To provide an opportunity for Councillors to ask questions to the Leader of the Council in accordance with the Council’s Standing Orders.
Process:
No more than 15 minutes will be allocated at the Council meeting for questions to the Leader of the Council.
The question must be addressed through the Mayor or the person presiding at the meeting and not directly to the person being questioned.
Minutes:
Before Commencement with questions, the Leader made the following announcements to Council:
Investment zone
Last week, the Chancellor made the much-welcomed announcement that a Southeast Wales investment zone would be developed around the compound semiconductor cluster.
This is great news for the semiconductor sector in Newport, the city and its residents, and the wider region.
Newport is home to the world’s first semiconductor cluster which, with the right support and recognition, has the potential to deliver significant benefits for the local and national economies.
An investment zone should provide the support required to help the semiconductor industry become a scientific superpower with Newport at the heart of that vision.
The enterprise, capability, and infrastructure to achieve this is already largely in place and the local industry is robust and well-connected. Strong partnerships are in place which would also be key to successful delivery.
An investment zone would deliver a raft of benefits for local people: more highly skilled jobs, inward investment, and economic growth, all of which would translate into prosperity for Newport’s communities. There are also broader benefits for the wider UK in terms of national security.
Delivery of an investment zone would complement the work already underway to establish a National Institute of Technology for Wales, with a focus on existing strengths, compound semiconductors and data science, alongside respected existing academic institutions, Cardiff University, and the University of South Wales.
The Leader looked forward to collaborating closely with partners in the industry, academia, the Welsh Government, and the UK Government on this exciting development.
Fast Track City
Newport last week became a Fast Track City and joined a global network of over 300 cities committed to eradicating HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths.
The international initiative worked to end new cases of HIV by 2030, have zero preventable deaths from HIV/AIDS, zero stigma and discrimination and a better quality of life for people living with HIV.
The Council worked closely with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and Pride in the Port to establish a Fast Track Newport group to become a pathfinder city, with the potential for the scheme to expand into the wider health board area.
The Newport group would initially focus on three priorities:
1) Increasing awareness of testing and numbers of people getting tested.
2) Reducing the stigma around HIV.
3) Reaching out to communities that have traditionally been underserved with access to HIV services.
This is about supporting communities, and joining Fast Track Cities will give the backing and resources of a global network of knowledge and experience to use at a local level, to deliver positive outcomes for people living with HIV.
New employment and skills scheme
Newport has delivered many excellent schemes that have helped local people improve their employability prospects.
A new project – the Shared Prosperity Fund employment and skills scheme - offers support to people who might have missed out on other avenues of support.
The scheme is open to unemployed people and people who are in work if they meet certain criteria. It would work with individuals to give them the tools they need to help them into sustainable employment, further learning, or a new challenge.
Funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and delivered by the Council, it would help to ensure that every resident had access to support and gained the skills they needed to improve their job prospects.
Further information on the scheme and how to get involved are available on our website.
Tackling empty homes
At the last Cabinet meeting, a proposal was supported to seek residents’ views on introducing a premium on council tax for long-term empty and second homes.
Demand for affordable housing is outstripping supply but there are more than 800 properties in the city that were unoccupied for at least a year, and 15 second homes.
In March, more than 450 households were in temporary accommodation. There were 8,500 people registered for social housing but in 2021/22 there were just 686 new social housing lettings.
From these figures there was motivation to take steps to increase the availability of good quality and affordable housing, in turn helping to tackle homelessness.
Considerable efforts were made to encourage the owners of empty homes to bring them back into beneficial use, but this had limited success.
Councils were allowed to charge a council tax premium of up to 300 per cent and most across Wales have already started, or were due to start, making a charge.
At the time of the meeting, the consultation was live on the Council website, and the Leader urged people to have their say on a scheme and whether they think it would be a positive move for the city.
Small Business Saturday
Newport City Council is again supporting Small Business Saturday which took place the weekend following Council.
The campaign was a celebration of the independent businesses that are a vital part of the local economy and encouraged everyone to “shop local”.
Small Business Saturday puts the national spotlight on shopping local, but the message is also about shopping local every day.
When shopping locally, more money stays within the community.
Spending money with local independents also encourages more small traders to set up in the city. And the more businesses that are operating in Newport city centre, the more vibrant it becomes.
Whether it was Christmas shopping or everyday shopping the Leader urged residents to please shop locally, buy locally and support local independent businesses.
New events listings
A new events portal was launched for residents to explore all the amazing events Newport had to offer - together in one place.
Newport has a growing reputation as host of major events, such as the marathon, as well as some great regular events like the Countdown to Christmas.
The Council, working with organisations across the city, created the new events portal for exploring all that Newport had to offer and it was one everyone could contribute to and use.
From talks and walks, live music, and performances, to late-night shopping, community events and job fairs.
Anyone organising an event in Newport can submit details using a simple form and it would be there for all to see.
Take a look at whatsoncityofnewport.co.uk
Leaders Questions
Councillor Evans:
Councils in Wales are supporting traders during the Christmas period. Councillor Evans referred to the park and ride scheme that used to operate in Newport. Additionally, Councillor Evans mentioned the previous temporary free bus scheme. Councillor Evans referred to the Leader mentioning in November 2021 that the initiative was a boost to the local businesses as well as encouraging the use of more sustainable transport. This would be a great way to improve footfall and deter Newport residents going to Cwmbran or out-of-town shopping centres.
Response:
The Leader replied that in 2021 it was a very different situation. Due to the pandemic, Newport was in a position to stimulate economy with subsidised free travel. Through Transport for Wales, WG and the Burns Commission, the Council was able to further subsidise free travel across the city of Newport. In the current financial environment, resources were unfortunately not available to implement the schemes at the level seen previously. The Leader was delighted to see the initiative Newport Transport had introduced to ensure that families could enjoy a reduced rate of travel with a £5 family ticket for families to move across the city. The Leader added that if the resources were available to the Council, she would be championing and supporting free and subsidised public transport. There were, however, growing pressures on resources, and particularly the revenue budget. The Leader would support businesses in the city centre, for example, eligible business would not pay rates this year because Newport City Council was providing a 25% rate subsidy, which aligned with the WG 75% subsidy. Whilst this was only one example, it demonstrated a conscious decision to support businesses within the city centre.
Councillor Morris:
Requests from Lliswerry residents to Jessica Morden, MP’s Office get relayed directly to the Leader. Councillor Morris referred to an ongoing incident at Thompson Avenue concerning a reen; Could the Leader therefore facilitate an urgent meeting with Lliswerry Ward members and appropriate senior officers to address the issue.
Response:
The Leader clarified that in terms of process, there was one point of contact to effectively relay any issues. The Leader was happy to facilitate a meeting with ward members and senior officers.
Councillor Whitehead:
If Leader was successful as candidate for Police Crime Commissioner next May, would she be standing down as Leader of the Council.
Response:
The Leader advised that for clarity, she was currently the Labour party member selected as a candidate in Gwent. If, however, the Leader was successful at elections in May, the Leader would stand down as Leader at the Council AGM in May.
Councillor Bright:
Referred to the stand in main reception, highlighting the white ribbon campaign and asked if the Leader could update colleagues on Newport City Council’s involvement in the campaign.
Response:
The Leader hoped that other Members took the opportunity to also take time to visit the stand and noted that some Members were wearing the white ribbon sticker.
The white ribbon is an internationally recognised campaign which originated in Canada in 1991 and every year, in the UK, on 25 November, the UN day for the elimination of violence against women.
The aim of the campaign is to prevent men’s violence towards women and girls by addressing its root causes: harmful and dominant masculine norms. Aspirations such as building a community of change-makers, to raise awareness through campaigns, encouraging everyone to make the white ribbon promise, educating young people and holding policy makers to account.
This year’s theme was ‘Change the Story’, encouraging men and boys to change the story for women and girls across the UK. The Leader highlighted figures to colleagues, adding that 1.7 million women in the year ending 2022 experienced domestic abuse.
Gwent Police reported 2,693 domestic abuse incidents in Newport, which is why White Ribbon Day was needed to change the story.
Within the Council, there was an online quiz for officers to engage with to raise awareness, a social media campaign, sending out key messages and the stand in foyer to promote the campaign and engage with residents, members, officers, and visitors. The Head of Safeguarding and champions would also be helping with the promotion during the period.
The Leader hoped, through liaison with White Ribbon UK, to be able to fly a white ribbon flag next year at the Civic Centre to mark this important event in the calendar.