Formal Council Questions and Responses

The meeting heard a question from Councillor M Howells about city centre footfall, meaning how many people visit the town centre. Councillor Clarke gave figures showing footfall down compared with the same months a year earlier, for April to July 2026, with the fall smaller than the national figures. The minute records no decision.

1. Question and answer on city centre footfall figures, April to July 2026

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   Councillor M Howells asked for the figures after raising concerns at a July performance and scrutiny meeting (a committee that reviews council work). He said claims that footfall was rising relied on month-on-month figures rather than annual trends, and that the footfall cameras had only been installed in April 2025. Councillor Clarke replied that footfall was down 6.6% for April, 4.6% for May, 1.4% for June and 0.3% for July, each compared with the same month a year earlier. He said British Retail Consortium figures showed national high street footfall down 6.2% in June and 3.8% in July, and that Newport's fall was significantly better than the national level.

   Based on the minutes

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1. 1

   Question to the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Business Growth : 2026/49 - City Centre Footfall

   Minute

   Councillor M Howells asked: Question at any time to the cabinet member. You'll be aware that at the recent performance and scrutiny meeting in early July, I highlighted the fact that the Council's new footfall cameras in the town centre had only been installed in April 2025 and that recent claims that footfall is up were based on month on month figures rather than annual trends and the claims portraying a picture of growth that may not exist. Now that the council has 12 months of data, can you confirm whether footfall was up or down comparing; April 2025 to April 2026 May 2025 to May 2026 June 2025 to June 2026 July 2025 to July 2026. Councillor Clarke responded: Figures are as follows: April 2025 to April 2026 – down 6.6% May 2025 to May 2026 – down 4.6% June 2025 to June 2026 – down 1.4% July 2025 to July 2026 – down 0.3% For context and according to data from the British Retail Consortium, national figures and national retail footfall across UK high streets decreased by 6.2% year-on-year in June and by 3.8% year-on-year in July. Whilst Newport city centre also saw a decrease in footfall year-on-year in June and July, our figures were significantly better than the national levels.

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