To provide an opportunity to pose questions to Cabinet Members in line with Standing Orders.
Process:
No more than 10 minutes will be allocated at the Council meeting for questions to each Cabinet Member.
Members must submit their proposed questions in writing in advance in accordance with Standing Orders. If members are unable to ask their question orally within the allocated time, remaining questions will be answered in writing. The question and response will be appended to the minutes.
The question must be addressed through the Mayor or the person presiding at the meeting and not directly to the person being questioned.
Questions will be posed to Cabinet Members in the following order:
i. Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education and Early Years
ii. Cabinet Member for Community and Wellbeing
iii. Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Regulation and Housing
iv. Cabinet Member for Social Services
v. Cabinet Member for Organisational Transformation
vi. Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Bio-Diversity
vii. Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Assets
Minutes:
There were 10 written questions to the Cabinet Members:
Question 1 – Deputy Leader/ Cabinet Member: Education and Early Years
Please can you explain in plain English your Role and responsibility, including your personal vision for the role and the names of the senior officers who report to you
Response:
Thank you for your question.
I am the Cabinet member for Education and Early Years. You will find responsibilities that relate to this role are set out in Appendix 1 of Item 2 on our agenda today – Minutes of 17th May 2022. Members can find this on p.33 of the report pack.
My vision is the shared vision set out by the Labour administration in our manifesto commitments to the people of Newport. These commitments will form the basis of the Corporate Plan from which the Service Area plans will be developed.
I work closely with the Chief Education Officer, Sarah Morgan who is the Head of Service in this area and also with other senior officers. All elected members have been provided with details of the Executive Team and Heads of Service as part of their induction.
Question 2 – Cabinet Member: Community and Wellbeing
Please can you explain in plain English your Role and responsibility, including your personal vision for the role and the names of the senior officers who report to you
Response:
Thank you for your question, I am the Cabinet Member for Communities and Well-being, my responsibilities relating to this role are set out in appendix 1 of item 2 on our agenda today - minutes of 17/05/2022, Members can find this on page 33 of the report pack. My vision is the shared vision set out by the Labour manifesto commitments to the people of Newport. These commitments will form the basis of the Corporate Plan from which the service area plans will be developed. I work closely with my Directors and Heads of Service for People, Policy & Transformation. All elected Members have been provided with details of the Executive Team and Heads of Service as part of their induction after the May election.
Question 3 – Cabinet Member: Strategic Planning, Regulation & Housing
Councillor Morris:
Please can you explain in plain English your Role and responsibility, including your personal vision for the role and the names of the senior officers who report to you.
Response:
Thank you Councillor Morris for your question.
I am the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Regulation and Housing.
My responsibilities relating to this role are set out in the 17 May minutes Page 33 and also in appendix one of Item two in our agenda today.
My vision is the shared vision set out by the Labour Administration in our manifesto commitments to the people of Newport. These commitments will form the basis of the Corporate Plan from which the Service Area Plans will be developed.
I work with The Strategic Director for Environment and Sustainability as well as working with the Strategic Director for Transformation and Corporate.
I also work with the Head of Regeneration and Economic Development, The Head of Housing and Communities and on occasion The Head of Law and Standards.
I believe all elected members have been provided with details of the Executive Team as part of their induction.
Question 4 – Cabinet Member: Social Services
Please can you explain in plain English your Role and responsibility, including your personal vision for the role and the names of the senior officers who report to you
Response:
Thank you for your question, Councillor Morris.
I am the Cabinet member for Social Services - in a job share job
share arrangement
Responsibilities relating to this role are set out in Appendix 1 of
Item 2 on our agenda today – Minutes from the AGM of 17th May
2022. Members can find the responsibilities for the Cabinet Member
for Social services in p.38 of the report pack.
My vision is the shared vision as set out by the Labour
administration in our manifesto commitments to the people of
Newport.
These commitments will form the basis of the Corporate Plan from
which the Service Area plans will be developed.
I work closely with the Director Sally Ann Jenkins), the Heads of
Childrens Natalie Poyner and Adult services Mary Ryan as well as
other senior officers. On top of this all
elected members have been provided with details of the
Executive Team and Heads of Service as part of their
induction.
Question 5 – Cabinet Member: Social Services
Councillor Mogford
It has been reported this week that “MORE than one in three children in Newport are living in poverty, new figures have found - making it the most impoverished local authority area in Wales.” SWA 13/07/2022.
Why, in the Cabinets Members opinion, is Newport making headlines again for the wrong reasons and therefore what actions are *they* taking at the council level to address this dire situation head on.
Response:
Thank you, Councillor Mogford, for raising this question.
We have a growing population in Newport and as the release of the ONS census data shows us the reason for that increase is growth in our younger citizens. The causes of child poverty and indeed poverty across all age groups are multifactorial. A range of factors including rising living costs, low pay, housing costs and inadequate social security benefits are key to why some people do not have enough resources and thus live in poverty. Universal credit is currently insufficient to lift those eligible for in work benefits out of poverty. Equally the social security system for those wholly reliant on benefits as a safety net does not provide sufficient support particularly for families with more than two children and for disabled people. Rising living costs impact more heavily on those dependent on social security and again have a very particular impact on children and disabled people. Responsibility for administering and implementing the benefits system rests with the Westminster Government.
Across Newport we have in place a broad swathe of services for children, young people and their families. These range from our universal provision for all children in schools to specialist interventions from children’s services for our most vulnerable families. Our Flying Start, Families First, Youth and Play services are all in place to meet the needs of our communities. We work with our partner organisations Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Gwent Police and a plethora of third sector organisations to deliver support, advice, guidance and direct interventions with families. As part of the recent restructure of our senior management team we have identified a need to enhance our Prevention and Inclusion services and hence a bringing together of provisions to create greater coherence and shared practice to avoid duplication. Some of our services specifically support families to ensure they have full access to appropriate benefits.
The continued regeneration developments in Newport are very welcome in generating employment and enhancing the wider environment for all our citizens and these will bring greater opportunities for all our citizens. However, some of our younger population will continue to be dependent on social security and particularly in work benefits. As the cost of living crisis continues the impact on our citizens and particularly children is of considerable concern. We will continue to do everything possible to support families to mitigate the impact of this nationally driven crisis.
Children should not be living in poverty in the 21st century and there are many factors which, sadly, mean that some families are living below the breadline.
We recognise that some families struggle financially and for some this has become even more difficult during the pandemic and, more recently, as the cost-of-living soars.
Newport City Council and its partners do offer a wide range of support to parents and carers throughout the city to tackle poverty and deprivation.
This includes help with bills, assistance in finding work or accessing training, childcare provision and support for food banks.
Prevention and intervention are two key elements of our fight against poverty and there are also some invaluable projects operating in the city. These include:
· Flying Start: funded by the Welsh Government, this provides free childcare, playgroups, before and after-school clubs in parts of Newport and help with childcare costs. This helps to support the wellbeing of children as well as ease the pressures on parents and carers.
· Families First: another Welsh Government funded programme that supports families, children and young people up to the age of 25 with the main aim of reducing the impact of poverty and supporting emotional wellbeing, through agencies working together and focusing on prevention and early intervention
· The Family Information Service provides advice and information on services to parents and, together with the childcare service, works with providers who can be an essential service for parents and carers who work. Grants are also available to childcare providers.
· Our play development team works with families through play, building resilience and positive relationships. The benefits include improving the emotional, social, and physical wellbeing of adults and children
· Food and Fun works with children in five sites promoting health meals and delivering physical activities.
· The Early Years Integration Transformation Programme operates in Bettws and is a multi-agency project ensuring families with children from birth to age 7 get the right support.
The council is also providing financial assistance to families both directly and through other organisations.
For example, a new capital grant has been established between the council and GAVO to support community groups and third sector organisations who are responding to food insecurity in Newport.
The funding covers community food initiatives, growing projects and collaborations which are experiencing challenges in meeting need due to inadequate equipment, premises or other factors.
A proposal to provide additional funding to community food organisations is also due to be considered in the coming weeks.
Practical help is available through our area hubs. Teams such as our community connectors work with individuals, groups and organisations across the Newport area to provide information, advice and support.
People can also apply for council tax reductions, discretionary housing payments and emergency assistance for essential costs.
Supplementary:
Councillor Mogford asked was the Cabinet Member blaming central government for making Newport the most impoverished area in Wales.
Response:
Councillor Hughes made clear his feelings on the subject in his response suggested that Councillor Mogford refer to this.
Question 6 – Cabinet Member: Organisational transformation
Councillor Morris:
Please can you explain in plain English your Role and responsibility, including your personal vision for the role and the names of the senior officers who report to you
Response:
Thank you, Councillor Morris, for the question.
I am the Cabinet member for Organisational Transformation.
My responsibilities relating to this role are set out in Appendix 1 of Item 2 on our agenda today – Minutes of 17th May 2022. Members can find this in the report pack.
My vision is the shared vision set out by the Labour administration in our manifesto commitments to the people of Newport. These commitments will form the basis of the Corporate Plan from which the Service Area plans will be developed.
I work closely with the Head of Law and Standards and Head of People, Policy and Transformation and other senior officers. All elected members have been provided with details of the Executive Team and Heads of Service as part of their induction.
Question 7 – Cabinet Member: Climate Change and Biodiversity
Councillor Morris:
Please can you explain in plain English your Role and responsibility, including your personal vision for the role and the names of the senior officers who report to you
Response:
Thank you for your question.
I am the Cabinet member for Climate Change and Biodiversity.
Responsibilities relating to this role are set out in Appendix 1 of
Item 2 on our agenda today – Minutes of 17th May 2022.
Members can find this on page 33 of the report pack.
My vision is the shared vision as set out by the Labour
administration in our manifesto commitments to the people of
Newport. These
commitments will form the basis of the Corporate Plan from which
the Service Area plans will be developed. I work closely with the
Strategic Director for Environment and Sustainability Paul Jones
and the Head of Service for Environment and Public Protection
Silvia Gonzalez Lopez.
All elected members have been provided with details of the Executive Team and Heads of Service as part of their induction.
Question 8 – Cabinet Member: Infrastructure and Assets
Councillor Morris:
Please can you explain in plain English your Role and responsibility, including your personal vision for the role and the names of the senior officers who report to you
Response:
I am the Cabinet member for Infrastructure & Assets.
Responsibilities relating to this role are set out in Appendix 1 of Item 2 on our agenda today – Minutes of 17th May 2022. Members can find this on p.33 of the report pack.
My vision is the shared vision set out by the Labour administration in our manifesto commitments to the people of Newport. These commitments will form the basis of the Corporate Plan from which the Service Area plans will be developed.
I work closely with the strategic director Paul Jones, the Head of city services Stephen Jarrett, Head of People, Policy and Transformation Tracy Mckim and other senior officers. All elected members have been provided with details of the Executive Team and Heads of Service as part of their induction.
Question 9 – Cabinet Member: Infrastructure and Assets
Councillor Mogford:
Could the Cabinet Member give their vision for the future of Public Transport within the City, and in doing so express a view as to whether our Public Transport Network as it stands is currently fit for purpose?
Response:
The Welsh Government’s Transport Strategy Llwbyr Newydd has the use of active travel and public transport as preferred choices to that of the private car and I share these aspirations.
The travel pattern changes through the pandemic have had a significant impact on bus patronage, and this is not unique to Newport, and the viability of services has been affected.
We have worked closely with Welsh Government throughout the pandemic and I’m pleased that services have been and continue to be supported by emergency funding. This support will allow for the changes in patronage to be better understood as we move forward.
The industry faces its own challenges, including supply of drivers.
I’d support the recent and ongoing initiatives in Newport such as the free fares trial and the Fflecsi scheme that allow us to provide services determine how initiatives and different services can benefit our communities.
I’d also note that our municipal operator is innovative in their approach, now running a number of electric buses with the associated carbon reduction those bring.
I’m keen to continue to work with the Burns commission for any benefits to public transport that can be made in the city and note this includes improvements to our rail offer.
You may also be aware that we have recently responded to a WG consultation on the future of the industry, changing from a predominantly commercial industry as it is now to a franchised system, asking for more detail on the proposals to ensure or communities have an effective public transport system in future.
Supplementary:
For clarification, Councillor Mogford asked if Councillor Lacey had more plans free initiatives in place to waive costs for people.
Councillor Lacey:
Councillor Lacey would provide a written reply.
Question 10 – Cabinet Member: Infrastructure and Assets
Councillor Mogford:
With the announcement of the new ‘20MPH legislation’ coming into effect in the second half of 2023 and given that ‘The new legislation will not apply a blanket speed limit on all roads, rather it will make the default limit 20mph, leaving local authorities to engage with the local community to decide which roads should remain at 30mph.’,
Can the Cabinet Member give an update on any process for engagement with the ‘Local Community’? Will these changes be fully funded by the Welsh government? If not, what will be the financial implication to the Council Budget.
Response:
Officers have been working with the Welsh Government on their initiative to change the default speed limit of 30mph in residential areas to 20mph.
Via WG, specialist consultants have mapped current 30mph speed limits across Wales and have provided all LA’s including Newport, with maps showing the areas where they feel the criteria set to ensure consistency across Wales applies.
Newport has completed all its network assessments and submitted the data to Welsh Government for consideration and inclusion on their DataMapWales, which will show the 20 mph and 30mph exceptions for the city. It is anticipated that this data will be publicly available September 2022.
WG are currently working on a communications strategy, and we work alongside that strategy to seek to ensure that our communities are informed of the initiative.
As a Welsh Government initiative, they have committed to funding the implementation of the 20mph default speed limit for all 22 authorities across Wales and therefore there should be financial implications for the city council in implementing this new legislation.
Supplementary:
For clarification, Councillor Mogford asked in terms of a local process post the 20 MPH speed limit, would there not be a consultation with residents.
Response:
Councillor Lacey advised that a written response would be provided.
There were no questions for Chairs of Committees. The Presiding Member therefore thanked members for their attendance and closed the meeting.