Agenda item

Invitees:

Beverly Owen – Chief Executive Officer 

Paul Jones – Strategic Director for Environment and Sustainability

Rhys Cornwall – Strategic Director for Transformation and Corporate 

The Chief Executive Officer gave an overview of the report and explained its purpose. The Chief Executive Officer, Strategic Directors and Head of Adult Services gave summaries of relevant area’s challenges and achievements. 

Questions:  

The committee noted that consultation feedback presented to committee should show both the positive and negative feedback and questioned the wording of the feedback survey to include as many public opinions as possible. 

The committee noted a theme in the committee’s work regarding survey feedback, and requested alternative forms of securing feedback from residents, other than the surveys conveyed through wi-fi on buses and in public buildings in Newport. 

A committee member felt that other cities were stimulating the economy more effectively than Newport and noted Newport had more work to do in this area. The committee member felt that they had not seen much in the way of impactful investment within Newport. The committee member noted the need for a focus on jobs. 

•       The Chief Executive Officer highlighted that all town centres were facing a contraction, and that Newport has a higher level of inward migration than others. The Chief Executive Officer also highlighted that a major focus is on how people access jobs, but they are aware of the challenges. 

•       The committee member expressed the hope for improvement in the next five years.

The committee welcomed the report and noted that Newport had a lot to offer as a gateway into Wales, such as the Transporter Bridge, the Newport Ship and Caerleon’s Roman site, which is a significant Roman site within Europe.  The committee hoped that this would be included in the heritage offer.

•       The Chief Executive agreed with the committee that Newport’s heritage is an asset, and noted in the plan that heritage has been looked at, with the economic strategy and cultural strategy picking up the heritage theme.

A committee member noted that there wasn’t one specific way to improve the economy and felt that the focus should be on the 1% improvements and building on them. The committee member noted the difficult climate but felt that Council needed to pursue further opportunities. 

•       The Chief Executive Officer agreed that seeking creative channels to address these issues is key, and highlighted the partnership working with One Newport as an example of this. 

•       The Chair noted the question may be better suited for a different Performance Scrutiny Committee and asked for this to be taken forward.

The committee agreed that heritage needed more focus and suggested that bio-diversity could be increased by using spaces under bridges.  

•       The Strategic Director for Environment and Sustainability highlighted that work has been done on bio-diversity with an update provided. The Strategic Director noted the requirement to make creative use of space to encourage bio-diversity across the city.

The committee highlighted the importance of maintaining the running of events in the city and highlighted the success of the recent ‘Pride at the Port’ event as they are important to inclusivity.

The committee requested that some of the terminology within the Plan, such as ‘to become’ and ‘to create’ could be reconsider ed in order to better convey the achievements that have been delivered.

A committee member raised concern regarding the lack of university students in Newport despite the funding given to the university, and asked that these concerns be forwarded to relevant areas, for a response to be issued.

It was queried whether a committee member needed to declare an interest due to working for Caerleon Museum while they made a point in favour of the importance of Caerleon’s historical heritage. 

•       It was clarified that whilst it is good practice to declare interests whenever they occur, this scrutiny meeting was for feedback on the report only. A declaration of interest when voting on the matter at Council would mean that the Member would not be able to take part in the decision. 

The Chair thanked the officers for attending.

Conclusions: 

•       The Committee noted the development of a Corporate Plan which delivers on key priorities for the citizens of Newport. Members were also pleased with the objectives.

•       The Committee appreciated that consultation has continued via buses and internet surveys, and requested that there be more independent research on various groups in the city. Members felt that it would be beneficial to have officers in the city centre

to consult with different demographics on a face-to-face basis. They felt that this would allow more properly structured consultations to be carried out in order to have a complete view of both the issues and concerns which affect a lot of residents across the city. Members also felt that it could be good to be able to see the results of future consultations.

•       The Committee requested if some of the terminology within the Plan, such as ‘to become’ and ‘to create’ could be amended to better reflect actions being undertaken to make what has been achieved much clearer to readers of the report. 

•       The Committee felt that more detail could be included in the report on the Heritage

Offer, given Newport’s many heritage sites, as this would support the aims of the Plan.

•       The Committee raised concerns regarding a lack of university students in Newport  and asked that information regarding the student numbers and support provided via funding are shared as a response from the relevant service area.