Latest news with #DavidFouweather
South Wales Argus
4 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
New questions over Newport indoor market redevelopment
The local authority provided a £6 million loan to a developer for work on the market, which reopened in 2022. The market deal, which leased the building to the developer for 250 years, also included an agreement under which the council would receive a share of future rental income. However, no rental payments have yet reached the council, it said. 'Three years on and not a penny has been paid,' said Conservative councillor David Fouweather. 'We need some openness and transparency. The redevelopment was supported by £6 million of taxpayers' money. 'The public has a right to know what's going on. Why hasn't [the council] been receiving rental payments?' Separately, local Conservative campaigner Michael Enea has questioned what proportion of the overall project cost was funded by the council loan. A council spokesperson said the redevelopment had 'transformed' the market, attracted new independent businesses to Newport, and raised city-centre footfall. But the council said it had not received any rental share payments, and did not clarify how much of the project its loan had ultimately covered. 'As per our rental agreement, which is in place, the rental income share is calculated on the basis of income received, minus agreed deductions,' the spokesperson said. 'Agreed deductions include any fitting-out and rent-free periods offered to new occupiers by the market operator. These deductions should not be confused or misinterpreted, as they do not relate to the original development.' A 2019 council report described the agreement as providing '15% geared rental based on the gross rental received, less loan interest payments'. Freedom of Information disclosures, meanwhile, have shown the council loan is repayable with 5% monthly interest payments and is due to be 'redeemed' in February 2026. Speaking at a council audit committee meeting last week, Cllr Ray Mogford requested the market loan be included in a private briefing to members at their next meeting, in September. 'It's been difficult to find information out about that in the public domain,' he said. Committee chairman Gareth Chapman said members 'have the right… to address that in a closed session'. On the loan arrangements, the council spokesperson said 'we have received money by way of interest payments on this loan', but described financial input from the market owner as being 'commercially sensitive and not for the council to disclose'. 'The development transformed the former provisions market, breathing new life into the listed building and offering residents and visitors to the city a great place to meet, socialise and work,' the council spokesperson said. 'It has also helped some businesses who are at the start of their journey to establish a presence in Newport, with a number of former occupiers having taken up residence elsewhere in the city centre after vacating the market.' 'Independent businesses, like the ones in the market, are at the heart of our city, and we will continue to provide all the support we can to help them thrive,' they added. LoftCo, the company which led the redevelopment, was contacted for comment on the matter.
South Wales Argus
15-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Newport City Council offices 'not fit for purpose'
Newport City Council has previously looked into relocating from the Civic Centre to a smaller premises, details released under a Freedom of Information Act request show. A council spokesman said a potential relocation is no longer on the cards – but Conservative councillor David Fouweather claimed the local authority should give serious consideration to the benefits of finding a new home. He said any new council HQ would 'have to be' a central location in Newport, which would have the added bonus of helping 'boost city centre trade at lunchtimes'. The historic Westgate Hotel or the former Admiral building could both prove to be suitable locations, he suggested. A recent Freedom of Information Act request, by Conservative campaigner Michael Enea, found it cost the council around £1.05 million to run the Civic Centre last year. The response also showed there were typically between 200 and 350 staff working daily at the building – which has around 380 'office rooms'. 'I think the Civic Centre is not fit for purpose anymore,' said Cllr Fouweather. 'The running costs are horrendous. But what do you do with the building? That is a major problem. A lot of it is listed.' On the condition and current use of the building, he added: 'If you go down where the staff canteen used to be, it's totally abandoned. There's nothing there. It fell into a state of disrepair. Staff have to rely on vending machines.' Moving to a new, more appropriately-sized building would streamline the council's running costs – and should also spell the end of current remote working policies, according to Cllr Fouweather. 'There's absolutely no need now for working from home', he said, claiming that if more people worked in the office, 'you get a better service, deal with people directly, the public are able to come in rather than [deal with] remote staff where you've got to wait and wait for a response'. But a council spokesperson defended current working arrangements. 'The majority of Newport City Council staff have fixed places of work and do not work remotely,' they said. 'The council, as a modern and mature employer, has enabled those staff who can work from multiple locations to do so. 'While we keep all operational decisions under review, there are no plans to revert to a pre-pandemic position. There is no evidence that remote working from multiple locations has had a negative impact on productivity, while there are clear benefits to it around recruitment and retention, congestion and climate change.' The spokesperson said the previous consideration of relocating from the Civic Centre was part of its 'routine management of our estate… to ensure all of the office space we maintain is fit for purpose for what we need as an organisation'. 'We can confirm that at this moment, the council has no plans to relocate from the civic centre to another location,' they added.
