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.

Mayor’s Announcements

Councillors Hannon and Trigg

Members of the Council joined the Mayor in passing on best wishes to Councillors Paul Hannon and Noel Trigg who had both been in hospital recently.

British Empire Medal

The Mayor stated that he had been delighted last week to attend a ceremony where the Lord Lieutenant awarded the British Empire Medal to Mrs Mary Alice Leech of Clevedon Road, Newport for her voluntary and charitable services, mainly for Toc H in Newport

At the same time Mr Thomas Lewis from Risca also received the British Empire Medal from the Lord Lieutenant for his services to music in the community

All Members passed on their congratulations to Mrs Leach and Mr Lewis

Declarations of Interest

Councillors H Thomas and K Thomas declared a pecuniary interest in Minute 7 at this stage

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 24 February 2015

The Minutes of the meeting held on 24 February 2015 were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Mayor

To consider any proposed appointments.

The following appointments were agreed:

Audit Committee: Cllr John Guy to replace Cllr Omar Ali

Appeals Panel: Cllr Kate Thomas to replace Cllr Ibrahim Hyatt on the panel

Community Health Council: Elaine Bryant was nominated

Governors:

Malpas Court Primary: To re- appoint Cllr David Mayer and Mr Bill Langsford

Millbrook Primary School: Stephanie Davies and Leah Stannard were appointed

St Julian’s High School: Sarah Banwell was appointed

The Leader of the Opposition raised the issue of non – Council members being appointed to outside bodies when there may be opportunities for elected members from other parties to be appointed on occasions. He said he would be willing to discuss this with the Business Manager following the AGM

Questions to Superintendent Fernquest

The Mayor welcomed Superintendent Glyn Fernquest to the meeting.

Superintendent Fernquest updated members on action taken on some long – standing issues. He also thanked Councillors and other partners for their assistance and support. He also updated members about forthcoming events that will increase activity.

Superintendent Fernquest shared the concerns of Councillor Harvey about the use of very young children by drug dealers and other criminals.  He described action being taken and what was being done to not to criminalise young children by working with parents. 

Councillor Al Nuaimi was concerned about the significant rise in antisocial behaviour in the Stow Hill ward as recently reported. He asked what action was being taken to alleviate problems. Councillor Cockeram was concerned about the range of activity that was classed as anti-social behaviour and felt that a breakdown of figures would be useful. Superintendent Fernquest agreed anti-social behaviour was a wide –ranging category. With this in mind the Police had made efforts to categorise activities and tried to identify root causes. 

Councillor Wilcox was concerned about recent incidents of grass fires in the Gaer Ward. She praised the work of the Police and Fire and Rescue Service for their actions. Superintendent Fernquest was also concerned and described action being taken which meant the situation was improving. He was also concerned about sightseers that cause problems at the scene. Councillor Whitcutt shared concerns about the extent of arson attacks in the area. Superintendent Fernquest mentioned an all- Wales seminar that was being held to discuss these problems. Councillor Morris stated that signs should be on site warning about the dangers of fires

Superintendent Fernquest reassured Councillor Guy that local businesses and the Council were working with the police to try to alleviate problems caused by alcohol use.

In response to Councillor Whitehead, Superintendent Fernquest described support to schools and to PTA’s from drugs officers as part of the Education programme relating to drugs use. He agreed there had been a seasonal high of non- dwelling house burglaries and described action being taken locally.

Superintendent Fernquest   informed Councillor Williams that the police would investigate any reports of criminal activity in a local woodland area. The police however would not take a side on a local issue.

Councillor Tom Suller thanked the Police for recent success in the ward in relation to drug related issues and engagement by the local police team

Superintendent Fernquest described to Councillor Chris Evans action taken by the Police, including a restructure, to mitigate against the effect of budget cuts.  The restructured organisation was organised to make sure front line services are protected.

Superintendent Fernquest   responded to Councillor Morris by updating members on the outcome of enquiries and actions in relation to a recent local incident involving members of the travelling community

The Mayor thanked Superintendent Fernquest for his attendance and for answering questions

To agree a response to the White Paper “Power to Local People”.

The Leader of the Council informed Members that the White Paper set out the Minister’s vision for the future of local government in Wales.

The White Paper and accompanying documents can be found at the following link:

http://gov.wales/consultations/localgovernment/power-to-local-people/?status=open&lang=en

Very early in this process the Cabinet had taken the decision that this was such an important issue for the Council that this matter should be discussed by the full Council meeting, allowing a cross party response.

The White Paper was a very detailed document which sets out the Welsh Government’s vision for the future of local government in Wales, with an underlying principle of giving ‘power to local people’ through policies of participative democracy whereby communities can better engage and participate in decision making, service development and delivery.

The Leader said that the Cabinet broadly supported the concept of reform of local government but matters of detail needed to be carefully considered.

Cabinet Members considered the WLGA response as outlined in the report was broadly consistent with the view of Newport City Council. 

Detailed responses to the specific points were set out in the report identifying which proposals were supported and which were not supported.

One amendment to the proposed response was agreed across the parties. On the point about the reduction in elected members in Wales, it was agreed the response should now read: “Whilst a reduction is supported this should not be done through a rigid formula based on a ratio of members to constituents “

The Leader stated that the Cabinet did not feel the structure of the consultation questionnaire allowed enough scope for comment or reflection. Cabinet Members considered the questionnaire did not give residents the opportunity to provide a view on how current arrangements work. There was a lack of free text space in the questionnaire. The Cabinet had asked for an independent view of the questionnaire should be sought and this was being done.

A significant number of elected members contributed to the debate. The main issues raised included the following:

·         Completion of the consultation questionnaire was a difficult and lengthy process and did not   allow members and members of the public to comment on a very important proposal

·         The questionnaire was weighted towards favourable answers or comments  about the Welsh Government proposals

·         The proposal to reduce the number of Councillors was not matched with any proposals in relation to the number of politicians in other bodies

·         Councillors are the first layer of engagement with local people and were known to local people who contacted them on a wide range of issues within the communities. More so than the Assembly Member or MP.

·         Councillors would be more remote from their communities

·         The concept of reform was supported but needed to be reasonable, sensible and measured

·         Local Government should be treated with respect and in the same manner as other democratic institutions

·         There was a need to balance the powers of the various institutions

·         The Council supported diversity of engagement in all its forms

·         There  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To consider adoption of the Improvement Plan 2015/16 as recommended by the Cabinet

The Leader of the Council introduced a report which set out the Cabinet’s recommended eight priority areas in which improvement should be demonstrated during 2015/16.

The Improvement Objectives relate directly to the priorities of the Corporate Plan.

They were selected by Cabinet in January 2015 after consideration of consultation responses.

Scrutiny Committees had played a big part in developing the objectives and their work was appreciated. There was also a public consultation exercise.

The Leader stated the importance of having clear criteria used for setting targets and stated the Council would move forward on the following basis:

• Never to be in the fourth quartile;
• Never to be below Welsh average; and
• Improvement year on year.

The Leader of the Opposition referred to the need to monitor the budget that relates to Social Services and how pressures can arise; that the squeeze in admissions would work its way through the Education system; that action take on young people not in employment, education or training was supported and there was a need to achieve recycling targets

The Leader of the Council thanked the Leader of the Opposition for the comments

Resolved

To adopt the Improvement Plan

To note and apply the main remuneration details for Member’s for 2015-2016 and to make a decision on the remuneration of the City’s Mayor and Deputy Mayor for 2015-2016

The Council was provided with the main remuneration details for its Members in 2015/16, as directed to it by the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales.

The Council is not required to approve a “Scheme of Allowances” nor can it vary the level of the allowances payable to Members, with the exception of the remuneration of the city’s Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Section 153 of the Local Government Measure requires relevant authorities to comply with the requirements imposed on it by the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales.

There were no changes recommended for 2015/16 from current level of remuneration and the Council agreed the banding of the remuneration for the city’s Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the 2014/15 financial year, the first year that a local decision was required for this. No change to the current banding was recommended. 

Resolved

      i.        To note the key details of the 2015/16 Member’s remuneration, which are those directed to it by the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales

     ii.        To maintain the current banding on the remuneration of the City’s Mayor and Deputy for 2015/16.

    iii.        To note the publicity and information Schedules requirement

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 to the Chair on this occasion

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 Education and Young People

Cabinet Member for Human Resources and Assets

Cabinet Member for Infrastructure

Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture

Cabinet Member for Licensing and Statutory Functions

Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development

Cabinet Member for Skills and Work

Cabinet Member for Social Care and Wellbeing

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 was one question to the Cabinet Member for Education and Young People. The question and response are set out in the appendix to these minutes

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 to Committee Chairs on this occasion.

Councillor Allan Morris wished to express his appreciation of the work of the Council’s Trading Standards team but it was explained by the Mayor  that this could not be done without a formal question.

To consider the minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 24 March 2015

The minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 24 March 2015 were received

Appendix: