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RESOLVED: Council AGREED to: Approve the Welsh Language Standards Annual Report 2022-23 prior to formal publication in accordance with the Welsh Language Standards (Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011).
RESOLVED: The Council AGREED to: Note the content of the Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee Annual Report 2022-2023.
RESOLVED: Council AGREED to: Note the contents of the Democratic Services Annual Report.
RESOLVED: Council AGREED to: Note the contents of the Scrutiny Annual Report.
RESOLVED: Council AGREED to: 1. approve the recommended amendment of the Members’ Code of Conduct, as shown in Appendix A; and instruct the Director of Governance and Legal Services and Monitoring Officer to issue the requisite notifications in relation to the amendment of the Members’ Code of Conduct, as set out in paragraph 14 of the report, and update the Members’ Code of Conduct within the Constitution, Part 5, accordingly.
RESOLVED: Council AGREED to: Receive a nomination and appoint to the vacancy on the Committee, in accordance with the Party Group wishes, as set out in Table A and on the Amendment Sheet.
RESOLVED: Council AGREED to: · approved the new appointments of Local Authority governors to the school governing bodies as set out in Appendix 1, each for a term of 4 years from the date of the appointment.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ebrahim, Melbourne, Robinson and Simmons.
Councillor Naughton declared a personal interest in Item 13 (Tackling Poverty, Equality & Public Health Statement) on the basis that a family member works for the Council
The minutes of the meeting of the 25 May 2023 were approved as a correct record of the meeting and signed by the Chair.
Rhian Vernall to Cllr Burke, Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Events As a parent of a child with disabilities living within the Pentwyn area, I am concerned that the public have not been consulted around the current proposals and that demographic information has come from a 2011 census which doesn’t describe the local community accurately. If factors such as well above average free school meals and anti-social behaviour crime rates from the area were considered, there would surely have been an opportunity to apply for grants such as the ‘levelling up fund’ which could have kept the leisure centre fully open to the public. Why have the demographics of the area and what is needed in the community not been considered within these proposals? A leisure centre within the Pentwyn community should be accessible and affordable for all. Reply – Cllr Burke I agree with you and that’s why the Council is investing £4 million, on an ‘invest to save’ basis from our capital programme that will need to be repaid, towards the refurbishment of the leisure centre, which – during a sustained period of austerity and constraints on public spending – is something that the Council should be doing to support and invest in local communities like Pentwyn. The Council has committed to undertake a consultation with the local community in July prior to the commencement of refurbishment works at Pentwyn Leisure Centre, which were approved by Cabinet last week. The details of this consultation are being finalised. Reference to the 2011 Census data in the Equality Impact Assessment is because the first draft of the Equality Impact Assessment was created before the most recent Census in 2021. The Equality Impact Assessment has now been updated to reflect the recently published 2021 Census information. It is worth noting that the ward population has increased from around 15,600 in 2011 to just under 16,200, while the demographics have largely remained the same. Supplementary question – Rhian Vernall Out of the £4 million, it has not been disclosed how much has been assigned to actually making facilities better for the community. We really need to know how much is being spent on facilities for the community, and how much is being spent on Cardiff Rugby. While the community have had no consultation or suitable equality impact assessments, and recommendations from the scrutiny meeting last week have been ignored, Cardiff Rugby have been given well over half the centre, an outdoor space for an expensive 3G pitch, and we are told that they are investing in the centre and that we need them in order for the community to have any usage again. Yet, other centres operate without renting the space out to third parties. How can the Council suggest that there are no other options without considering the views and impact on those that used the centre previously. Not only is this unfair, it is surely a risk to public money to prioritise spending money on refurbishments specifically for Cardiff Rugby, who are not in a good financial position themselves, and will be letting their space from GLL. Why are the most vulnerable people within the community being ignored in the current proposal? Signing off on the current plans and then offering to consult is not meaningful or helpful. I’m concerned that the Council have not met their obligations under the Equality Act, and that these actions are unlawful. The equality impact assessment is not updated, and I feel that as a community we are not being told the truth. How do we stop these proposals going ahead before the consultation? Reply – Cllr Burke I will be having a meeting with the local MS and community group campaigning for this, and would be happy to have a conversation with you about that. In regard to the agreement with Cardiff Rugby, yes, some of the work that is being undertaken is contingent on having a commercial agreement with a partner. The cost of what’s happening within the leisure centre has increased due to inflation and the cost of living crisis, so we’ve had to be mindful of this at all points in order to deliver something cost-effective. We would like to deliver a pool at the centre, with the 20x8m pool being the largest we can deliver. If we don’t do this now and act quickly, costs may continue to run ahead and prevent us delivering anything at all. With that in mind, we have to be decisive. I wasn’t able to attend a few of the community meetings because they’ve clashed with other commitments, but I am engaging and will meet with the leisure centre on Monday. If you would like to have a conversation about specific elements that aren’t commercially sensitive, I would be happy to do that. Alvin Jones to Cllr Burke, Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Events I spotted your News Room post on 15th June, calling for tree guardians to help care for our trees. Trees play such an important role in our natural environment, it's vital that we protect them and care for them. How many guardians are needed in Cardiff and how will you measure the number that you have been able to recruit? Reply – Cllr Burke The Council is committed to increasing tree canopy across the city, and we need the help of volunteers to achieve this. There is no set number of "tree guardians", but we encourage as many people as possible to get involved. So far, 55 organisations and 13 individuals have registered as tree guardians, and we have a total of 1,160 participants in our wider Coed Caerdydd project. In the last financial year, project volunteers generated 4,808 hours of work, which has a monetary value of over £45,000. I will meet with the Woodland Trust very soon to discuss what we can do better, to make sure that we plant and mow in the right places and in the right ways, in order to protect trees and react thoughtfully and proactively. The involvement of tree guardians and volunteers is essential to the success of our tree canopy expansion project. Thank you for your interest in this important matter. Supplementary question – Alvin Jones Thank you for your response, and I wish the tree guardians every success. In addition to securing the survival of our newly planted trees, the protection of our mature trees is at least of equal importance given the scale of their contribution to diversity, biodiversity and the environment. The guardian role should be extended to protect our mature trees from damage of any kind. The same goes for the green spaces in our city. Trees and green spaces frequently come under attack from planning decisions made by Cardiff Council. Examples in my neck of the woods include the destruction of sites of importance for nature conservation, like the Northern Meadows in Coryton (where hundreds of mature trees are being destroyed), the impact of the proposal to build on the Maindy Velodrome site, and the threat to Hailey Park in Llandaff Park from proposals for a sewage pumping station, the latter being the subject of judicial review. I propose that the remit of this guardian role should be extended in Cardiff to protect much more of what we’ve got and is precious. What do you think? Reply – Cllr Burke That will be something I talk to the Woodland Trust about on Monday. Regarding the planning matters you have mentioned, they come under the remit of the quasi-judicial Planning Committee, which is cross-party. Paul Rock to Cllr De’Ath, Cabinet Member for Transport and Strategic Planning I understand Mabon ap Gwynfor MS, recently attended a housing conference in Barcelona, and in an article in Nation Cymru on 19th June, he is reported as saying, “I view LDPs [Local Development Plans] more of an economic driving tool rather than a community development tool and we need to introduce a new community development framework which reflects the needs of the community. LDPs are based on flawed forecasts of population and those are driving plans which aren’t reflecting the requirements of individual communities – they are not fit for purpose. LDPs needs to reflect what is required in each individual community rather than a broad view of a large local authority area.” How will Cardiff Council meet this challenge? Reply – Cllr De’Ath I fundamentally disagree with the premise of your question; and that we use flawed data to construct our LDPs, especially the replacement LDP we’ll be discussing later. I absolutely disagree that we don’t need to take a broad, local authority-wide view – we absolutely do, considering the climate crisis, affordable housing, employment sites and more. It’s an essential part of the plan, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do very localised, bespoke placemaking. Supplementary question – Paul Rock It appears from your answer that the Council hasn’t a particular wish to prioritise community development. It is of course both logically and morally right that the Council should consult with local communities when considering things like whether to grant leases or easements over community land. Why, then, did the Council not do so in the cases of Lady Cory Field and Forest Farm in Whitchurch, and more recently in the proposed Dwr Cymru Welsh Water development on Hailey Park? Reply – Cllr De’Ath Whilst I disagree, I value your opinion and am interested in hearing what you’ve got to say. We’re about to embark on a 10 week consultation on the replacement plan, please come along to the events we’re holding and see the really exciting stuff planned. Let’s have a discussion about your views on planning going forward.
The following petitions were received. Presented by Number of Relevant Signatures Nature of Petition Cllrs Wood/Taylor 31 Calling on the Council to gate the lane at the rear of Heathfield Road to Quentin Street Cllr Davies 76 Calling on the Council not to reduce the frequency of black bin collections Cllr Joe Carter 23 Calling on the Council to allow the public to have a say in the Pentwyn Leisure Centre Refurbishment Mr Dan Davies 1113 Calling on the Council to save Whitchurch Tennis club
The Lord Mayor provided an outline of her first very busy but hugely enjoyable few weeks as Lord Mayor including attendance at a number of events: Farewell Reception of International Students; BBC Singer of World – Announcement of the winner Open Air Theatre, Everyman Theatre Creigiau Carnival Opening Canton Food Centre in Riverside Meeting Ambassadors of Kyrgyzstan and Armenia South Wales Fire & Rescue Service awards Royal Gun salute for King Charles III birthday Meeting and being part of the wonderful diverse communities of Cardiff at the MELA The Raising of the Philippines flag The knighthood and appointment of the New Priory of St Johns Imposition of the pallium on the Archbishop of Cardiff 75th Anniversary celebration of ‘Windrush’ The number and diversity of the events and engagements has been fascinating. The Lord Mayor thanked all Councillors who engaged with the young people from UCAN present at the AGM last month, their engagement and interest was really appreciated. The Lord Mayor also paid tribute and offered condolences to the families of three former Councillors who had recently passed away, Councillors Brian Finn, Harry Ernest and Rita Austin.
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RESOLVED: Council AGREED to: Approve the Welsh Language Standards Annual Report 2022-23 prior to formal publication in accordance with the Welsh Language Standards (Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011).
To agree and approve the content of the Welsh Language Standards Annual Report 2022-23, prior to formal publication in accordance with the Welsh Language Standards, under the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011. RESOLVED: Council AGREED to: Approve the Welsh Language Standards Annual Report 2022-23 prior to formal publication in accordance with the Welsh Language Standards (Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011).
The Council was asked to consider the Preferred Strategy for the Cardiff Replacement Local Development Plan (RLDP), as tabled in Appendix 1 of the report, and recommend its approval by the Council; and A revised timetable for preparation of the RLDP, as set out in paragraph 26 of the report and recommend its approval by the Council prior to submission to Welsh Government for their agreement. Councillor Adrian Robson proposed an Amendment to the report. “Council is recommended to 1) Reference back the Cardiff Replacement Local Development Plan 2021-2036: Preferred Strategy for Consultation to Cabinet so that housing growth Option A is taken forward, recognising the overwhelming level of public support for Option A in the Council’s recent consultation. 2) That the revised Replacement Local Development Plan timetable be updated accordingly before submission to Welsh Government” The Amendment was formally seconded by Councillor Joel Williams. The Lord Mayor invited debate on the report and the amendment. Councillor De’Ath responded to the debate and confirmed the amendment was not accepted. The Lord Mayor called for a Vote on the amendment. The Vote on the amendment was LOST. The Lord Mayor called for a Vote on the recommendations in the report. The Vote on the report was CARRIED.
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RESOLVED: The Council AGREED to: Note the content of the Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee Annual Report 2022-2023.
The Corporate Parenting Committee is required to submit to Cabinet and Council a report on the work of the Committee over the year. The report outlines the Committee’s activities from March 2022– January 2023. RESOLVED: The Council AGREED to: Note the content of the Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee Annual Report 2022-2023.
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RESOLVED: Council AGREED to: Note the contents of the Democratic Services Annual Report.
Council received the Democratic Services Annual Report. RESOLVED: Council AGREED to: Note the contents of the Democratic Services Annual Report.
Rhan o fater a ddilynwyd ar draws 2 cyfarfod
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RESOLVED: Council AGREED to: Note the contents of the Scrutiny Annual Report.
Council received the Scrutiny Annual Report RESOLVED: Council AGREED to: Note the contents of the Scrutiny Annual Report.
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RESOLVED: Council AGREED to: 1. approve the recommended amendment of the Members’ Code of Conduct, as shown in Appendix A; and instruct the Director of Governance and Legal Services and Monitoring Officer to issue the requisite notifications in relation to the amendment of the Members’ Code of Conduct, as set out in paragraph 14 of the report, and update the Members’ Code of Conduct within the Constitution, Part 5, accordingly.
Council was asked to consider the Standards and Ethics Committee’s recommended amendments to the Members’ Code of Conduct in relation to Members’ attendance at mandatory training. RESOLVED: Council AGREED to: 1. approve the recommended amendment of the Members’ Code of Conduct, as shown in Appendix A; and instruct the Director of Governance and Legal Services and Monitoring Officer to issue the requisite notifications in relation to the amendment of the Members’ Code of Conduct, as set out in paragraph 14 of the report, and update the Members’ Code of Conduct within the Constitution, Part 5, accordingly.
Leaders Statement The Leader responded to questions in relation to: · Ely Garden Village · Welsh Language Careers fair Climate Change Statement Councillor Wild responded to questions in relation to: · Waste Collection · Refill Scheme · Coffee Pod Collection Scheme · One Planet Cardiff Summit Culture Parks & Events Statement Councillor Burke responded to questions in relation to: · Coed Caerdydd · Summer Events Programme · Play Area Refurbishments · Parks in Llandaff · Cardiff Harbour Authority Finance, Modernisation & Performance Statement Councillor Weaver responded to questions in relation to: · Procurement · Bobi Chatbot Housing & Communities Statement Councillor Thorne responded to questions in relation to · Private Sector Housing Enforcement · Temporary Accommodation Investment & Development Statement Councillor Goodway responded to questions in relation to: · Cardiff Market · Economic Outlook Social Services Statement Councillor Mackie responded to questions in relation to · Public Toilet Strategy Councillor Lister responded to questions in relation to: · Fostering Update · Visits Tackling Poverty, Equality & Public Health Statement Councillor Sangani responded to questions in relation to: · Refugee Week Councillor Bradbury responded to questions in relation to: · Youth Services in Ely & Caerau Transport & Strategic Planning Statement Councillor De’Ath responded to questions in relation to: · Real Time Bus Information · Mystery Shopper Checks on Taxis Education Statement Deputy Leader Councillor Merry responded to questions in relation to: · Universal Free School Meals · Estyn Inspections School Visits
Cllr Owen to Cllr De’Ath There have recently been reports that some local authorities in the U.K. are scrapping parking meters which allow cash and card payments for parking and instead forcing motorists to download apps on their mobile phones in order to pay. Does Cardiff Council have any plans to move towards paying for parking exclusively through mobile apps? Reply – Cllr De’Ath The Council currently offers motorists the opportunity to pay for parking in a variety of ways, including via website or app, as well as by phone, or by using parking payment machines. We have not reduced the amount of parking payment machines since 2018 and currently have no plans to do so. Cllr Carter to Cllr Burke How will the council ensure that the Pentwyn Leisure Centre consultation is meaningful when the proposals are already approved and it is limited to a pre-approved budget? Reply – Cllr Burke The consultation will outline the proposals that were approved by Cabinet on 22nd June and which the Council has deemed affordable in order to ensure a sustainable long-term solution for the retention of Pentwyn Leisure Centre. The refurbishment works are limited to the available budget, which is an Invest to Save capital allocation that is required to be repaid via income. In making the investment, the Council is seeking to reduce the cost of operating the centre, as Pentwyn Leisure Centre has operated in significant deficit for a long time, and this has placed pressure on the sustainability of the overall Leisure Services contract with GLL. The Cabinet has agreed to undertake a public consultation before commencement of the refurbishment works. If, following public consultation, adjustments are required that cannot be afforded within the financial envelope, the project will not proceed and a further report would be required to be considered by Cabinet. Whilst Cabinet is happy to consult on the general proposals, the proposals relating to the swimming pool cannot be changed. It is worth reiterating that I am meeting with the MS and community group on Monday afternoon, where we will be able to discuss more specifically what they are looking for. Supplementary question – Cllr Carter The question is about how we make this meaningful, I’m grateful for the comment about potential amendments at that point, but I think their concerns were raised at scrutiny and not taken forward. We’ve seen other consultations at this council which have sadly been ignored. Our residents do worry about good faith when it comes to consultation. Could you reassure me that you will look carefully at all these proposals when you are undertaking this consultation? My second question is whether you could extend this meeting invitation to the three local councillors as well, because we weren’t aware of this prior to today. Reply – Cllr Burke Regarding the consultation, I am really of the opinion that if we don’t do this action now, we risk the costs running away from us again, and they’ve already jumped significantly. The pool element to my mind is fixed, the other areas of concern that have been raised, like access for the community, have been mitigated. This has come up in scrutiny, where we said that there would be opportunities for the residents to access the site for community meetings in spaces that weren’t being used. They would also have access to recreational and meeting spaces, and there will be a café and pool. The meeting on Monday is very much about gaining a better understanding, as I haven’t been able to go to the previous public meetings due to diary clashes. We want to know specifically what we can do to make the consultation meaningful for you, within the confines we’re working in. I will seek to extend the invitation to you, or update you afterwards if you are unable to make it. Cllr Ali to Cllr De’Ath Can the cabinet member update on College Road resurfacing and when this will be due to complete? Reply – Cllr De’Ath College Road is a concrete carriageway construction that is overlaid with a specialist asphalt surface course, so it’s slightly more complicated to resurface than a normal road. Officers are currently engaging with specialist contractors to look at proposals for replacing the surface course, and a resurfacing scheme is expected to be implemented towards the end of the current financial year. Cllr Davies to Cllr Weaver How does the Council maintain high standards, best practice, and fairness in its application for corporate awards? Reply – Cllr Weaver I would expect all of those things to be considered by officers as part of any award application that is submitted by the Council. We also have a good record of meeting the high standards required in those awards that the Council has actually applied for. This is demonstrated by the number of awards that have been won successfully following our applications – examples include: · the LGC Public-Private Partnership Award that was won last year for the Cardiff Living Wage City Partnership; and · our annual Green Flag Awards from Keep Wales Tidy for the city’s parks and green spaces, which included the UK ‘Team of the Year’ Award for our Bute Park Team last year. Supplementary question – Cllr Davies Councillors may recall a question I asked Cllr. Sangani earlier this year about how the council had left itself vulnerable to influence from Stonewall after making receiving an award from them part of its Corporate Plan, meaning that Stonewall could name its price or the council will fall short on one of the goals it has set itself. Following questions from myself, the Cabinet disclosed to me the report Stonewall provides so the Council knows how to get a good score from them. One of the suggestions, aside from erasing the word ‘mother’ in its policy documents as I initially feared, was the promotion of Stonewall conferences and seminars. So, name their price they did, since Stonewall obviously makes money from these courses. Despite, I’m afraid, dubious reassurances that some recommendations made have been actioned, that does not mean that the changes were made because of the recommendations. I’m not quite convinced. So, I think we’d like to know how much money the council has shelled out to Stonewall in recent years, and what measures are in place to prevent Stonewall exerting suspicious and undemocratic clout over the Labour administration, as it sounds like they’ve got you over a barrel. Reply – Cllr Weaver It doesn’t sound like that at all. I’ll have to look at the exact amount of money Stonewall has received from the council – there is a fee for being part of the Workplace Equality Index, which we’ve been a part of since 2017. As a council, we are very proud of supporting all of our citizens and staff and respecting all the protected characteristics under the Equality Act. Our participation in the Workplace Equality Index does not oblige us to take any particular action whatsoever. Every policy decision and piece of guidance the council issues, it does so for ourselves. Yes, we take advice from external bodies, and we seek to make ourselves an inclusive, supportive employer, but we take decisions based on our own consideration of the facts. I would have referred to the success we had with Stonewall, but we did not in fact apply for that. You take part in the WEI and get feedback on your performance, then Stonewall decide who to give awards to based on good practice they see. One of the awards they received was for our LGBT+ Staff Network, who have done phenomenal work supporting staff and making us an inclusive, supportive employer. We will continue to consult with experts in a number of different fields on equalities and other workplace practices, and I think that is good practice. Cllr Berman to Cllr Merry How many a) primary and b) secondary schools in Cardiff have set a deficit budget for 2023-24, and what percentage of the total number of the city’s primary or secondary schools does this represent in each case? Reply – Cllr Merry 35 Primary Schools will be setting a deficit budget for 2023/24, which represents 35% of the total number of Primary Schools in the city (99); and 4 Secondary Schools will be setting a deficit budget, which represents 22% of the total number of Secondary Schools (18). In addition, 1 Special School will be setting a deficit budget, which represents 14% of the total number of Special Schools (7). Supplementary question – Cllr Berman That is quite a substantial percentage of both primary and secondary schools that are effectively setting budgets to spend more than they are getting in funding. The reason that they’re having to do that, and I know because I’m on the governing body of two primary schools setting deficit budgets, is because it’s the only way they can make their statutory staffing obligations. It does suggest to me that there is a huge ticking time bomb here, because these schools cannot carry on setting deficit budgets year after year. How are we going to resolve this, and what representations is this council making to the Welsh government because there is a clear need for additional funding to sort this out? Something has gone badly wrong with the funding for schools in this city, how are you going to address it? Reply – Cllr Merry We actually distributed an additional £25.02m to our delegated schools budget earlier this year, despite having a budget gap of more than £24m. I think that underlines the importance that we place on education, but also the catastrophic impact that the last couple of years has had on the economy of this country. The issues around funding are actually rather complex, for example vacancy rates of 22% at primary schools. In terms of the Welsh government, we will certainly be asking them to prioritise spending for education, and I think it needs to be a priority whether that’s for the council, Welsh government or UK government, in terms of any additional funding that can be given to the Welsh government. Our children have been through a period of huge upheaval, we know that there are increased demands on our schools, and it is really important to seek to meet that. In the meantime, though, officers are working with schools in deficit, collating individual school budget impact assessments, the School Budget Forum made up of representatives from schools is working on ways they can seek savings or we can adjust the formula more appropriately, and we’ll start to analyse council spending plans in order to identify those additional schools which may be in difficulty in 2024/25. A quick reminder, though, about how different practice can play into this. Research shows that in 2010, 3 of the 5 schools in Wales with the biggest deficits were in Cardiff, so I’m sure you will understand the different factors that play out with school deficits. Cllr Jackie Jones to Cllr Wild Climate change manifests itself in many different ways, but especially in flooding, where preventative measures are key. How is the council working to reduce flood risk from Whitchurch Brook? Reply – Cllr Wild We are currently developing plans to reduce flood risk from Whitchurch Brook as part of a flood alleviation scheme, which is also known as Greener Whitchurch. The Greener Whitchurch study area includes the part of Whitchurch Brook that flows from Caedelyn Park in Rhiwbina through Whitchurch to its outfall at the River Taff at Lydstep Park, Gabalfa. We are lucky in a way that it does look like sustainable drainage features are going to be able to fix a lot of the problem rather more significant engineering being needed. Building on the success of Greener Grangetown, the Greener Whitchurch project will explore a range of water-sensitive urban design solutions, including green infrastructure and a network of multi-functional green spaces to reduce surface water run-off and manage capacity issues within the local drainage network, whilst also enhancing parts of Whitchurch's public space. With funding secured from the Welsh Government, the Council has appointed Arup to finalise the options, develop the detailed design and secure planning permission. The project team plans to hold the first stakeholder event in Whitchurch on Wednesday 12th July and is keen to collaborate with local ward members, other key stakeholders and the local community to help shape the detailed design. More stakeholder engagement events will take place as the project develops, which will provide further opportunities for the local community to input their views as detailed proposals are developed. Supplementary question – Cllr Jackie Jones It’s really great to hear that we’re doing so much to alleviate climate change and flooding in particular. How is the community being engaged with these schemes? Reply – Cllr Wild I’d like to thank you and your colleagues, because I know you’ve already been working on this with officers, finding out information and sharing it with residents so everyone knows what’s coming. It’s important that people understand, and some schools have already been involved in the process. There is a stakeholder event on 12th July, so it would be good to spread the word about that, and there will be more stakeholder engagement events so people have an opportunity to really feed into the plans. Cllr Driscoll to Cllr Wild As part of the Global Refill Scheme, I’d like to see a water refill drinking fountain installed in Llandaff & Danescourt. If a suitable site can be identified, can you work with me to make it happen? Reply – Cllr Wild Yes, I would be happy to work with you to see if an appropriate location can be identified within the Llandaff ward. I will ask officers from the ‘Love Where You Live’ Team to contact you in the coming weeks. Supplementary question – Cllr Driscoll I really welcome the initiative, it’s good to see the fountain installed in Cardiff Market being well used, and it’s good that pets can get a drink as well. When do you think it might happen? Do we have to wait until the next election to see one? Reply – Cllr Wild There can be complications in terms of plumbing, it’s not always as straightforward as we think. You’re absolutely right, I was there recently with Councillor Mackie and just while we were there, loads of different people from all over Cardiff really appreciated the fountain. It’s good from a public health point of view, and supports people’s wellbeing. Cllr Taylor to Cllr De’Ath What information remains outstanding for the Council to submit its application to the Charity Commission in relation to its plans for Maindy Park? Reply – Cllr De’Ath None. Supplementary question – Cllr Taylor The Wales Online article and the statement provided by the council not long ago suggest that there was substantial information outstanding for that application, but regardless, it has been several months since Cabinet made the decision to progress with the so-called land swap before that application was made. The challenges or failures that the council has faced in terms of managing its responsibilities as the sole trustee of the Maindy Park Trust have been documented by the process that was established. I’m sure none of us want to be in a position again where not only is the decision objected to by communities and residents, but where the process that the council itself has drawn up and the council’s own understanding of its responsibilities are drawn into question. I don’t think it’s unfair to say that the council is wholly unprepared to deal with the issue. What action is now being taken to ensure that this doesn’t happen again in relation to the council’s responsibilities as a trustee, and that it is acting as a trustee on the basis of fair and impartial advice? Reply – Cllr De’Ath The Charity Commission did ask us for some additional information which we supplied to them. There is no timescale for them to announce their decision, it is dependent on their resources. Obviously, this has been a long process, and we’ve learned a few things from it, and hopefully next time something like this will be sorted in quicker time. Cllr Green to Cllr Weaver A recent trial at South Cambridgeshire District Council found that a 4-day week saved money and improved performance. What considerations has Cardiff Council given to running a similar trial? Reply – Cllr Weaver I’m happy to say that the Council does monitor examples of innovative and best practices across the country on a range of employment and financial matters, and we will be following this trial – which was initially for two months and has now been extended for another year – with interest. We will want to see the analysis of the results and understand their implications. A wide range of factors will always be considered in any changes to how the Council could operate, including the impact on customers and residents from any changes in service availability, as well as the well-being of staff themselves. We of course operate with the principles of social partnership, and any proposals around how we work would always involve discussions and close working with our Trade Union colleagues and wider staff before making any such decision. This was the approach we took when we moved waste collection operations to a 4-day week. Supplementary question – Cllr Green The trial in South Cambridgeshire not only saw 9 of the 16 areas monitored show substantial improvements in performance, but helped the council saved £300k in reduced agency staff fees. Last year, 60 UK companies trialled the four day week, with 90% opting to continue with it after the trial because of the impact it had on productivity and staff welfare. In my view, its time has come, and I would encourage you to keep an open mind on the idea and ask our partners in the Welsh government to support a future trial. Reply – Cllr Weaver Thank you, it is certainly an idea that you can see being trialled in different places and giving us extremely useful information. I think what we might look at when the times comes is that it may be appropriate to trial in some parts of the council. We haven’t made any decision or commitment on that at all, but it is very much something we will be keeping an eye on. Cllr Williams to Cllr De’Ath Bus routes throughout the City have been slashed in recent times. The Council has also recently closed the Eastern Avenue Park and Ride. The new St Mellons Parkway train station is also under threat following Welsh Government 'calling in' the decision for review. Rail provision is also woefully poor throughout South Wales. These decisions often make using public transport an inadequate alternative to cars and private vehicles. The Council has recently announced plans for a congestion charge in Cardiff, hitting residents and businesses with potentially £100s a year in additional taxes. Does the Cabinet Member agree with me it is unconscionable to introduce any form of road charging in Cardiff, particularly given the unacceptable and inadequate public transport alternatives available? Reply – Cllr De’Ath You know perfectly well that I do not agree with you, and that a fair road user payment is the only way of getting us the kind of public transport system I think we all want to see. I don’t know what you’d suggest other than that to improve transport in the way you seem to want to. Supplementary question – Cllr Willians They teach you that you should never ask a question unless you know the answer, and Councillor De’Ath’s response gives us an important insight into this Labour party’s approach. He said we need a congestion charge to fund public transport improvements, I put it to you that you said there will be no congestion charge until we have the public transport improvements. What is coming first, the congestion charge or the public transport improvements, and what are those improvements? Reply – Cllr De’Ath You know I’ve said there will be improvements coming in before any charge, but let me be clear that public transport in this city is going to get better, and I am focused on improving public transport. Cllr Latif to Cllr De’Ath With the council switching from paper parking permits to digital permits, this may make it difficult for many elderly or disabled people who do not have a laptop, tablet, computer or smartphone to go online to buy a visitor's parking permit, and they will also have to pay by the hour, which could be much more expensive than the previous annual permits. It will also be challenging for residents whose first language is not English who may also struggle to order permits online. How will the council help such residents to obtain visitor's parking permits? Reply - Cllr De’Ath Firstly, buying visitor hours rather than one annual batch is actually cheaper, but these things do have to be inclusive, and digital technology is one way of buying them. You can buy them over the phone, using a computer or by going to a Hub to seek advice. I had a useful meeting with my friend and colleague Councillor Gunter about this very issue, and I really welcome critique of issues in the system so that we can iron them out. Supplementary question – Cllr Latif The reason I’m asking this question is the elderly and disabled residents who may have fewer visits from their loved ones, which may cause more isolation and mental health issues. Can the Council ensure that they will be given one-to-one sessions or offer training in the Hub so they can learn how to do this? Can the Council contribute towards smartphones or tablets so we can make sure they can continue to be part of society. Reply – Cllr De’Ath I can – if you’re an elderly person, you can go to a Hub for digital support, and I would encourage people to share this information with residents. Cllr Stubbs to Cllr Merry Could the cabinet member outline the benefits of schools taking part in Debatemate? Reply – Cllr Merry The Debatemate programme is delivered in 8 Secondary Schools across the Southern Arc of Cardiff where pupil deprivation levels are at their highest. The objective of debating is to develop key transferable skills and improve a range of higher order thinking skills, such as teamwork and leadership, critical and creative thinking and communication and confidence. Pupils participating in the 16-week programme work collaboratively to develop a range of skills, such as articulating and justifying an argument using evidence. They also learn how to structure speeches and to develop the style and quality of their spoken language. One of my Cabinet colleagues referred to it as the kind of opportunity that children attending private schools get, and that is the kind of aspiration we want our young people to have. The programme seeks to support those pupils from deprived areas and helps them to develop the confidence to be heard and to speak with assertiveness, which in turn enables an improved pathway into employment and access to greater professional opportunities. Evaluations undertaken from the last two years show that all pupils who participated in the programme indicated that they had improved confidence, and better teamwork and leadership skills. Teachers also stated that they had seen an improvement in academic performance. I would also add that learning to listen and respond appropriately during the debates will be a valuable skill too. Supplementary question – Cllr Stubbs You will be aware that for the second year running, Willows High School in Tremorfa won Debatemate in the Principality Stadium back in April. This put them through to the finals in London. The final took place on the 23rd June and Willows came third out of a total of 500 schools. Would you join me in paying tribute to the work being done at Willows and everyone involved? Reply – Cllr Merry I would be delighted to congratulate the pupils of Willows High School and also the commitment given by staff to giving children that opportunity, and I’d just like to say that it shows exactly what the kids of Willows can do – I think we call it the Willows Way. Cllr Robson to Cllr Burke What support can the Council offer small businesses which operate in the city's parks? Reply – Cllr Burke Whilst Council doesn’t have specific business support for businesses operating within the city’s parks, these businesses are able to access the wider range of support mechanisms provided by the Council to Cardiff-based businesses. These include: • The Cardiff Business Growth Fund, which provides financial assistance to growing Cardiff businesses and is supported by the Shared Prosperity Fund; • Support in identifying premises and property; • Advice and support in navigating council services; • Support for promoting businesses that are members of the Visit Cardiff Network; and • Signposting to other business support organisations, such as Business Wales, Development Bank of Wales, Business in Focus and Princes Trust. Supplementary question – Cllr Robson Thank you for outlining those. My supplementary question relates to the Secret Café in Bute Park. It was very concerning to hear about the situation with the Secret Café bearing in mind how popular it is. I appreciate that its lease has come to an end, but it seems to me that more could have been done to accommodate a thriving and popular business so it could continue in the park. My wider worry is that it sends a message to anyone else looking to do something like this in any other park that they have got to be very careful in dealing with the council. It sends a bad message to small businesses, especially those that might have stand-alone operations in our parks. Reply – Cllr Merry There wasn’t a specific question there but I will try and give a broad sense of where I’m at with it. The reason there can’t be a direct award on this occasion is because it was agreed thorough conversation with the provider that the contract wasn’t fit for purpose and that neither they or the council were getting the best out of it. The relationship wasn’t serving what the business wanted to achieve. Because the nature of the contract was changing, a direct award can’t be given. This specific instance sits within three portfolio areas: it’s a café within the park but there are also elements of finance, modernisation and estates. There are three overarching things here that clash against each other, and I wanted to play it with a straight bat. If I or another councillor made a direct award it would override the policies we have as a council to protect the businesses we work with. The process hasn’t started yet so we are trying to be fair with the proprietor and ensure there is no question about us dealing with this in the right way. Cllr Naughton – Cllr Wild Council green recycling bags were removed from the Powerhouse hub in Llanedeyrn, meaning residents have been told to go to Penylan Library to pick up green bags. This has led to fly tipping in the local area, with all of Pentwyn and half of Llanedeyrn still not on the council’s new recycling system. Could the council listen to calls from local ward members and local residents and reintroduce green bags at the Powerhouse hub again? Reply – Cllr Wild Green recycling bags were removed from the Powerhouse Hub due to significant issues with the incorrect presentation of green recycling within the Roundwood Estate. This issue was exacerbated by the local availability of green bags within the Powerhouse Hub. There has been no evidential increase in fly-tipping or incorrect waste presentation because of this change. Before the green bags were removed from the Powerhouse Hub, a replacement stockist was agreed at One Stop on Pentwyn Drive. The other local stockists in the area are McColls, Met Café and Premier Grocery. Later this year, all households within the Pentwyn ward will move to the segregated recycling service, which will remove the demand for green bags entirely. Supplementary question – Cllr Naughton I do appreciate that. For months, ward members have been contacting you via email. Powerhouse Hub staff have been verbally abused by residents who are frustrated about being told to go to Penylan, and the other shops often don’t have them in stock. Until we move to the new system, which will happen when it happens, could green bags be placed there as an interim measure? If that’s not an option, could Pentwyn Leisure Centre be looked at as an option, because right now Penylan is not working locally. Reply – Cllr Wild There’s a couple of really interesting points there. It is terrible if staff are being abused at the Hub, that is just unacceptable and I will make sure those stockists are able to get green bags. Can I ask you as well, as I was there this morning with Councillor Moultrie, to take a positive approach to the new segregated system? If we go around undermining the scheme at every point, this doesn’t help. This is something that is going to happen, it’s cleaner and better for our staff and the environment. It’s been successful all over Wales. Why don’t we get on board and take it forward positively with our residents, and see much better outcomes for the community? Cllr Moultrie to Cllr Sangani Menopause can be a difficult time for women. They can experience a range of challenging symptoms including anxiety and depression. It’s so important that they should be supported and listened to. Can the member please advise on what is being done to support women in the community? Reply – Cllr Sangani I’m pleased to be able to report that Menopause support groups have been taking place in Community Hubs, facilitated by the Wellbeing Support Service, where participants talk about their symptoms such as weight gain, brain fog and mental health issues. They also take part in relaxation exercises, express themselves through drawing and take part in light exercise to help control their anxieties. For many women, the Menopause can be a time of great creativity and opportunities to express this can be extremely beneficial. With this in mind, the team was able to work with an artist to deliver a pilot project – Menopause Makers at Rhiwbina Hub – where women were able to express their feelings by using various forms of artistic expression. The pilot was very successful and has now been moved to Tesco Extra on Western Avenue so that more women can get involved. Supplementary question – Cllr Moultrie How can councillors get involved so they can ensure every Hub has access to this? I know that a lot of women don’t have much knowledge about the menopause and just see it as something they go through, I think that support is very important to get the message across that they are not alone. Reply – Cllr Sangani I definitely agree. It’s very important that we share information about this, as it’s in my portfolio I will ask Democratic Service to circulate this to all councillors. Cllr Robson to Cllr Wild How regularly are diesel generators used to charge the Council's electric vehicles? Reply – Cllr Wild The Council does not routinely use diesel generators to charge electric vehicles. They did have to be used previously to help charge the 12 electric Refuse Collection Vehicles (RCVs) in our fleet whilst efforts were made to resolve a software problem between the electric vehicle chargers and the RCVs. This problem has now been rectified. This problem is not Cardiff-specific and has also affected other local authorities using electric RCVs. Supplementary question – Cllr Robson I’m glad to hear it was only one incident, but it begs the question of how robust the software we rely on to charge our electric vehicles. I assumed charging an electric vehicle just needed a plug, but if we’re relying on software as well then this is another risk to consider on the risk register. Reply – Cllr Wild You raise a good question, the move to making virtually the whole city electric will involve a lot of different things. The RCVs are quite new things and the grid capacity isn’t quite there yet. The whole city will need to change and there will be things that go wrong in that time. In this instance, we didn’t want to not pick up people’s rubbish. We’ll have to keep on learning as we change rapidly as a city. Cllr Berman to Cllr Goodway Echoing concerns I have previously voiced about the appearance of Central Square as feeling hemmed-in and soulless, publicity has been given to author Mike Parker when he recently described the area as a ‘hellish dystopia’ with ‘nothing there to lift the heart or gladden the soul’ and ‘like an animal enclosure’. Do you therefore accept that many people remain deeply unhappy with the current appearance of this key gateway site in our city centre and, in the light of previous promises, when can we expect the council will take action to address this? Reply – Cllr Goodway I would refer the Councillor to the answer that I provided to him in June last year on this matter. Supplementary question – Cllr Berman Do you not have regret that an issue I raised in June 2022 is still an issue today? Does that not suggest that the council is doing nothing about this problem? Reply – Cllr Goodway No, Central Square is one of the most successful regeneration projects delivered in Wales, rejuvenating an area that you yourself described as outmoded. This award-winning development to the north of Cardiff Central train station has brought us the iconic BBC Wales headquarters, the development of Wood Street, which this month won the Construction Excellence In Wales Civil Project of the Year Award, and which has accommodated some 6,600 jobs in the city centre, crucial to addressing the issue of city centre footfall. You are also aware that this is an operational space and that we have to consider it in the context of Wales’ most used railway station, which sits alongside Wales’ largest event venue. During major events, this area needs to remain hard landscaped and clutter-free. Alongside this, the expansion of the capacity of the South Wales metro will mean that capacity at the station will increase during events, as will footfall throughout the period. But notwithstanding, as I’ve told you before, my officials are working with colleagues in Transport For Wales as well as surrounding businesses to consider mobile solutions that can easily be removed to accommodate the management of major events. That work will progress once the project around Central Square is fully completed. But even if it was completed now, the landscaping would have been removed at the time of Mr Parker’s visit, simply because of the events taking place in the city at that time. Cllr Lewis to Cllr Sangani Could the cabinet member give an update on the support given to the Ukrainian Hub in Butetown? Reply – Cllr Sangani Over the past three months, officers from both the Ukrainian Support and Strategic Estates Teams have supported the Ukrainian Hub in its search for alternative premises in the city, following the end of its previous occupancy of Mandalay House in Butetown at the end of May. The Council recognises the significant contribution that the Hub has made in providing a safe space for Ukrainians who have arrived in Cardiff to come together to share their experiences and feel a sense of belonging, and to receive items generously donated by our communities. I’m pleased to inform you that the Ukrainian Hub leadership group has identified suitable new premises in the Millennium Plaza in the city centre and is preparing to take occupancy, pending completion of minor refurbishments. The Council has committed to provide up-front financial support with service charge costs, in lieu of rent, during the first year, to enable the Ukrainian Hub to transition into the new community space and fundraise to establish its financial independence. Supplementary question – Cllr Lewis I’m very happy to hear that that’s been resolved, to ensure that there is private support given to Ukrainians in the future. Reply – Cllr Sangani Yes, this is one of my priorities, and I am always looking to engage with the Ukrainian Hub to make sure they are getting all the support we can provide as a council. Cllr Ash-Edwards to Cllr Burke The investment programme in our playgrounds is helping to ensure Cardiff’s parks remain an attractive destination for local families. How is it decided which parks benefit from the Council’s refurbishment programme? Reply – Cllr Burke The availability of Section 106 monies is the main factor in determining which parks benefit from the refurbishment programme. As you may be aware, these monies arise from developments, predominately residential, which do not include public open space provision and, therefore, off-site developer contributions are required by the Council in order to enhance public open space within the local area. These monies are widely used to undertake play area refurbishment schemes. Where non-Section 106 capital allocations are made, the priorities are determined through a risk assessment where those playgrounds that are at risk of closure are recipients of funding. The third area of funding is through neighbourhood renewal schemes, which form part of a city-wide initiative that is aimed at addressing local priorities by supporting environmental regeneration projects put forward by local ward members. The programme delivers projects that are developed and implemented in partnership with local residents, community groups and agencies to address an identified need or problem. Supplementary question – Cllr Ash-Edwards Heath Park is one of the city’s largest and most used parks, and residents would welcome investment in the playground to bring it up to the standard of play areas in some of our other parks. What needs to happen for it to be added to the refurbishment program? Reply – Cllr Burke I respect your tenacity, and that of your ward colleagues. Obviously, we’ve been having ongoing dialogue on this topic for a couple of months, I think there’s probably a conversation we could have about the neighbourhood renewal program, but what I’d like to see is an overarching scheme of work to look at where we can draw down funding, as there’s not a lot of opportunity for S106 money in your ward. We’ll look at the levers we can utilise, hopefully something quite innovative. Cllr Jackie Jones to Cllr Weaver Could the cabinet member please give some more details concerning our actions in relation to ethical employment in supply chains and what it means for Cardiff and our place in the world? Reply – Cllr Weaver I am pleased that Cardiff Council was the first organisation to sign up to the Welsh Government’s Code of Practice on Ethical Employment in Supply Chains back in 2017. The Council’s Modern Slavery Statement was also one of the first to be published in Wales. For a long time, the Council was the only accredited Living Wage Council in Wales and, in 2019, Cardiff became only the second UK city to be recognised as Living Wage City. The number of people having a pay rise as a result of their Cardiff-based organisation becoming an accredited Living Wage employer is one of the highest in the UK at over 13,000. The Council’s Procurement Team continues to be proactive in embedding ethical employment requirements into tenders and contracts in line with recognised best practice. The Council’s work in this area is frequently cited in UK-wide case studies and has also been recognised in various UK awards.
Rhan o fater a ddilynwyd ar draws 11 cyfarfod
There was no urgent business.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: Council AGREED to: Receive a nomination and appoint to the vacancy on the Committee, in accordance with the Party Group wishes, as set out in Table A and on the Amendment Sheet.
To receive nominations and make appointments to current committee vacancies as set out in the report and in accordance with the approved allocation of seats and political group wishes. RESOLVED: Council AGREED to: Receive a nomination and appoint to the vacancy on the Committee, in accordance with the Party Group wishes, as set out in Table A and on the Amendment Sheet.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: Council AGREED to: · approved the new appointments of Local Authority governors to the school governing bodies as set out in Appendix 1, each for a term of 4 years from the date of the appointment.
To appoint Local Authority School Governors to fill vacancies in accordance with the recommendations of the Local Authority Governor Panel. RESOLVED: Council AGREED to: · approved the new appointments of Local Authority governors to the school governing bodies as set out in Appendix 1, each for a term of 4 years from the date of the appointment.
Rhan o fater a ddilynwyd ar draws 8 cyfarfod
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 17(f) Written Questions received for consideration together with the responses will be attached to the minutes.
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