Council call for firms to fund Newport Town Team
A new group formed to promote business in Newport should not be funded entirely by local residents, councillors have said.
Newport Town Council has already given £5,000 to get the 'Town Team' up and running.
The team was formed as an offshoot of the town's unsuccessful Portas Pilot bid and aims to support businesses in the High Street.
Almost 200 businesses have already signed up to be involved and in its draft business plan, the Town Team has budgeted for a further £8,000 grant from the town council next year – and then another £4,000 the year after.
Much of that will go towards paying an administrator. It has also received a £10,000 Government grant.
But at last night's Newport Town Council meeting, councillors refused to commit to giving the grants – and said businesses involved should be asked to contribute as well.
Councillor Peter Scott said: "It's very important that the local businesses start to pay a fee.
"It's unfair to expect residents to pay solely, particularly as many don't appear to know a lot about the Town Team.
"By the end of the first year, I would like to see some results and contributions from businesses. They need to be more open so residents can see what they are getting for their money."
Councillor Tim Nelson added: "It is primarily going to be working with commercial organisations who operate for profit.
"When I saw it was asking for an increase in funding of 40 per cent for the second year I had concerns."
But other councillors called for the Town Team to be given more time.
Councillor Rodney Pitt said: "These are very early days so we should be careful about being too critical."
And Councillor Adrian Meredith said: "There has been a lot of criticism about this and I think it's been totally unfair because we haven't given them a chance to get off the ground.
"These people are volunteers. Give them a chance to get their feet under the table."
The Town Team is headed by business people Mark Freeman, Karen Woodcock, Maria Sindhu, Sue Tranter and Margaret Woodcock.
Mike Atherton, the interim Town Team manager, said the group should be self-funded within three years.
The team has organised an "independent's day" on July 6 aimed at promoting traders in High Street.
