January 2020.......................................................................................................................................... Councillor Jane Mudd schools, and bringing my was confirmed as the family up here so the city, its NEW LEADER FOR COUNCIL new Leader of Newport past, present and future, is City Council at the extremely important to me. end of November. “My aspirations will include Councillor Mudd succeeds the continuation of vital former Leader, Baroness regeneration work and making Wilcox of Newport, who has sure we realise the potential of NM stepped down following her the city and its residents." NEWPORT elevation to the peerage. Councillor Roger Jeavons, the MATTERS The Malpas ward member, who council’s cabinet member for has served as cabinet member for city services, was appointed regeneration and housing since as deputy leader. 2017, said: “It is a great honour to lead the council and I look forward There are also two new The official newspaper of Newport City Council to serving the council and the city. cabinet members: Councillor Deb Davies for sustainable “I was born and brought up development and Councillor in Newport, attending local Abdul-Majid Rahman for assets. Could you make 2020 • You’ll give a child a chance in life the year you make a difference to a child’s life? • You can change your career TWENTY REASONS TO There are 20 good reasons • You can help a child reach why you should take this their full potential FOSTER A CHILD IN 2020 positive step in 2020: • Fostering gives you • Local children and young new perspectives people urgently need a home • Kindness feels good • You’ll help build positive futures We want local people to foster • Fostering is amazing our children. Your love and care and rewarding will give a child the support and confidence they need to grow and • You’ll make a difference develop to build a better future. that lasts a lifetime Fostering for Newport means you • Meet other caring will be part of a team working people - just like you together to help children succeed. It could range from short-term respite • It’s a different way to to long-term stable placements. grow your family To find out more, call in to one of • Choose which type of our drop-in sessions in the Castle fostering is right for you Room, Newport Centre, Kingsway, between 2pm and 4pm or between • Develop new skills and 5pm and 7pm on Wednesday 29 gain qualifications January. Our fostering team will be on hand to answer any questions. • You can help a child who’s had a difficult past We would like to thank Newport Live for kindly hosting these sessions • Become part of our and we look forward to seeing fostering community you there but, in the meantime, you can find more information • You can make a difference locally about how to become a foster carer in, and for Newport, at • Help keep a child in their school www.newport.gov.uk/fostering • You’ll be a positive role model • You’ll give a child a NEWPORT sense of belonging FOSTER • You’ll help build a child’s confidence Casnewydd MAETH For more news visit www.newport.gov.uk ..........................................................................................................................................................NEWPORT MATTERS JANUARY 2020 1 MAKING HOMES STRONG SAFE, WARM HAVE YOUR SAY ON PLANNING AND SECURE BUDGET PROPOSALS PERFORMANCE Housing improvement loans An annual report shows are available to landlords and Newport City Council’s However, the demands on services, the city and our customers. that Newport City private homeowners whose cabinet has considered particularly in social care and Council’s planners are properties are in need of the budget for 2020-21 education, show absolutely no sign “One area of the budget where it is working well as the city repair or modernisation. and how services could be of diminishing in the future. As always hard to strike the balance is continues to grow. delivered within the limited a result we must find even more council tax. Although it contributes One of the aims of the loans is to resources available. ‘new’ savings – at least £21m less than a quarter towards the The fifth planning report looks bring empty properties back into over the next three years. total budget, we understand that it at some major developments use but they are also available to A public consultation on a series is a considerable outgoing for our and milestones for Newport as owner-occupiers to make their of proposals for changes to “We are trying very hard to plan residents. Newport has consistently well as planning performance. homes safe, warm and secure. services and support provided for a sustainable future, but with had one of the lowest council tax by the council is now running less money, fewer staff and services rates in Wales – however much we Once again the council has They are for the repair or improvement until the end of January 2020. stretched almost to breaking might not want to do it, we have to performed well against Welsh of individual homes, to renovate point, it is incredibly difficult. consider raising it, but even then we Government targets and had empty properties or to convert The council provides more than would expect to still be very low in no areas for improvement. empty non-residential properties 800 services for more than “The real challenge however is that we comparison to other authorities.” into one or more units of residential 151,000 people living in more want to do more than just provide the For nearly every measure accommodation, when commercial than 65,000 households. basic services that we have to provide Full details of the proposals for they were better than the finance is not easily available. by law – we want to ensure Newport 2020-21 are available to view target with the majority At the council’s December is an attractive place to live, thereby at www.newport.gov.uk/ in the good category and Funding can be given to eligible cabinet meeting, Councillor Jane attracting employers and creating jobs. budget where you can also only four rated as fair. homeowners who will occupy Mudd, Leader of Newport City find out more about where the the property when the work is Council outlined the picture “We value the opinions of our council’s funding comes from and Newport was one of six completed. It can be particularly and the difficult choices that residents and partners and urge the general budget challenge. planning authorities in helpful for older people who have no would have to be made. them to take part in the budget Wales (out of 22) with the mortgage but are on a low income. consultation. This feedback helps The public consultation will run until required housing land supply “We have already made significant inform our strategic decisions 31 January 2020 and all responses of 5 years with 5.6 years. Landlords can also apply for loans savings and efficiencies – £41 and sense check how the will then be considered by cabinet to bring empty properties, both million over the last five years. decisions are taking will affect at their February meeting. The percentage of major residential and commercial buildings, applications decided within back into use as new homes. the required time was 77 per cent compared with 68 Welsh Government has provided per cent across Wales. the funding for the safe, warm and secure scheme which is administered by the city council. To find out more visit www.newport. gov.uk/housing; email housing. [email protected] for more information or call the housing delivery manager on 01633 233592. gives walkers the chance to “We are delighted we have PILTON VALE NOW A HAVEN explore this wonderful site been able to improve this open and see for themselves the space which in recent years had FOR WALKERS work which has taken place. fallen into disrepair and in some parts had been vandalised. CHAPERONE The project, which took just LICENCES over two months to complete, “I hope visitors can now enjoy the replaced the old wooden site which offers a more pleasant bridges and boardwalks environment for all ages.” which had deteriorated over Did you know you need a the years with more durable The site can be accessed off chaperone licence if you recycled plastic and Pillmawr Road where there is help backstage at children’s metal structures. space for a small number of cars performances such as dance, or via pedestrian access points concerts, pantomimes or A more easily accessible from the Pilton Vale estate. if you supervise youngsters Pilton Vale site vist: back left, Cllr David Mayer, NCC officer Luke Stacey circular route with an improved for filming work? and Cllr James Clarke with front left, Cllr Jane Mudd, Leader accessibility ramp has been Newport Bus services also run of Newport City Council and Cllr Deb Harvey created so visitors can explore through the estate. For more It is a legal requirement and look out for the local wildlife. information on what you can designed to protect children. A project to improve and The environmental open space, expect to find at this site visit: You can find more information at revamp walking routes around home to a variety of habitats Councillor Debbie Harvey, www.newport.gov.uk/ Pilton Vale has been carried from grassland and woodland cabinet member for www.newport.gov. schools and follow the link. out by Newport City Council. to bracken and wetland, culture and leisure said: uk/countryside 2 For more news visit www.newport.gov.uk ..........................................................................................................................................................NEWPORT MATTERS JANUARY 2020 introduced so they could spend fly tipping and dog fouling. number of FPNs issued during the more hours during the daytime in the first month following the new shift EU SETTLEMENT INCREASE IN city centre and other hotspot areas.