Questions over Newport Council’s development of performance dashboard

An online dashboard detailing Newport City Council’s performance levels for public services is expected to make progress this year.

Two opposition councillors have called for a timescale for the new public dashboard – or ‘performance portal’ – which they said would also help elected representatives better serve their constituents.

Since he took the top job in 2024, the council’s leader, Cllr Dimitri Batrouni, has repeatedly emphasised he wants greater use of data to inform council policies.

Opposition leader Cllr Matthew Evans said the dashboard would reportedly help residents “access data on spending from potholes to grass-cutting, to make the council more transparent”.

“Can you tell us if this online dashboard has been completed yet… and has it led to a greater engagement with residents?” he asked the council leader. “If not, when do you expect it to be fully operational and reasons for the delay.”

Cllr Andrew Sterry, an independent from Lliswerry, also asked for the latest on the proposed dashboard, adding it had been “eight months since” a previous update, “yet councillors still do not have access to this information”.

Cllr Batrouni said officers were developing the dashboard as “part of the ongoing programme to improve data accessibility, transparency and openness”.

“This has required an update to systems and pulling together of a range of data”, he said, adding the first phase of the project was ongoing with a pilot group.

The next phase, Cllr Batrouni added, is “under development and will include data on key service delivery functions”.

The timeline for that next stage is the end of the current financial year, he said.

In his response to Cllr Evans, the leader also made a political comment by claiming the dashboard project “has required significant officer time and financial investment – something I note the Newport Conservatives have opposed in the two previous council budgets”.

Cllr Sterry went on to ask why, “while councillors continue to wait for access to this information, the Newport Labour group has already published campaign material highlighting council performance, including a reported reduction in fly-tipping, before more detailed figures were subsequently released publicly?”

“Do you agree that all elected members should have equal and timely access to ward-level performance information to enable them to carry out their responsibilities effectively?” he added.

Cllr Batrouni said the local authority “already publishes a range of performance information where appropriate, including recent fly-tipping figures”.

“The fact that performance information exists or is published does not mean that all underlying operational data is currently available through the portal,” the leader explained. 

“Work is continuing to ensure information is quality assured, consistently defined and made available to members through the agreed corporate process.”

Cllr Batrouni added “all members are encouraged to check the council website for press releases and to promote positive news about Newport where appropriate”.