Proposed cuts by Newport Town Council could strike a fatal blow to its own Town Team and the voluntary sector
Newport Civic Society questions the need for such damage
Newport Civic Society warns that the February 12 meeting of Newport Town Council could deal a massive blow to the town’s future.
One of the suggestions to address the financial scenario for the Town Council is to make swingeing cuts to many significant voluntary groups who stage successful town events or work for the benefit of the Town. The Civic Society has heard that cuts are also proposed to the groups who run many of Newport’s well known events, which could render them unviable.
One of the biggest reductions is an 80% reduction in a grant to Newport Town Team (NTT). Established across the UK at the behest of the Government, Town Teams are the principal organisations trying to maintain a healthy and vibrant Town Centre by bringing the best out of private and public sectors. The team’s committee is comprised of local businesses who work to support the team manager and give of their time at no cost to the public purse. Newport Town Team in less than a year has achieved much and more is in the pipeline: detailed below*.
An agreement in principle between NTC and the Town Team in June 2012 provided a three year funding package gradually reducing throughout that period until the NTT was more independent financially. The start up funds for the Team in Sprin 2013 were transferred from the Newport Regeneration Partnership. The Team’s recent National Benchmarking exercise was exemplary, undertaken at a fraction of the potential cost of £10k, and has provided a real picture of Newport’s economic and business performance, compared with other towns and thus to plan for the future.
Now the future looks bleak for Newport Town Team and indeed for Newport itself.
The Civic Society would like to answers to the following challenges and asks NTC to rethink its proposals in order to support the very groups that make the town vibrant and bring visitors into it:
NTC IS NOT UNIQUE IN HAVING A FINANCIAL CHALLENGE BUT ITS PROPOSED SOLUTION MUST BE ALMOST UNIQUE IN THAT IT DOES NOT ADDRESS ITS OWN DIRECT COSTS – WHY?
THE LARGEST FIGURES IN THE BUDGET ARE STAFFING/ADMIN WHICH appear to REMAIN UNTOUCHED – WHY?
NOT LONG AGO THE NTC employed A TOWN CLERK WITH A PART-TIME ASSISTANT – NOW EMPLOY HAVE A TOWN CLERK WITH FIVE ASSISTANTS – WHY? how does this compare with similar towns?
Town Team*
Although the town team is less than one-year old it has already delivered many things with just one part time manager:-
‘First Impressions Survey’ (Feb 2013) – offering an independent insight into what’s good and what needs addressing
Constitution, business plan, medium-term financial plan, policies for “equality & diversity”, “sustainable procurement & contract procedures”, and “data protection”
successful bids to DCLG / NTT / T&WC for resources to deliver business plan priorities
business data-base (200+), monthly empty property log
monthly newsletter for businesses (now at edition 9)
monthly business meetings & director meetings, establishment of a Visitor Economy & Heritage Partnership (VEP) & emergence of a draft strategy and priority actions
Independents Day Promotional campaign
Hosted web-site and developing social media
High Street health-check i.e. AMT benchmarking during October & November
Shop local campaign – PR & promotional articles (Nova News & SS/NA)
Photo-calls for the Town Mayor and the local MP
Proactive engagement with community groups i.e. presentations to Chamber, Newport 41 Club, Civic Society, Rotary Club, etc.
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