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At its meeting on 8 September 2026 the Performance Scrutiny Committee - People considered the Director of Social Services Annual Report 2025-26 and the draft Youth Work Strategic Plan 2027-2032. The Committee made recommendations on the annual report, including a request for an information report on Newport's exit from a section 33 shared budget agreement, and asked for a site visit to the Information Station. It also agreed to cancel its meeting on 13 April 2027.
The Performance Scrutiny Committee - People considered the 2025-26 end of year reports for Education Services and Children Services. The minute records that the Committee was content with both reports. It also asked officers to report on progress of Home Office funding for children on remand in the Mid-Year Report.
On 14 July 2026 the Performance Scrutiny Committee - People considered the 2025-26 end of year reviews for Adult Services and for Prevention and Inclusion. The Committee asked for further information on several points and made recommendations, including on young carers and school governors. The minute records no other decisions, and Councillor T Watkins declared an interest in the Prevention and Inclusion review.
The Committee considered a report on young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs) in Newport. The report says the city performs better than the Welsh average at Year 11 and Year 12, and the minute records that the Committee was pleased with the improvement and content with the report, while raising concerns about funding and about young people at risk if entry requirements rise. The Committee also received a routine update on actions, its work programme and outcomes of earlier recommendations.
The Performance Scrutiny Committee - People considered the Key Stage 4 Outcomes Report 2025, covering secondary school exam results for summer 2025 (Key Stage 4 is the last two years of secondary school). It recommended clearer public explanation of the data and that future reports be received as seminars or workshops rather than formal reports. It was also told that its April 2026 meeting has been cancelled for lack of items.
The committee scrutinised two reports on pupil attendance and school exclusions for the 2024-25 academic year. It was content with both reports. It asked for safer travel to schools to be considered when planning its 2026-27 work programme, and asked to see the harmful behaviour guidance. Members also received updates on the committee's actions, work programme and outcomes.
The Committee considered the Council's draft 2026/27 budget and Medium-Term Financial Plan for the services it oversees: Children's, Adult, Prevention and Inclusion, and Education. The minute records that the Committee was content with the draft proposals, apart from the proposed charges for external users of the Centrica respite facilities, which it said were too high.
The Performance Scrutiny Committee - People met on 9 December 2025 to consider the mid-year review of the Education Services plan for 2025-26. Committee members questioned the Cabinet Member for Education and Early Years and officers, then made comments and recommendations on risk reporting, support for persistently absent pupils and complaints.
The Committee considered mid-year progress reports for 2025-26 from Children's Services, Adult Services, and Prevention and Inclusion. It asked for more information on budget monitoring, overspends and how adapted social housing is allocated, and it congratulated Children's Services on an award. The minutes record no decision on the work programme and outcomes update.
The Performance Scrutiny Committee (People) considered Estyn's annual report on inspections of Newport schools from September 2024 to July 2025. Members asked for an information report on digital exams and for data on electively home educated children, and praised officers. The meeting also noted routine updates on scrutiny actions, the work programme and the monitoring of earlier recommendations.
The Committee considered the Director of Social Services Annual Report 2024-25, which reviews how social services performed over the past year. It asked for an update on the move from WCCIS, the system that holds care records, to a new system called Mosaic, due in January 2026. It said it was content with the report.
The Committee considered the end-of-year reviews for Adult Services and Prevention and Inclusion for 2024-25. It asked for more information on the amber rating for direct payments and on the effect of missing savings targets, and it made recommendations on data, workforce, demand and funding. The minute records these as comments and recommendations, not as formal decisions.
The committee considered the 2024/25 year-end reviews for the Education and Children's Services plans. It was content with both reports and asked for further information on the Community Parenting Strategy, the Children's Services review and residential homes.