Agenda item

The Leader introduced the latest update on the external pressures impact on Newport City Council’s services, as well as providing a summary of actions taken with local partners.

This monthly report provided an overview of the current wider economic impact in the UK and Wales since the last report presented at Cabinet in January 2023.

For many residents this was one of the most difficult periods they had experienced, and Cabinet continued to do all it could in collaboration with key partners across the city.   

With these pressures continuing, the Leader urged all residents experiencing difficulty to contact the council for information on the advice and support available to help with household bills and other financial obligations.    

During times such as these, the ability to work in partnership to support our residents, businesses and staff was of utmost importance

The commitment of officers and our partners to work together to make a difference and support people to access help, advice and support was clear in all conversations taken with the Leader internally, locally, and nationally both in her role as Leader of the Council and as Chair of our OneNewport partnership.

This issue was being felt across Wales and wider. The Leader continued to raise the need for support at every opportunity and ensure, as a council, support for local and Welsh Government initiatives to maximise the help that Council and its partners were able to provide. 

With the media reporting charities seeing an estimated 30% increase in those accessing food banks, the Council continued to work in partnership with GAVO to provide assistance to food banks across the city. 

The report outlined how schools were maximising the funding and support they could access and provide to children and young people to help families in need across Newport.

During cold weather spells, residents were encouraged to access warm spaces across the city for warmth and for sources of support and advice.

As a city with a long history of welcoming people seeking sanctuary offering a place of safety for those fleeing conflict and persecution, the Council continued to support refugees to find accommodation and access support.

Comments of Cabinet Members:

§  Councillor Davies mentioned half term next week and thanked WG for their voucher scheme, appreciating that it was difficult for families on low income and child care provision to cover the cost whilst schools closed for the week.  Needed to focus on next summer school foundation phase, every child would be entitled to Free School Meals which would be rolled out in September.

§  Councillor Lacey referred to support from GAVO and food banks and thanked Raven House and other food banks for their help within the city.  There was an uptake of food banks and between both Always and Ringland wards Councillors Lacey and Harvey were covering 50 food parcels a week.  There was also an uptake in other wards and Councillor Lacey stressed that if residents needed help with food parcels, they should not hesitate to contact any ward member, even if it was out of their ward.

§  Councillor Hughes spent time in Isca Haven in Caerleon, this project ended today and therefore the Cabinet Member took opportunity to thank the thirty volunteers who helped from October to February with finance and energy issues.  In addition, Councillor Hughes thanked a new agency recently set up in Caerleon, called Kindness Exchange for providing food past its sell by date to local community and wider public. Finally, if there were people in need of food or agencies that could provide support please do not hesitate to get in touch.

§  Councillor Forsey mentioned the impact of Brexit, where residents were £1000 year poorer with an increased need for warm spaces.

Decision:

Cabinet considered the contents of the report on the Council’s activity to respond to the external factors on Newport’s communities, businesses, and council services.