of the City Council held on 26 January 2016 were confirmed as true record and signed by the Mayor.

The following appointments were agreed

Appointment Panel: Head of People & Business Change:  Deputy Leader, Cabinet Member for People and Business Change, Councillor Roger Jeavons and Councillor David Williams. No appointment was made by the Independent Group.

GAVO Local Committee: Councillor Omar Ali was appointed to this new organisation

Welsh Books Council: Councillor David Williams no longer serves on this organisation. No replacement was made.

Governors:

The Chief Education Officer had determined to appoint two additional governors to Maes Ebbw School. They were confirmed as Mr Rhys Cornwall and Ms Katie Diamond

Other Governor appointments were:

The Mayor welcomed Superintendent Joanne Bull to the meeting.

Superintendent Bull updated members on the recruitment of police officers. She mentioned that the process last year had resulted in 19 new officers being appointed and they had completed training and were now undertaking duties in the community. The current recruitment process should lead to about more 30 new officers. By the end of 2016 there should be around 100 new officers in Gwent.

Superintendent Bull also updated members on activities to address priorities in Newport in relation to criminal activity and anti-social behaviour. There had been positive results to recent court cases relating to violent crime in the City 

Superintendent Bull confirmed to Councillor Garland that neighbourhood teams would continue to work to address traffic issues.

Councillor Wilcox praised the actions of police in relation to social media activity about a domestic abuse case. Superintendent Bull agreed to raise the issue of a public meeting with local officers.

Councillor Truman welcomed the new cohort of officers. Councillor Guy asked how many would be based in Newport and about the Special Constabulary. Superintendent Bull stated that the east area comprised Newport and Monmouthshire and it was likely the area would receive 50% of the new cohort. She agreed the Special Constabulary provided important support and worked closely with regular colleagues. Councillor Cockeram mentioned that the force had reduced its number of officers significantly in the recent past and the new cohort would not go anywhere near addressing this reduction. Superintendent Bull explained the remodelling of the force which aimed to ensure the best possible service from the force. Technology was being used to help with efficiency.

Councillor Whitehead was pleased with the successful outcome of dispersal orders in the ward. Councillor Ali was pleased with support from local officers

Superintendent Bull confirmed to Councillor Whitcutt that neighbourhood teams would be asked to work to address traffic issues in the Maesglas area.  Councillor Jeavons was also concerned about drivers jumping red lights

Superintendent Bull updated Councillor Watkins on progress on the introduction of the new “Storm” model of communication.

Superintendent Bull agreed to pass on best wishes from Councillor Critchley to the Divisional Commander and updated members on the continuity that will be achieved on his return.

The Leader of the Council moved the budget proposals saying that in recent years, the Council had made significant improvement in how it plans its resources in the medium term, ensuring alignment with its vision for the City, through the Medium Term Financial Plan which helps the Council to provide the best possible services to the residents of Newport within available resources.

The Leader initially dealt with the Treasury Management Strategy and informed the Council that essentially the strategy being recommended was similar to previous years. He said that, in the main capital schemes would be funded from the Council’s own resources, the exception being the funding for Friars Walk. The Council would not take out long term borrowing and in general would not be a significant investor

The Leader mentioned that the capital receipt from the Friars Walk development will be paid in November and this was likely to result in the Council being a short term significant investor. He stressed that, as always, security of funds will be prioritised.

The Leader stated that the key driver to the Treasury Management strategy was the capital programme and the final 2 years of the current programme was shown in the report to Council. He said that given the pressure on revenue funds, there were no easy solutions to expand the capital programme through additional borrowing, though demand for capital resources, as usual, was high.

The Leader confirmed, however, that the Council would be investing over the next two years in schools and the city centre regeneration as well as the usual replacement of key IT and vehicle assets. He stated that the Cabinet would continue to look at options to provide further investment in key projects and assets wherever possible.

As to the revenue budget and council tax, the Leader began by saying that the original proposals for the coming year were on the basis of the expected settlement from the Welsh Government.  Originally this meant preparing for a 4% reduction, then 2.3%.  A 5% increase in Council tax was used as a working assumption.

There was also a need  to consider pressures on the budget including: costs relating to the new National Living Wage; funding the increase in employer’s National Insurance costs; and funding the costs of meeting the Welsh Language Standards at £280,000 in 2016/17. The Leader pointed out that these pressures are requirements that have to be met .They amount to nearly £4.3m in 2016/17 and must be met with no additional funding being provided. In addition, there were the annual and regular pressures on the budget, such as inflationary pressures; on-going and increasing demand on social care; and investing in schools

The Leader stated that for a number of months, the Cabinet had worked together with officers to develop proposals for consultation. He wanted to make it clear that the proposals that arose from those discussions were indeed proposals and not - as described by some observers - decisions.

The final 0.7% reduction in the settlement  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Chair of the Cabinet informed the Council that Local Authorities are required to produce and publish a Strategic Equalities Plan every three years as part of their specific equalities duties. The Council was presented with proposed Equality Objectives for 2016-20 based on an evolution of current objectives and priorities and changes in line with new or current legislation and as recommended by the Cabinet.

In line with legislation, assessment of data held (Unified Needs Assessment and Ward Profiles) and consultation the following Equality Objectives were agreed:

·         A more equal Wales, including diversity in the workplace – engaging employees; engagement and democratic participation; improving access to services; and tackling poverty

·         A Wales of cohesive communities, to include: cohesive communities and tackling hate crime; domestic abuse and sexual violence; and homelessness

·         A Wales of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language, which would involve: compliance with the Welsh Language Standards; and corporate compliance

The Leader of the Council agreed to provide a written answer to Councillor Fouweather who asked whether there were sufficient funds available in the budget to provide the Welsh Language Schemes that we need to comply with.

Councillor Ali spoke in favour of the Plan as the Council’s Equalities Champion and he thanked the Cabinet Members and officers involved in the Equalities Partnership, showing the importance the Council gave to this issue

Resolved

To adopt the proposed plan.

To provide an opportunity for councillors to ask questions to the Chair of the Cabinet in accordance with the Council’s Standing Orders.

Process: No more than 30 minutes will be allocated at the Council meeting for oral questions to the Leader

If members are unable to ask their question orally within the allocated time, remaining questions will be answered in writing. The question and response will be appended to the minutes.

The question must be addressed through the Mayor or the person presiding at the meeting and not directly to the person being questioned

There were no questions submitted to the Chair of the Cabinet

To provide an opportunity to pose Questions to Cabinet Members in line with Standing Orders

Process: No more than 10 minutes will be allocated at the Council meeting for questions to each Cabinet Member.

Members will have needed to submit their proposed questions in writing in accordance with Standing Orders. If members are unable to ask their question orally within the allocated time, remaining questions will be answered in writing. The question and response will be appended to the minutes.

The question must be addressed through the Mayor or the person presiding at the meeting and not directly to the person being questioned

Questions will be posed to cabinet members in the following order:

Deputy Leader

Cabinet Member for Adult & Community Services

Cabinet Member for Education and Young People

Cabinet Member for People & Business Change

Cabinet Member for Regulatory Functions

Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Investment

Cabinet Member for Skills and Work

Cabinet Member for Streetscene & City Services

For Information: A digest of recent decision schedules issued by Cabinet, Cabinet Members and Minutes of recent meetings of Committees has been circulated electronically to all Members of the Council

There were no questions submitted to the Members of the Cabinet

To pose questions to the Chairs of the Committees in the following order:

      I.        Scrutiny Committees

·         Community Planning and Development

·         Learning, Caring and Leisure

·         Street Scene, Regeneration and Safety

    II.        Planning Committee

   III.        Licensing Committee

  IV.        Democratic Services Committee

Process: No more than 10 minutes will be allocated at the Council meeting for questions to each Chair.

Members will have needed to submit their proposed questions in writing in accordance with Standing Orders. If members are unable to ask their question orally within the allocated time, remaining questions will be answered in writing. The question and response will be appended to the minutes.

The question must be addressed through the Mayor or the person presiding at the meeting and not directly to the person being questioned.

There were no questions submitted to the Chairs of  Committees