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:
- The opening ceremony of the British Transplant Games was being held this weekend, and the Leader encouraged all Councillors to attend and support the event.
- Western Powerhouse
A new report had been unveiled by the Leader at the House of Lords that set out the Council’s recommendations to supercharge our regional economy and the potential for a new economic powerhouse for the UK.The potential powerhouse would stretch along the M4 corridor from Swindon, across the Welsh border to Newport, Cardiff and Swansea, and in the north from Gloucester and Cheltenham to Bath and Bristol. The Leader outlined the opportunities that this proposal would present for Newport.
- The Leader updated Council on the positive feedback from the public on the implementation of Civil Parking Enforcement.
- Following Keep Wales Tidy week last week, it had been confirmed that Belle Vue Park, Beechwood Park and Gwent Crematorium had all retained the international mark of a quality in recognition for their excellent floral displays, facilities and commitment to delivering great quality green space.The Council had made the top ten, and was the highest placed Welsh authority, in a recent survey of local authorities praised for recycling plastic waste following recent Council initiatives to improve recycling. . The Leader thanked all residents for participating in the initiatives and contributing to the Council’s increased recycling rate.
Leaders Questions
M4 Relief Road
In relation to the Welsh Government’s recent decision not to build the M4 Relief Road, Councillor Matthew Evans asked the Leader whether this meant that Newport residents would continue to face the same issues with heavy congestion and air pollution, and sought assurances that the Leader would stop any attempts by the Welsh Government to close motorway junctions in Newport.
The Leader stated that her support for M4 relief road was unequivocal in this city and that she had signed the CBI letter to Welsh Government in support of the M4 Relief Road.
The Leader outlined that decisions on the M4 junctions was a matter within the jurisdiction of Welsh Government and as such it was not within the remit of Newport City Council’s Leader. Representations had been made to the First Minister to make the Council’s position clear, and the Leader had written to the First Minister asking that the terms of reference be revised to ensure that there was a Newport voice on the commission.
The Leader assured the Council that the huge importance of appropriate transport within the city was understood by the administration, and that the Leader would continue to fight in every way possible to ensure that Newport got the best deal possible following this Welsh Government decision.
Councillor Evans asked a supplementary question to seek assurances that the funding outlined by the First Minister would spent in Newport to address transport and congestion issues.
The Leader reiterated that a letter had been written to the First Minister and that she would do everything possible within the role to ensure that the funding was spent to address issues in Newport. The Leader called upon Assembly Members in Newport to fight for this also.
Street Cleanliness
Councillor Carmel Townsend highlighted issues within Newport on street cleanliness, citing the results of the recent Keep Wales Tidy survey. The Leader was asked if Street Cleanliness could be the subject of an all Member seminar to support Councillors to improve the situation for local residents.
The Leader thanked the Councillor for this suggestion and agreed that an all Member seminar would be useful.
Newport Economy
Councillor Jason Hughes asked what the Leader thought of a recent article discussing a recently commissioned report on the Newport Economy.
The Leader responded that this independent report confirmed that Newport was growing faster than the rest of Wales, and above the UK average. Between 2014 and 2017 Newport grew at an average of 2.2% per year, and growth accelerated to 2.4% in 2017. The overall size of the economy was 10.8 billion in 2017 which was a significant development and the Newport region accounted for a 1/5th of the overall welsh output. The Leader summarised the key findings of the report, and was pleased that this report independently evidenced the central strength and success of Newport City and its growing economy.
Anti- Harassment Guide
Councillor Yvonne Forsey asked the Leader to inform the Council further on the recent anti-harassment guide that was launched at the WLGA conference.
The Leader outlined that the LGA and the WLGA recognised the growing need amongst Councillors across the UK for support relating to intimidation, and that this resource had been jointly developed following advice from Councils and representative organisations. The guide provided Councillors with advice on how to deal with abuse and intimidation, including information on the criminal offences involved. Intimation increasingly experienced by Councillors and candidates undermines the principles of freedom of speech and the engagement in democratic debate.