Newport City Council will spend £250,000 on a new office review that could determine the future of the city’s civic centre, with cabinet members approving the use of reserves to fund the strategy.
The decision, taken by the cabinet on Monday 18 May 2026, commits the local authority to a wide-ranging examination of its office buildings, including its Grade II listed headquarters. The money will be drawn from the council’s reserves, which stood at £118 million as of 31 March 2024, according to its latest financial accounts.
Civic centre’s uncertain future
The civic centre, which houses the council chamber and serves as the administrative hub for many of the authority’s functions, has faced an uncertain future in recent years. It is already closed on Fridays as a cost-cutting measure, and Freedom of Information Act disclosures from 2025 revealed its running costs reached £1.05 million in 2024. During that year, typically between 200 and 350 staff worked daily in a building containing around 380 “office rooms”, prompting critics to argue it is underused.
Conservative councillor David Fouweather, who represents the Allt-yr-yn ward, has said the building is “not fit for purpose anymore” because of its high running costs and listed status, which he described as “a major problem for its future”. He pointed to parts of the building in disrepair, claiming the former staff canteen area is “totally abandoned” and that employees rely on vending machines. He believes a move could save money and, by encouraging more people back to the office, provide a “better service” than remote working.
Independent councillor Mark Howells, who represents Lliswerry and chairs the Performance Scrutiny Committee – Place and Corporate, also said last year that staff should return to the office to improve customer service levels.
The council has defended its home-working policies, arguing they bring “clear benefits to it around recruitment and retention, congestion and climate change”. A council spokesperson previously stated that while operational decisions are kept under review, there are “no plans to revert to a pre-pandemic position” regarding remote working. The council’s own homeworking policy outlines benefits including increased productivity, employee commitment, wider recruitment pools, and reduced commuting.
A relocation plan for the civic centre was considered in the past but was shelved by decision-makers. The council confirmed in mid-2025 that it had “no plans to” move its headquarters to another location.
Meanwhile, the civic centre’s clock tower has been a subject of local criticism due to its appearance and a malfunctioning clock. A five-year renovation programme was announced in September 2024, and cleaning of the tower began in April 2025 using an environmentally friendly powder spray technique.
Other council spending approved
At the same cabinet meeting, members approved a £750,000 purchase of a property to serve as an additional children’s home. This is part of a wider push under the “Eliminating Profit from Children’s Care” agenda, with the council having already bought a property for £582,450 in March 2025, plus renovation costs of £224,160. That property was described as the second of six planned homes intended to provide 22 placements.
Cabinet also signed off £631,000 from reserves for work “on developing a clearer understanding of the key drivers of demand and cost within adult social care”, as the authority grapples with rising pressure in that sector. A further £40,000 was allocated for a review of the council’s fees and charges.
The decisions come against a backdrop of ongoing financial scrutiny. An audit summary from March 2025 noted that, while Newport City Council has sound financial arrangements, it has not fully identified how it will close its budget gap over the medium and long term. The council’s financial sustainability has been a focus, with a developing transformation plan and effective oversight arrangements previously highlighted. The authority also approved a £50 million property investment fund in April 2019 to generate income.
