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:
Leaders Announcements
The Leader made the following announcements:
· Congratulations to Councillor William Routley on his nomination as Mayor of Newport for 2019/20;
· British Transplant Games were officially launched with the lighting of the Donor Family Flame in Newport. The Games would take place from 25-28 July 2019 and were expected to attract more than 850 transplant recipient athletes and more than 1,500 supporters to the City.
· Holocaust Memorial Service held at Newport Cathedral to remember those who had suffered in the Second World War, as well as the victims of more recent genocides including those in Rwanda and Cambodia.
· Congratulations to Newport County AFC for the match result, and best wishes for their next match against Middlesbrough.
Economic Development Summit
Councillor Matthew Evans asked for confirmation as to whether an Economic Development Summit was taking place this Thursday at the Celtic Manor, and if so, who had arranged it, who was invited, and asked for clarification as to why it was being held in private.
The Leader clarified that a round table discussion was being held with interested parties emanating from the discussions at the Newport Economic Network. Invitees included the Leader and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing as Members of the Network. It was hoped to hear a frank exchange of views from business leaders to promote investment in the City. There was no cost to the Council for this and the Leader would feedback to Members after the event. It was clarified that this was a different type of event to summits in previous years, this was intended to be as a smaller round table discussion and would include a regional dimension.
As a supplementary question, Councillor Matthew Evans asked how this summit would address the issues in the city centre. The Leader clarified that this type of discussion would allow for a detailed and frank discussion with the Newport Economic Network. There were limits to the role of the Council in improving the economic environment within the national context, and the purpose of this meeting was to look for tangible and realistic actions and outcomes for Newport.
Partnership Working with Newport County FC
Councillor Kevin Whitehead asked whether the Leader, or the appropriate Cabinet Member would agree to meet with the Newport County delegation to discuss positive partnership working going forward, citing the example of positive partnership working between Swansea Councils and the Ospreys and Swansea FC at Liberty Stadium.
The Leader confirmed that meetings of this nature were ongoing at the moment and the Council would continue to develop this. The development of a Sports Strategy would help to inform the Council on the future direction for Sport within Newport.
As a supplementary question, Councillor Whitehead asked if the Leader could raise with the Newport County how it could communicate this positive relationship, potentially within its programme. The Leader welcomed the comment, noting that this would be a decision for the Board.
Fairness Commission – Increase Charging for Bulky Waste Proposal
Councillor Carmel Townsend asked whether the Fairness Commission would be asked to comment on the proposal to increase charges to bulky waste collection, and the impact on those household with less income and/ or access to a car to go to household waste recycling centre.
The Leader confirmed that the Fairness Commission would comment on all of the proposals within the draft budget as part of the consultation.