Formal Council Questions and Responses

At this formal question session, Councillor Mogford asked the Leader, Councillor Batrouni, for an update on Newport's new leisure centre on quality, timescale and budget. The Leader said completion is scheduled for autumn 2026, a 21-day extension to the construction contract has been agreed, and there are no changes to the budget approved by Cabinet (the council's senior group of councillors). No decision was recorded.

Some sentences of this summary are missing in English, because an older automatic check removed them from the English only. The Welsh version has them.

1. Canolfan hamdden newydd Casnewydd: cynnydd, amserlen a chyllideb

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   Councillor Mogford asked what makes the centre state-of-the-art, when it will be completed and what its total and initial cost is. The Leader said the building is meant to be fit for purpose, modern and sustainable, and one of the first in the UK to be completely gas free, using modern heating and insulation to cut running costs. Materials salvaged from the old Newport Centre, such as light fittings, timber and glass, are to be reused under circular economy principles (reusing materials rather than discarding them). The Leader gave no total cost figure and no initial budget figure, only that there are no changes to the budget approved by Cabinet.

   Based on the minutes

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. 1

   Question to the Leader : 2018/35 - New Leisure Centre Update

   Minute

   Councillor Mogford asked: This week (1/10/2025) you posted a statement and photograph on social media simply stating that “Newport’s state of the art new leisure centre with two pools and lazy river is progressing”. We understand that projects generally have three competing constraints (Quality, Timescale and Budget). To add value to your ‘sound bite’ could you also update on the points below Quality: Can you elaborate and clarify what makes the Leisure ‘state-of-the art’ rather than simply ‘new’? Timescale: Can you give the latest projected completion /opening date? Budget: can you confirm the total projected cost of the Leisure Centre as well as the initial budget allocation? Councillor Batrouni responded: As previously announced, We are creating a fit for purpose, modern and sustainable leisure and wellbeing facility for the people of Newport. The new facility will be one of the first in the UK to be completely gas free, utilising modern methods of heating and insulation to reduce the ongoing energy costs of the building Circular Economy principles are also reflected in the new facility and materials salvaged from Newport Centre will be re-used in the new facility, including light fittings, timber from the stage area and glass from the balcony areas. Construction work is progressing well. A short extension to the contract of 21 days has been agreed and the development continues at pace, with completion of the scheme scheduled for autumn 2026. There are currently no changes to the budget for the scheme as approved by Cabinet.

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