Agenda and minutes

None

The minutes of the meetings were approved as a true and accurate record subject to the following amendment for 14 December 2017:

“A Committee Member moved that the Committee vote on whether or not to make the recommendation for Council to adopt Civil Parking Enforcement.”

Regarding the minutes of the meeting on 8 January 2018, Members noted that the following information had not yet been received by the Committee:

‘The Inspector then advised the Committee that success of the Order is the people fearing being dealt with in court. They will try to get views of his Police counterparts in other areas to bring back to the Committee.’

Invitees:

·         Meirion Rushworth – Head of Finance

·         Rhys Cornwall – Head of People and Business Change

·         Cllr David Williams – Chair of Performance Scrutiny Committee – People

·         Cllr Chris Evans – Chair of Performance Scrutiny Committee – Place

Public Engagement

The Head of People and Business Change presented the overview to the Committee. It was explained that the consultation closed on 31 January 2018, and that comments from the public were being compiled to be reported to the Cabinet. It was advised that the budget consultation was an event with tight timescales, and it was important that the large amounts of information was suitably analysed and presented to Cabinet for consideration. Various methods of engagement were used, such as Newport Matters, ONE Public Services Board, social media and the Engage Project Voluntary Group. An engagement pilot, that had been discussed in a previous Scrutiny Committee (Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee, 28/9/17), which directed citizens to the public consultation when the utilised the cities free WiFi, was deemed to be a success by the Officers.

The Officers informed the Committee that for the next consultation, questions being asked would need to be more sophisticated, with the questions being less binary such as “Why do you feel like this” or “Why do you agree”. Members were instructed that all letters and petitions were collated, as well as Union responses via the Employee Partnership Forum. Improvements had been made this year by running events where people might be affected by a particular proposal and Members were advised of the event ran last week in the Market to collate the views of residents.

Members asked how the public could be reassured that the Council were listening to their view and how the Council would provide feedback on how it had responded, such as an explanation for why suggestions had not been taken forward.. Members were advised that in previous years some feedback was given in Newport Matters, and during the process this year the department had tried to respond to some specific questions as and when they were received.

Members were directed that when the proposals have gone through the political process, feedback and follow ups would be undertaken where possible. Officers indicated that the Council were open to suggestions about how this could be improved.

Members concerns were voiced that some people who might be affected by particular proposals had not being informed that the budget consultation had started, and as a result may had missed ward meetings to discuss the proposals.

It was recommended that there should be a more widespread article in Newport Matters about the budget consultation to make residents aware of what is going on. Difficulty finding the comments section on the Council website was also a concern for Members. Officers explained that feedback on the difficulty of finding the comments section on the Council website had been taken on board and would be looked at for next year. The department would also check with Newport Matters to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

The Committee discussed the forward work programme, in particular the items on the next two Committee meetings.

The Committee were advised that there may need to be an additional meeting held to discuss the City Centre Public Spaces Protection Order, possibly during May. The Members suggested that this meeting could be held in the Council Chambers and that it be broadcasted in light of the potential public interest in this item.

Actions

The Committee agreed to confirm the items scheduled for the next two meetings, including the invitees and the information requested.