Meetings
Every meeting of Newport City Council's committees. Meetings of the full Council, the Cabinet, scrutiny and planning committees get a plain-language summary once their minutes are published.
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Cabinet also noted a report on social value from council contracts, considered an update on cost-of-living and housing pressures, and agreed its work programme. Full Council will consider the budget and borrowing limits on 29 February.
The Committee considered the draft 2024-25 council budget and Medium Term Financial Plan, which sets out spending and savings over several years. Members questioned officers on school and grant funding and on Fairness and Equality Impact Assessments, the documents that test proposals for their effect on people. The Committee was content with the budget and consultation processes and agreed to forward the minutes of two Performance Scrutiny Committees to Cabinet.
Cancelled
Council met on 23 January 2024. Members agreed school governor appointments, approved the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2024/25, and agreed to introduce council tax premiums of 100% on long-term empty homes from April 2024 and on second homes from April 2025. Members also unanimously supported a motion on care experience as a protected characteristic, adopted the meeting schedule for 2024/25, and supported the nomination of Councillor Ray Mogford as Mayor for 2024/25.
The Performance Scrutiny Committee for People considered the Cabinet's draft 2024-25 budget proposals for social services and education on 16 January 2024. It noted the People budget proposals, welcomed extra money for additional learning needs, and asked that family support and service quality be protected. It agreed to send its comments to Cabinet and said it was content for the proposals to go ahead as they are.
The committee considered the draft 2024-25 budget proposals for the Place and Corporate service areas before they go to Cabinet. It agreed to forward its minutes to Cabinet as a summary of the issues raised, with comments on several proposals. It also received its forward work programme and action sheet.
At its meeting on 10 January 2024, Cabinet agreed draft 2024/25 budget proposals, including an 8.5% Council Tax rise, for public consultation, and agreed to recommend Council Tax premiums on second homes and long-term empty homes to full Council. Cabinet also agreed the mid-year performance assessment and the People Plan, and noted the November revenue and capital monitoring reports and the quarter 2 corporate risk register.
Cancelled
The Committee reviewed the mid-year service plan reports for Social Services, covering April to September 2023. Members asked about staff retention, funding for violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence (VAWDASV) services, the Newport Dementia Hwb (a dementia support hub), and housing for care leavers. The minute records no formal decision on the reports themselves, but the Committee made requests and recommended a continued search for alternative internal venue provision for the Dementia Hwb.
The Performance Scrutiny Committee (Place and Corporate) reviewed the mid-year service plan reports for Finance, Law and Standards, People, Policy and Transformation, and Regeneration and Economic Development, covering April to September 2023. The minutes record questions, concerns and requests for more information, but no formal vote or decision on the reports. The Committee also received an update on its forward work programme.