Loading
At its meeting on 10 September 2025, Newport City Council's Cabinet approved merging Millbrook and Monnow primary schools into one new school from September 2026. It also approved changes to the capital programme, noted the July revenue budget forecast, adopted an updated Code of Corporate Governance and a Community Parenting Strategy, and endorsed the annual digital and complaints reports.
None received.
None received.
The Minutes from 9 July were accepted as a true record.
The Leader, Councillor Batrouni, introduced the report highlighting which funds’ investments in schools, heritage, energy efficiency, and city centre regeneration, had been updated for the 2024/25 financial year. The initial budget of £86.142 million was adjusted by £10 million in additions and revisions, and reduced by £14.8 million due to reprofiling, resulting in a revised budget of £80.540 million. Forecasted costs were £80.546 million, indicating a minimal variance of £6,000 against the revised budget. Decision: Cabinet - · Approved the additions to the Capital Programme requested in the report (Appendix A). · Noted the predicted capital expenditure outturn position for 2025/26. · Approved the reprofiling of £14.8m from the 2025/26 budget into future years. · Noted the available remaining capital resources (‘headroom’) and the earmarked usage of that resourcing. · Noted the inclusion of the Treasury Management prudential indicators, included within the report. · Noted the headroom as per the report.
The Leader introduced the financial forecast for July 2025, which indicated a £310k revenue underspend overall. Service areas excluding schools were projected to overspend by £5.2m, primarily due to demands in Social Services, Housing and Communities, and Education. These overspends were balanced by underspends in non-service areas such as Capital Financing. Schools faced a separate £4.2m overspend funded from their reserves, which raised concerns about potential deficits that required close monitoring. Financial uncertainties remained regarding teacher pay funding, increased service demands, and possible additional grants. In relation to reserves, 4 new reserves have been earmarked, as well a requirement to provide a top up to an existing one. An initial £300k investment into the CCTV programme as combined with the Smart City initiative was announced alongside a £150k reserve for the Digital City project preliminary research. Decision: Cabinet - · Noted the overall budget forecast position outlined within this report. · Noted the current overall shortfall in the delivery of the 2025/26 revenue budget savings. · Noted the overall position in relation to schools, acknowledging the risk that further individual deficit positions could emerge by the end of the financial year. · Noted the forecast movements in reserves. · Approved the recommendation to allocate funds to a new earmarked reserve, as set out in sections 4.5 and 4.6. · Approved the reprofiling of the Eliminate reserve as set out in paragraph 4.7 of the report. · Noted the risks identified throughout the report and in the Head of Finance comments, such as in relation to demand issues being faced.
The Leader, introduced the report, informing Cabinet that the Council was midway through implementing its Digital Strategy. This focused on four themes: Digital Transformation, Digital Skills and Inclusion, Data and Collaboration, and Digital Infrastructure and Connectivity. The report highlighted progress towards strategic goals, emphasising the importance of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and automation to enhance service delivery and organisational benefits. Decision: Cabinet endorsed the attached Annual Digital Report 2024-25 and proposed actions.
The Leader presented the above report to Cabinet colleagues, noting that this report excluded school complaints which were reported separately. The report included analysis of feedback by service area and complaint type, identified trends, and highlighted lessons learned. The report emphasised continuous improvement through effective complaint resolution and ongoing enhancements to processes and systems to better serve the community. Decision: Cabinet endorsed the attached Annual Report on Compliments, Comments and Complaints Management 2024/2025 and proposed actions.
The Leader presented the report, which outlined the Council’s review of its governance framework and internal control systems as required by Welsh regulations, and updated the Code of Corporate Governance to align with the current framework based on CIPFA/SOLACE principles. This updated code was referenced in the Council’s Annual Governance Statement supporting its accounts. Decision: Cabinet approved and adopted the updated version of the Code of Corporate Governance in the appendix to this report.
The Cabinet Member for Social Services, Councillor Lacey, outlined to Cabinet the transition from corporate parenting, where local authorities were primarily responsible for the welfare of looked-after children and care leavers, to a community-driven approach involving various stakeholders. Decision: Cabinet noted the content of the draft Community Parenting Strategy and supported the implementation and adoption of this strategy for Newport City Council.
The Cabinet Member for Education and Early Years, Councillor Deb Davies, presented the school reorganisation proposal to Cabinet. This followed formal consultation and a statutory notice period during which eight formal objections and one road safety concern were received. Consequently, the final decision on the proposal's implementation would be made by the Cabinet acting as the Local Determination Panel, rather than the Cabinet Member for Education and Early Years. Decision: Cabinet approved the school reorganisation proposals to - · amalgamate Millbrook Primary School and Monnow Primary School into a single three form entry primary school with effect from September 2026, and · subsequently relocate the school to a new building on the current Millbrook Primary School site.
This was the regular monthly report on the Work Programme. Decision: Cabinet agreed the Work Programme. Prior to the conclusion of the meeting, Councillor Deb Davies spoke on World Suicide Prevention Day. To contact Samaritans, call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org/wales/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ Meeting concluded: 17:17
Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.
The minutes record no declarations of interest.
Lists the council's current councillors only. Co-opted members, officers and former councillors aren't shown.