FUNDING for improvements to Newport's community centres is to be looked at closely by one of the council's own watchdog committees.

Members of the scrutiny forum for leisure and continuing learning today embarked on the first stage of a comprehensive review of facilities across the city.

A number of issues were raised by the councillors as they discussed the scope of their investigation.

The poor condition of Shaftesbury community centre was raised by more than one member. It was described as "terrible" by Cllr David Williams.

Cllr Glyn Jarvis said that in the past the leisure department had taken on buildings for community use which had a high maintenance costs when a new facility would be more sustainable and easy to manage.

Cllr Herbie Thomas asked whether there would be additional funds from within the council's own budget for improvements.

Ffion Lloyd, head of leisure and continuing learning, said they could look at external sources of finance. "There is funding that voluntary groups can access which councils can't."

She had earlier told the forum that only three centres were directly managed by her department - Caerleon, Ringland and Bettws.

Most of the other council-owned centres were managed by voluntary committees while a few came under other council sections.

She pointed out that there were also community buildings, such as church halls, which had nothing to do with the authority they had to be mindful of those other organisations and not provide new facilities next to existing ones.

Chief scrutiny officer David Collins put forward suggestions for the scope of the review including governance, geographical spread, structural conditions and maintenance issues.

A more detailed report will be presented to a future meeting.

Cllr Ron Jones said the forum had done a "fantastic" job on a similar review of play areas.