Newport City Council is preparing to undertake a comprehensive review of its governing constitution and has raised the prospect of bringing in external consultants to steer the programme. The proposal was discussed at a recent scrutiny committee meeting where officers said the document needs modernising and that a revised version could be in place within the next three years.
Consultants, cost and timescale
Mike Wallbank, the council’s head of law, told councillors external legal or governance advisers could be appointed to lead the project, but that doing so would add to the council’s costs. A formal funding source has not been identified and officers indicated that confirming where the money will come from is the next step.
“We haven’t identified where that money’s coming from – [that’s] the next stage in the process,”
The current timetable presented to members expects the work to be completed by the end of March 2029, meaning the project could span around three years from now. Councillors were told that a range of policies should be considered for incorporation as part of an overarching update.
Political scrutiny and council views
Committee chairman Cllr Mark Howells probed whether decision-makers had agreed to free up funds for consultants, pressing for clarity on the financial commitment. Another member, Cllr Ray Mogford, urged officers to take ownership and press ahead with the work.
- Need: Council constitution described as requiring updating and modernising.
- Options: Use in-house officers or appoint external consultants.
- Timescale: Target completion by end of March 2029.
What residents should expect
For Newport residents, a rewritten constitution could change how decisions are taken and increase transparency by folding several standalone policies into a single, updated document. The choice between keeping the work in-house or commissioning consultants involves a trade-off: external expertise may speed drafting and ensure best practice, but at an additional cost to the council. Officers have signalled that clear agreement is needed on the approach before any procurement or resourcing decisions are made.
| Issue | Detail |
|---|---|
| Lead officer | Mike Wallbank, Head of Law |
| Council deadline | End of March 2029 |
| Key decision | Whether to appoint consultants (additional cost) or use internal resources |
Councillors will need to reach a consensus on the way forward before the council can finalise procurement, budget allocations or a precise workplan. As the review progresses, members may invite public comment or subject the draft constitution to further scrutiny; for now the meeting emphasised the importance of establishing both the scope of changes and how they will be resourced.
