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The Committee scrutinised the Place services part of Newport City Council's draft 2025/26 budget and Medium-Term Financial Plan, a plan of council spending over several years. Cabinet agreed these proposals for public consultation on 13 January 2025. Councillors questioned officers and made comments and recommendations to Cabinet on community centres, libraries, homelessness, home to school transport and grass cutting, and Cabinet will decide the final budget in February 2025.
Councillor M Linton
None.
The Head of Finance gave an overview of the report, and the Heads of Service gave an update on their respective service areas. Members discussed and questioned the Officers and Strategic Director on the content of the report – to access a full recording of the discussion please refer to the Council’s YouTube channel. Democratic meetings / Cyfarfodydd democrataidd. Recommendations: The Committee wished to make the following comments to Cabinet on the Proposals within the Place Directorate: • C2 - The Committee recommended that Cabinet consider the governance arrangements for community assets and facilities that are transferred to community groups to guarantee that they are managed in accordance with legislation and best practices post-transfer. • C2 - The Committee voiced concern about the closure of Caerleon Community Centre, which serves the older population in a small community. The Committee recommended that consideration is given to promoting these centres so that useage rates increase, and to encourage engagement from volunteers. • C2 - The Committee wished to seek clarification on whether the Council is empowered to transfer the Rivermead Community Centre to a community group under the new Community Asset Transfer (CAT) policy if it was built by the developers as part of the planning conditions. • C3 - The Committee recommended delaying the proposed savings for library closures for one year to allow for a more thorough consultation process and to explore alternative options. The Committee also recommended that public consultation engagement activity is conducted within the libraries themselves to gather feedback from current users. The Committee also wished to leave comments on the following Savings investments for the service areas: • The Committee were content with the investment proposal regarding Homelessness and the increased demand for temporary accommodation and requested further information on the training provided to staff in these services to be included in the End of Year Performance reports. The Committee recommended that this should include information on trauma-informed training. • The Committee requested an information report on the costs Home to School Transport, and a summary of the service provision between Place and Education services for, including special educational needs transport. The Committee recommended that Performance Scrutiny Committee – People also have sight of this report. • The Committee were content with the investment proposal regarding Increased Grass Cutting and recommended that communication with residents is improved through better signage and information on social media about designated areas for "No Mow May" and other biodiversity initiatives.
a) Actions Arising The Committee were advised of Actions Arising. b) Draft Annual Forward Work Programme Update The Committee were advised of next meeting: Thursday 22nd January 2025 at 2pm 2025-26 Budget and Medium-Term Financial Projections for Corporate directorate service areas c) Outcomes Monitoring The Committee were advised of the up-to-date outcomes.
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The minutes record no declarations of interest.
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