Performance Scrutiny Committee - Partnerships

The Performance Scrutiny Committee - Partnerships considered its annual update on Newport Live, the charity that runs the council's leisure, sport and theatre services, covering 2024-25. Members asked for a site visit, asked officers to report better on engagement data for the Momentum initiative, and asked that Newport Live's city events work be shown more clearly in future reports.

1. Newport Live Partnership Update 2024-25

   Decided

   The Committee asked officers to arrange a site visit so Members can see Newport Live facilities, such as the Station Gym. It asked officers to set out how service user engagement data for the Momentum initiative can be better captured and reported, to show longer-term changes in travel and walking habits. It recommended that Newport Live's work promoting the city through major events, such as the Big Splash, is more clearly reflected in future reports.

   Why

   Newport Live was set up in 2014 as a non-profit distributing organisation, a charity created to run services for the council. It took on the council's sport and leisure facilities and sports development, and from December 2014 The Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre. The 25-year agreement began on 1 April 2015, and 2024-25 completed its first 10 years. The council's management fee to the charity fell by 10% for a second year, a cut of £194k, so the charity has focused on earning more income. The Station Gym opened in April 2023 as an interim city-centre facility, and the Connect Centre supports education, including the expansion of the Bridge Achievement Centre. The minute gives no reasons for the Committee's requests. It notes that the Committee welcomed the range of services and opportunities for young people, particularly teenagers, and Newport Live's role in promoting the city through major events.

   Based on the minutes, Item 4 - CR - Newport Live Partnership, Scrutiny Report 24-25 Newport Live March 26 Final

Written by AI from the council's minutes and reports. Sentences with a number or name that can't be found in those papers are removed automatically, but mistakes are still possible. Councils publish no word-for-word record of meetings, so this says what was decided and why. Read the official papers to be sure.

1. 2

   Declarations of Interest

   Minute

   Councillor Marshall declared an interest in the Newport Live Update in relation to their role as a Governor at the Bridge Achievement Centre which is run by Newport Live.

2. 3

   Newport Live Partnership Update

   Minute

   The Chief Executive of Newport Live gave an overview of the report. Members discussed and questioned the Officers on the content of the report. • The Committee requested that officers arrange a site visit for Members to view Newport Live facilities such as the Station Gym. • The Committee praised the range of services provided by Newport Live and commended the organisation for the range of opportunities available to young people, particularly teenagers. • The Committee praised Newport Live for its role in promoting the city through major events, such as the Big Splash, and recommended that this work is more clearly reflected within future reports. • The Committee requested that officers set out how service user engagement data for the Momentum initiative can be better captured and reported to demonstrate longer term changes in travel and walking behaviours.

   Papers: Item 4 - CR - Newport Live Partnership, Scrutiny Report 24-25 Newport Live March 26 Final
3. 4

   Scrutiny Adviser Reports

   Minute

   a) Actions Arising The Scrutiny Adviser informed the Committee of the actions that have been completed, and the actions that are currently outstanding. b) Draft Annual Forward Work Programme 25/26 The Scrutiny Adviser informed the Committee that the Forward Work Programme for 2025/26 has now been completed. They added that the Forward Work Programme for 2026/27 had been circulated. Members were also invited to raise any suggestions for future topics to be considered as part of the new programme. c) Outcomes Monitoring The Scrutiny Adviser informed the Committee that the outcomes tables have been updated, with ongoing efforts to chase up outstanding items.

   Papers: Item 5 - Scrutiny Advisor Report, Item 5.1 - Action Sheet v3, Item 5.2 - FWP - 25-26, Item 5.3 - Outcomes Monitoring v3
4. 5

   Minutes of the Previous Meeting

   Minute

   The minutes of the previous meeting held on 11th March 2026 were confirmed as a true and accurate record.

   Papers: Minutes , 11/03/2026 Performance Scrutiny Committee - Partnerships

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.

• Marshall: Interest on Newport Live Partnership Update

  Councillor Marshall declared an interest in the Newport Live update because of their role as a Governor at the Bridge Achievement Centre, which Newport Live runs.

• Stephen Marshall, ChairLabourPresent
• Allan Screen, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies
• Bev Davies, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Farzina Hussain, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• James Peterson, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• John Jones, Committee MemberConservativeAbsent
• Kevin Whitehead, Committee MemberNewport Independent PartyPresent
• Mark Spencer, Committee MemberLabourIn attendance
• Pat Drewett, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Paul Bright, Committee MemberLabourPresent

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