Axe hangs over Newport regeneration firm, Newport Unlimited

11:20am Thursday 17th January 2013 in Gwent news Photograph of the Author By David Deans - Politics reporter

THE future of Newport Unlimited is uncertain with a decision on its funding beyond March yet to be made by the Welsh Government.

A leaked Newport council report that has been seen by senior councillors says the Welsh Government says it is withdrawing its funding for the urban regeneration company from April 1.

The report says some functions of the body, that was created to try to spur regeneration in the city and was the catalyst for regeneration of the city’s riiverside area, will need to be provided by the council.

Officially no decision has been made, but the council has said that if funding ends Newport Unlimited will not be able to continue in its current form.

The report reads that the Welsh Government has indicated it is withdrawing funding for Newport Unlimited from April 1.

A Welsh Government spokeswoman said funding for the organisation, set up in 2003, was only ever due to run until the end of March 2013.

She said the heritage minister Huw Lewis is due to publish his regeneration policy this March, following a consultation last autumn, after which a decision will be made.

Within the Newport council draft budget consultation for 2013/14, officers say if funding is not continued Newport Unlimited will not be able to continue in its present form.

“The regeneration and development of the city is a priority for the council and in this situation a number of functions currently carried out by Newport Unlimited may need to be delivered by the council,” it reads.

It is believed the council would save £187,000 by bringing functions in house.

The Welsh Government contributes around £666,000 a year to the organisation, while Newport council provides £333,000.

A joint statement from Newport council and Newport Unlimited said that, as the Welsh Government review is ongoing, a decision as to how Newport’s regeneration programme will be delivered in future has yet to be taken.

It read: “Supporting the continuing regeneration of the city is a major priority for both the council and Newport Unlimited, and it is essential that any arrangements put in place support the growth of the city.

“Whatever the outcome of the review, key projects such as Friars Walk will continue to be driven forward.”

Comments(24)

Woodgnome says...
11:34am Thu 17 Jan 13

Do you remember this last May?

"NEWPORT council Labour leader Bob Bright gave a statement to the Argus yesterday, five days after his party won control of the council.

Cllr Bright pledged to keep Argus readers informed and said the city was going through a “historic” period of reinvention".

What a joke. He and his Cabinet have reinvented a disaster and should resign.

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whatintheworld says...
11:39am Thu 17 Jan 13

Read the first line, "decision on its funding beyond March yet to be made by the WELSH GOVERNMENT."

Bob Bright isn't the leader of the WAG, don't know what you think he's got to do with this?

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VoiceOfDaPort says...
11:40am Thu 17 Jan 13

Well when I think what Newport was like 10 years ago to what it is now, I have to say Newport Unlimited have certainly helped make Newport unrecognisable to what it was then, sadly dog turd looks more appealing than Newport, so just as well it will be wound up.

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bbunny_isl says...
11:41am Thu 17 Jan 13

Disband them. An unsustainable regeneration plan first time round, no clout to get things done and too slow.

Let's just accept the inevitable, let Cardiff swallow-up Newport and get on with it.

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Severn40 says...
11:43am Thu 17 Jan 13

This is not good news. Whilst I am not a strong supporter of Newport Unlimited, it represents a major funding cut in Newport by the Welsh Government.

Newport Unlimited has not really achieved much in the years of its existence although recently it has been the principal driver of some of the repaving works around Newport Market.

However, the funding cut is serious. Big question will our AMs and councillors speak out or will they give out a tiny squeak instead?

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Bobevans says...
11:45am Thu 17 Jan 13

Newport Unlimited is costing over £1M a year. It does not actually do anything. It is a quango. It is supposed to cordinate and facilitate the redevelepment but there is a Project Management company to do that.

Basically what Newport Unlimited was doing should have been done by our elected coucillors rather than an unellected and unaccountable organisation

Getting rid of Newport Unlimited should enable more sensible decisions to be made

I doubt anyone will be axed though they will be absorbed into the Assembly & Newport Councils headcount

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Bobevans says...
11:45am Thu 17 Jan 13

Newport Unlimited is costing over £1M a year. It does not actually do anything. It is a quango. It is supposed to cordinate and facilitate the redevelepment but there is a Project Management company to do that.

Basically what Newport Unlimited was doing should have been done by our elected coucillors rather than an unellected and unaccountable organisation

Getting rid of Newport Unlimited should enable more sensible decisions to be made

I doubt anyone will be axed though they will be absorbed into the Assembly & Newport Councils headcount

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DaiRandom says...
12:04pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Can someone explain to me what this organisation is responsible for? Any links etc much appreciated.

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whatintheworld says...
12:13pm Thu 17 Jan 13

DaiRandom wrote:
Can someone explain to me what this organisation is responsible for? Any links etc much appreciated.
http://www.newportun
limited.co.uk/aboutu
s/index.html

What is an Urban Regeneration Company?
Urban Regeneration Companies (URCs) have been established to focus and integrate regeneration strategies for key towns, cities and regions within the UK.


Sounds a bit wishy-washy to be honest

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Woodgnome says...
12:19pm Thu 17 Jan 13

whatintheworld wrote:
Read the first line, "decision on its funding beyond March yet to be made by the WELSH GOVERNMENT."

Bob Bright isn't the leader of the WAG, don't know what you think he's got to do with this?
Because Cllrs Bright and Richards are on the Board!! WAG wont fund lame ducks. Disaster upon disaster falls upon NCC.

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UpsetResident says...
12:43pm Thu 17 Jan 13

The simple measure you must hold Newport Unlimited by is this;

Has Newport undergone regeneration, or simple change? One is not the other.

The fact of the matter is, Newport is in a much worse state than it was 10 years ago. Yes, we're had a double-dip recession, but a look at surrounding towns and cities does not offer an explanation for the sheer decimation of our once proud home.

There have been numerous fumbles and missteps that have gotten us here, you simply cannot hold the Tory council responsible for its small part in this whole torrid mess, this is decades of labour neglect and mismanagement.

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Mr Bump. says...
1:16pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Good Riddance.

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foxy3rd says...
1:40pm Thu 17 Jan 13

So is it them who keep making the changes like taking out perfectly good benches and replacing them with less comfortable ones etc. Get rid of them and their expensive mistakes and wagebill.:-(

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Mr Angry says...
3:01pm Thu 17 Jan 13

I bet old Bob Evans is having an **** right now

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Howie' says...
3:21pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Mr Angry wrote:
I bet old Bob Evans is having an **** right now
So much so Mr A he posted the same post twice just to let us know how ecstatic he is.lol.

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Mr Bump. says...
4:47pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Mr Angry wrote:
I bet old Bob Evans is having an **** right now
the four star word has to start with a vowel, i'm struggling to work out what it is, can you give us a clue to what Bob is having, because i'm stumped.

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bobmech1 says...
7:20pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Says it all about Newport doesn't it when the Regeneration compan goes out of business
Should have been called degeneration ltd
Bodes well for Dedenhams cancelling the build
Newport really has become the place not to be

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Exile Elmo says...
7:42pm Thu 17 Jan 13

It hasn't gone out of business it was a joint venture between WAG and NCC with guaranteed funding for 10 years.

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Bobevans says...
10:55pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Perhaps Newport Unlimiteds Brief was to take out Newport as it competed with Cardiff

I see they recently apointed another expert on Retail Developments !


"Andrew joins on secondment from the Welsh Government where he is Deputy Head of Culture, Sport and Media Division. He replaces Gareth Beer who has left to take on a senior role in the south west of England.

Andrew’s role will include ensuring the ongoing regeneration programme and city centre projects are delivered on time and to budget.


His most recent responsibilities include sports policy and managing the Welsh Government’s funding contract with the National Botanic Garden of Wales. "

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Bobevans says...
10:55pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Perhaps Newport Unlimiteds Brief was to take out Newport as it competed with Cardiff

I see they recently apointed another expert on Retail Developments !


"Andrew joins on secondment from the Welsh Government where he is Deputy Head of Culture, Sport and Media Division. He replaces Gareth Beer who has left to take on a senior role in the south west of England.

Andrew’s role will include ensuring the ongoing regeneration programme and city centre projects are delivered on time and to budget.


His most recent responsibilities include sports policy and managing the Welsh Government’s funding contract with the National Botanic Garden of Wales. "

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jaggededge says...
2:03pm Fri 18 Jan 13

andrew will finish the job, total end of newport city centre

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Independentvoter says...
5:45pm Wed 23 Jan 13

£1,000,000 a year would stop a lot of community closures.

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catlady wales says...
6:47am Thu 24 Jan 13

I remember at a breakfast meeting at The Celtic Manor before the Ryder cup. A representative from NU was there and a gentleman who had a B&B in Bassaleg said, will the golf help my business and Newport, will they shop and spend their money here. He replied do you know anything about the Ryder Cup? They come, they watch the golf, they sleep and then they go home, no wives, or children, just men, coming from all over the world. I don't think they stayed at his B&B either. We were sold rubbish from NU, another Quango set up to take the flack from NCC. And beleive me experts at it and very well paid. At anothe meeting they produced images on TV on how Newport will look in the future, along side the river bank, the new City Centre regenerated. The new Campus.
Looked impressive, cost tens of thousands, a great PR excersize. 10 million £££££ spent on the top of Pill and Cardiff Road, sitting benches for druggies and alkies costing £1,400 each to sit on, yeh money well spent. Architect from Cardiff. Contractor from Cardiff,money from us. Change is needed people. Too late for some.

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scraptheWAG says...
8:14am Thu 24 Jan 13

why do they not have a huge clear out at NCC

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