Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee

There is no summary of this meeting yet. Summaries are written once the council publishes the minutes, which are its official record of what a meeting decided. They usually appear a few weeks after the meeting.

1. 2

   Declarations of Interest

   Minute

   None.

2. 3

   Minutes of the Previous Meeting

   Minute

   The minutes of the meeting held 23 October 2025 were agreed as a true and accurate record. The Committee requested an update on the status of their request for a written response regarding the Community Parenting Strategy not implementing recommendations before being presented at Cabinet. The Strategic Director for Transformation and Corporate agreed to provide a response as soon as possible.

   Papers: Item 3 - Draft Minutes 23.10.25
3. 4

   Draft Budget and Mid Term Financial Plan 2026-27

   Minute

   The Head of Finance and the Head of People, Policy and Transformation presented the report. Members questioned the Officers and the Cabinet Member on the content of the report – to access a full recording of the comments made please refer to the Council’s YouTube channel. • The Committee requested the actual inflation figure for Newport when confirmed. • The Committee acknowledged the feedback from the Performance Scrutiny Committees for People and Place and Corporate. • The Committee welcomed the change in focus in the budget setting process from savings to pressures. • The Committee were content with the draft report.

   Papers: Item 4 - OSMC CR Budget & MTFP, Item 4.2 - 26-27 Draft Budget and MTFP Cabinet report, Item 4.3 - Appendix 1 - Medium Term Financial Plan, Item 4.5 - Appendix 2 - Budget Pressures & Investments 2627, Item 4.6 - Appendix 3 - New Budget Savings Implemented Under Delegated Authority 2627, Item 4.8 - Appendix 4 - Fees & Charges, Item 4.9 - Appendix 5 - Corporate Risk Register Q2, Item 4.10 - Appendix 6 - Financial Resilience snapshot, Item 4.11 - Appendix 7 - Projected ear marked reserves
4. 5

   Scrutiny Adviser Reports

   Minute

   a. Actions Arising The Scrutiny Adviser confirmed that ongoing and outstanding actions have been escalated. b. Forward Work Programme The Scrutiny Advisor confirmed that the next meeting will be held on the 12th of March. The Scrutiny Adviser agreed to seek guidance on whether the item scheduled on the 30th April would need to be rearranged due to the pre-election period. The Committee requested that the item due to be considered in the 30th April meeting be brought forward if possible. c. Outcomes Monitoring The Scrutiny Adviser gave an update on the position of the current outcomes.

   Papers: Item 5 - Scrutiny Advisor Report, Item 5.1 - Actions, Item 5.2 - Draft FWP, Item 5.3 - Outcomes
5. 6

   Meeting recording

   Minute

   Please click here to watch the meeting recording.

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.

Declarations are read from the minutes once they are published.

• Phil Hourahine, ChairLabourPresent
• Bev Davies, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Debbie Jenkins, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies
• John Harris, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• John Reynolds, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies
• Lauren James, Committee MemberGreenSent apologies
• Malcolm Linton, Committee MemberLabourAbsent
• Mark Howells, Committee MemberIndependentIn attendance
• Matthew Evans MBE, Committee MemberConservativePresent
• Stephen Cocks, Committee MemberLabourPresent

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