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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED – That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee to convey any comments, observations and recommendations made during the way forward.
Apologies had been received from Cllr Lancaster.
Cllr Gibson declared a personal interest as her partner is a registered Taxi Driver. Cllr Lloyd Jones declared a personal interest as Chair of Penrhys Pilgrimage Project.
The minutes of the meeting held on 16 June 2022 were agreed as a correct record.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED – That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee to convey any comments, observations and recommendations made during the way forward.
Members were advised that this item, provides Committee Members with the opportunity to explore and consider the Directorate Delivery Plan for Planning Transport & Environment. It is also an opportunity for Committee Members to consider the Directorates proposed actions and performance indicators for 2022/23. The Chairperson welcomed Councillor Dan De’Ath, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning & Transport and Councillor Caro Wild, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Andrew Gregory, Director for Planning, Transport and Environment, Gareth Harcombe, Commercial Manager Energy & Sustainability and Matt Wakelam, Assistant Director, Street Scene - Waste for this item. The Chairperson invited the Cabinet Members to make opening statements after which Members were asked for comments, observations and questions on the Directorate Delivery Plan. Members noted the target for Cardiff to be Carbon Neutral by 2030 and also noted that there was a lot of reference to work in the city centre on this. Members asked for more information on what was going to be done in the more rural areas. Officers discussed the plans for modal split across the city, funding for integrated travel, connectivity with other transport modes and cycle routes. Officers also talked about all the positive work being done on the road network to share space with other transport modes. Officers explained that connecting central and rural locations was an integral part of the five year plan. The Cabinet Member added that public transport also has to be more regular and reliable to make the modal shift and some of this will depend on funding and Welsh Government input. Members considered that bus services in rural areas need to improve now to give people faith in the services. Members were keen to see the Bus Strategy which was due in September and hoped that it included the needs of villages and elderly residents who cannot access certain train stations due to them being too steep. Members considered that smaller buses are needed to get around communities and take people to where they need to go. The Cabinet Member agreed and explained that the issue they face at the moment is the amount of control the council has over buses and bus routes. Members asked what would be done in the LDP to protect green spaces, how the LDP and One Planet Strategy would help reduce emissions and how the anticipated economic growth in the city and its multiplier effect can be managed alongside reducing emissions and protecting green spaces. Officers acknowledged that the existing LDP was an important document in safeguarding growth in the city. The new LDP provides an opportunity to look at the numbers of homes and identify opportunities for place making, wellbeing, sustainability, new and existing communities and locality issues which were all on the green agenda. The Council would welcome engagement with partners, Councillors and communities to make the agenda very tangible. Officers stressed that within the new LDP the ‘green wedge’ was not under any threat, there would be proposals brought forward by the end of the year in order for there to be a balanced discussion for sustainable/green growth in Cardiff. Members discussed the importance of Nature Based solutions and Technological solutions. Members asked if there was anything that could be done with the SPG to protect green spaces and Officers advised that the SPG programme would be developed following on from the LDP. Members referred to page 36 of the Directorate Delivery Plan regarding a user friendly guide of the LDP for residents and asked if this was being produced and whether residents could access it soon. Officers assured members it would be ready. Members referred to Clean Air and reducing NO2 levels and considered that targets could be stretched on these. Members asked whether the proposal to develop new stations by 2026 was realistic considering no development had started yet. Officers stated that Gabalfa and potentially Roath Park would be completed by 2028, there was a potential to bring the development forward if the Council provides a business case to align with the development on UHW. Members noted that in order to achieve the Climate Change objectives, changes in residents behaviours would be needed. Members asked how will residents be engaged in the future consultation process. Officers agreed that this was crucial and it needs to be embedded in the Council and the city as a whole. It is vital that the citizens of Cardiff are involved, within the next month an engagement process would be started with stakeholders and community groups, whereby some key commitments would be pulled out for a step change approach. . Members stressed the importance of ensuring that hard to reach communities are involved and that the Council is imaginative with its engagement and communication channels. Members discussed the relocation of Cardiff Dogs home and officers advised that they have two options and they were actively looking at outline business cases for both options and this will come back to committee for discussion. Members noted the percentage of principal roads that are in poor condition and that the targets seem higher than results in previous years. Officers explained that it was all about investment. Teams were working hard to put systems in place to repair what we have using micro surfacing and potholing to keep the roads useable. Members discussed the potential use of hydrogen fuel and officers explained that they would be considering lots of different technology and would be taking part in a trial with Welsh Water, although the technology was still very innovative at the moment. Members stressed the importance of connectivity between the East and West of the City. Members expressed concerns about high rise/density of buildings in the city centre and that they could be causing ‘toxic tunnels’. Officers explained that high density development has contributed to the success of the city centre and they were not aware of any ‘toxic tunnels’ but would be happy to look into this issue if Members had any further information. Officers added that there was a proposal to continue with a mixed type of environment with good quality buildings and green spaces. Members discussed performance targets for major planning applications to ensure that service areas stretch themselves. A discussion took place around Coastal Erosion and the risk included on the Risk Register. Officers considered that they are delivering on the Coastal Project but it would remain a risk until there are coastal protection/flood defences in place. The risk would therefore remain red until the scheme is finished. Members asked if the Council was considering woodland burials and the Cabinet Member advised that the Burial Strategy would be brought forward early next year. Members expressed concerns about Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDs) and holes appearing in the ground. Members hoped that there was a coherent policy around this. Officers explained there was a coordinated approach led by Drainage and Water Management teams, if any Members had any concerns then officers would be happy to meet with them. Members further discussed air quality and monitors in the North of the City. The Cabinet Member gave an outline of the new technology and information on the DEFRA website showing the location on monitors. RESOLVED – That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee to convey any comments, observations and recommendations made during the way forward.
Members were advised that this item provided the Committee with an opportunity to discuss and prioritise items for their work programme 2022-23. Committee has received correspondence from Cllr Wild which is a report following the consultation of the proposed changes to the recycling strategy and have also been informed that the draft strategy has been published and is currently planned to go to Cabinet in September. Members discussed this issue and agreed to take up the offer of a briefing session with officers on this. Members were asked for anything specific they would like to be included and in the work programme and Members were keen to look at Cardiff Dogs Home strategy, which includes relocation of the service.
None received.
To be confirmed.
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