It received progress updates on tree planting under the Coed Caerdydd project and on Shared Regulatory Services, and it noted the final draft of a joint scrutiny inquiry report on Cardiff's Replacement Local Development Plan. For the first two items, the Committee agreed that the Chair would write to the Cabinet Member with its observations.
The Community & Adult Services Scrutiny Committee carried out pre-decision scrutiny (examining reports before Cabinet decides) of a review of the care home market, including fees for 2024/25, and of housing pressures in Cardiff.
Its main item was an application for 36 homes at De Braose Close, Danescourt, which the committee deferred so that officers could draft reasons for refusal. The committee also noted decisions that officers had made under delegated powers.
On 7 December 2023 the Committee heard a briefing from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) on how changes to roads and pavements affect visually impaired people, including concerns about temporary bus stop borders. It also scrutinised the Council's Local Air Quality Annual Progress Report before it goes to Cabinet, questioning officers and the Cabinet Member for Climate Change. For both items the minute records only one decision: the Chairperson will write to the Cabinet Member with the Committee's comments.
For both items, the committee resolved that the Chair write to the Cabinet Member with its comments and observations. The minute records no decision on the committee business update.
Cardiff Council met on 30 November 2023. Councillors noted the mid-year treasury management report and approved the Social Services Annual Report for 2022/23. They also agreed changes to two polling districts and 13 polling places, revised the councillors' learning strategy on mandatory training, and appointed local authority school governors, while the Standards & Ethics Committee annual report was noted and the Governance & Audit Committee annual report was deferred to January 2024.
It noted a projected overspend of £5.388 million for 2023/24, approved the funding strategy and legal agreement for the new Indoor Arena, agreed how advice services will be bought from April 2024, and agreed a new operating model for Cardiff Youth Service.
It questioned the Cardiff Public Services Board on its progress and governance review, and it looked at the council's month 6 budget monitoring report before Cabinet considers it. In both cases the Committee agreed that the Chairperson will write to the Cabinet Member with its observations.
On each of these items the committee agreed that the Chairperson will write to the Cabinet Member with its observations. Two members recorded opposition to the arena funding strategy, and the committee also agreed changes to its work programme.
The Committee received a briefing on the homelessness crisis in Cardiff, where all temporary accommodation is full and demand is rising, and heard officers' proposals for easing the pressure. It also reviewed the second-quarter performance of adult social services and housing, and the Cabinet's response to the Committee's cost of living inquiry. The Committee agreed to write to the Cabinet Member with its observations on the homelessness briefing and on performance, and to review the cost of living recommendations annually.
On 16 November 2023 the Environmental Scrutiny Committee, a council committee that examines the Council's environmental work, held a private briefing on Transport for Wales projects in Cardiff and a public debate on the Council's response to the nature emergency and biodiversity (the variety of wildlife and plants). The Committee agreed that the Chairperson should write to the Cabinet Member for Climate Change with its comments on both items. The minutes record no other decisions.
Members scrutinised the proposed Achieving a Sustainable Youth Work Offer for Cardiff before Cabinet (the councillors who make most council decisions) considers it on 23 November 2023. They also received an update on the Youth Justice Service. The Committee agreed to write to the Cabinet Member with its comments on both items and to visit youth centres.
It approved the minutes of 19 October and granted planning permission for a change of use at 7 Lady Margaret Court, Penylan, to a café. It agreed to grant permission for a mixed-use redevelopment of land at Curran Embankment, Butetown, subject to a Section 106 agreement, a legal agreement that binds the developer to agreed commitments before permission is issued.
On 26 October 2023 Cardiff Council approved the audited 2022/23 accounts for the Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Pension Fund, endorsed the seventh Local Development Plan annual monitoring report for submission to the Welsh Government, and appointed interim officers to cover the roles of the departing Director of Governance and Legal Services. It also noted the Treasury Management Annual Report, re-appointed three independent members of the Standards and Ethics Committee and filled a committee vacancy. Most of the meeting was taken up with questions to Cabinet Members, which the minutes record without any decisions.
Cabinet considered an update on the proposed lease of St David's Hall to AMG, after the hall closed because of RAAC (a type of concrete planks found to be unsafe). Cabinet delegated authority to council officers to finish negotiations and sign the lease and sale agreement once agreed conditions are met, and noted that the hall will stay closed until then, along with the staff engagement plan.