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Performance Scrutiny Committee - Place and Corporate. Scrutiny committees question decisions and can recommend changes. They don't make the decision.
Finance service plan mid-year review
The Committee asked to receive data on the number of people using online services. It expressed concern about call wait times at the City Contact Centre and asked for improvement. It was pleased with the help given to residents struggling to pay Council Tax. It suggested that residents be told more clearly that they can pay Council Tax over 12 months, especially existing Direct Debit customers, either through an extra flyer in the annual paper bill or a clearer message in the bill itself.
Performance Scrutiny Committee - Place and Corporate. Scrutiny committees question decisions and can recommend changes. They don't make the decision.
Mid-year reviews of three service plans
The minute records comments and recommendations from the Committee, not a formal decision. Finance: the Committee praised the service for keeping face-to-face contact and building up its Internal Audit resource. It asked for a breakdown of starters and leavers data and more information on the reasons for staff turnover. People, Policy and Transformation: the Committee praised the success of current staff check-ins and recommended raising the target for the measure 'Percentage of managers undertaking regular check ins' in the coming year. It recommended developing a communication strategy for the Mayor, including possible use of more social media platforms. It recommended reviewing and improving how complaints data is presented, so that complaints received, upheld and resolved are clearly separated, and working with the Intelligence Team to embed some figures in the wider performance framework. It recommended better search engine optimisation for the Newport Council website so that key services such as Planning and Licensing are easy to find. It recommended that updates on search facilities and the Assets Register be included in the End of Year Report. It noted that new sexual harassment requirements mean the Council must complete a risk assessment. Law and Standards: the Committee praised the service for completing the Coroner's Court project on time and within budget. It recommended splitting Action 5 into two separate actions, as it was unclear what the 20% completion rate related to (page 89 of the agenda). It asked for a breakdown of the £305,000 overspend.
Performance Scrutiny Committee - Place and Corporate. Scrutiny committees question decisions and can recommend changes. They don't make the decision.
Mid-year reviews of four service plans, 2024/25
The minute records the Committee's comments and recommendations, not a formal decision. Environment and Public Protection: the Committee requested demographic information on fly-tipping prosecutions; recommended further engagement with private landlords, management companies and estate agents on waste and fly-tipping; recommended reviewing consultation timelines for the Beechwood Park proposals so that residents can give feedback before decisions are made; recommended rewording a business compliance measure for clarity; and recommended reviewing the Revenue and Capital Forecast graphs. Regeneration and Economic Development: the Committee requested a list of priority properties identified as unsightly or in need of attention; recommended improving head count data by tracking staff moves between departments more accurately; and requested the minutes of the Newport Live report, to be sent by the Scrutiny Adviser. Housing and Communities: the Committee recommended correcting the number of events and activities delivered by the Library Service; requested an All-Member seminar on housing processes and housing process information in the FAQ document; requested assurances that the Council manages arrangements with Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) and other partners effectively; requested a breakdown of vulnerable groups housed, including prisoners and refugees, and whether extra funding was received for them; requested clarity on head count numbers, including balancing and internal transfers; and recommended reviewing how Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) savings, particularly the £372,000 Guarantor Scheme, are reported. Infrastructure: the Committee requested clarity on head count numbers relating to internal transfers; requested clarification on whether the Cabinet or the Council decides on moving traffic contraventions; recommended raising public awareness of variable bus lane times, especially in the city centre; recommended that bus routes and access to the Newport International Sports Village (NISV) be more inclusive, and requested an update on an additional access point; and recommended reviewing bus stop provision near the new health centre in Ringland.
Items are linked when their titles share most of their words and they fall within 18 months of each other. Councils don't number reports across meetings, so a few links may be wrong, and a step may be missing if its title changed a lot. Each step links to the meeting, where the council's own papers are.