Wrthi'n llwytho
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RESOLVED: • To undertake pre-scrutiny of the Council’s S.6 Biodiversity Duty Action Plan 2022/23 to 2025/26, attached at Appendix 1 to this report, thus providing Scrutiny with an opportunity to contribute to this matter; and, II. To provide comment on the report, which will form part of the reported feedback to the Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Cabinet Sub Committee, at its meeting to be held on the 18th December 2025.
RESOLVED: • To undertake pre-scrutiny of the Council’s RCT Peatland Programme, attached at Appendix 1 to this report, thus providing Scrutiny with an opportunity to contribute to this matter; and, • To provide comment on the report, which will form part of the reported feedback to the Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Cabinet Sub Committee, at its meeting to be held on the 18th December 2025.
RESOLVED: • To Consider the content of the report: and, • To Consider whether the Committee wishes to scrutinise further, any matters in the report.
The Chair welcomed Members and Officers to the last Committee meeting of 2025 and wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
The Members Researcher and Scrutiny Officer referenced the research facilities that were available to Members within the Council Business Unit. Members were advised that if they have any specific queries to email them to the Council’s scrutiny team who would accommodate their requests.
In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, the following personal Declarations of Interest were received in respect of Items 4, 5 and 6 on the agenda: ITEM 4 · Cllr W Lewis “My son is a Biodiversity Officer in RCT” · Cllr J Barton “I’m a Steering Committee Member of the Coal Spoil Connections Project which has been working on coal spoil in RCT and other places in South Wales and I’ve been a volunteer looking after Cwm Tips and also Tynant Woods for some years before I was elected”. · Cllr A Roberts a personal and prejudicial interest “My son works in the Environmental Section of RCT Council” ITEM 5 · Cllr W Lewis “My son is a Biodiversity Officer in RCT” · Cllr J Barton “I’m a Steering Committee Member of the Coal Spoil Connections Project which has been working on coal spoil in RCT and other places in South Wales and I’ve been a volunteer looking after Cwm Tips and also Tynant Woods for some years before I was elected”. ITEM 6 · Cllr J Barton “I am a member of the cross party senedd group on litter and flytipping. I am also the founder and Chair of Litter Free Beddau and Tynant”. ·
The minutes of the virtual meeting held on the 5th November 2025 were approved as an accurate record.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: • To undertake pre-scrutiny of the Council’s S.6 Biodiversity Duty Action Plan 2022/23 to 2025/26, attached at Appendix 1 to this report, thus providing Scrutiny with an opportunity to contribute to this matter; and, II. To provide comment on the report, which will form part of the reported feedback to the Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Cabinet Sub Committee, at its meeting to be held on the 18th December 2025.
The Members Researcher and Scrutiny Officer introduced the report to Members and emphasised that this item is being brought before the Committee as part of this Council’s ongoing commitment to improve the function of Scrutiny as a critical friend. The purpose of this report is to provide Members of this Committee with the opportunity to pre scrutinise the Council’s Environmental (Wales) Act S.6 Biodiversity report. Members were reminded that the purpose of pre-scrutiny activity is to influence the decisions before they are made. It was emphasised that Members comments on tonight’s report will form a part of the reported feedback to Cabinet, at its Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Cabinet Sub Committee meeting to be held on the 18th December 2025. The Head of Planning emphasised that the report seeks approval to submit the action plan to Welsh Government by the end of the calendar year and publicise it on the Council website. Members were reminded that the Council’s performance management system has been utilised to embed the routine consideration of biodiversity across the Authority. Each year since 2017 (except during Covid), a ‘Biodiversity Duty’ question has been included in the Service Self Evaluation (SSE) undertaken by each Council service which informs their subsequent Service Delivery Plans. This encourages managers to think about their impacts on biodiversity, report on progress and identify opportunities. The SSE and Delivery Plans are signed off by the relevant Cabinet Members. The next round of SSE is currently underway to inform the delivery plans for 26/7.Members were referred to the Action Plan to show the progress being made across the Council. Within the Action Plan, The Head of Planning referred Members to the work of the Local Nature Partnership, the programme of the Living Landscape site, the work undertaken at the Eisteddfod in 2024 and the Planning Management work in Biodiversity being undertaken. Following the overview, Members were provided with the opportunity to scrutinise the report. Members praised the report and welcomed the Council’s ongoing work in respect of biodiversity. Members praised the Planning Policy Wales for strengthening the priority given to biodiversity in planning decisions. Members suggested that the Council should be encouraging developers to put Swift boxes in new residential properties. Members also recommended that Swift boxes should also be promoted with third sector organisations and community halls within RCT. The Member also Members emphasised how important coal tips are to biodiversity and the success of the Coal Spoil Connections programme in highlighting the variety of insect friendly habitats uniquely found in spoil tips. Members recommended that this should be extended to other spoil tips across RCT to identify additional unique habitats that support wildlife and biodiversity across the region. Members also felt that making coal tips a nature reserve and part of the Living Landscape programme should be a priority for the Council and recommended that the plan for coal tips across RCT should be strengthened within the LDP. The Director of Housing and Regeneration advised Members that there is a cross service meeting tomorrow specifically held to discuss the Coal tips at Cwm and advised that an update will be provided following the meeting. In respect of residential applications, The Head of Planning advised that the guidance and policy does require there to be a net biodiversity gain to all applications. In respect of the Dwift Box to each applicant, the Head of Planning explained that that would be down to the individual applicant but assured Members that each application must demonstrate a biodiversity enhancement. The Senior Ecologist advised Members that ‘Swift Bricks’ are being asked to be built in to buildings in locations where swifts are occurring and where there’s a good potential for Swifts to be present. In respect of the Coal Spoils, The Senior Ecologist advised that the tips team are working with the Biodiversity and Planning teams in terms of management and praised the close working with the public spaces team to integrate biodiversity work and to work together to achieve focused outcomes. Discussions ensued and Members were encouraged to hear that the Authority works closely with neighbouring Local Authorities in this area, particularly in respect of the close working relationship with Neath Port Talbot Council on Pen Y Cymoedd wind farm, the largest inland windfarm in England and Wales. Members were also pleased to hear that the amalgamation of the Planning department and the Biodiversity department within the Council has enhanced biodiversity works throughout the County Borough and has had a positive effect in respect of prioritising biodiversity in planning decisions. A Member queried the level of engagement that the biodiversity team has with the business communities within RCT. Members were informed that they engage enormously with residents and business in programmes such as the Local Nature Plan and emphasised that suggestions from Members are always welcome. Members recommended that the Council strengthen its public engagement work with the local business communities in RCT and third sector organisations to support them in becoming more biodiverse aware. A Member praised the Council’s work with wider partner organisations in helping to spread biodiversity planning work to community ecological groups and encouraged the Council to strengthen the work of the Local Nature Partnership to encourage biodiversity awareness going forward. Discussions ensued and a Member recommended that when considering planning applications for approval, biodiversity is considered as part of the process and that any conditions or stipulations related to biodiversity are actively followed up to check they are compliant to avoid fostering a culture where they are viewed as optional rather than compulsory. The Head of Planning advised that some planning applicants go above and beyond in terms of biodiversity but acknowledged that there will also be examples where measures have been asked to be undertaken and the applicant hasn’t complied. The Head of Planning advised that it is then a case of prioritisation and enforcement. Discussions continued and a Member pointed out that the ‘Let’s Talk RCT - Trees’ website appears to be out of use and not regularly updated. Members recommended that this page is reviewed and that Council websites such as the Living Landscapes website, Local Nature Partnership website and social media sites are promoted to residents in its place. The Member also queried how residents would find where the living landscapes are in their areas and queried if there was a map available. The Senior Ecologist advised that there are currently there are 59 Living Landscape sites towards a target of 100 by 2030. The Living Landscape website is also in the process of being populated and the objective is to get the website uo and running and to go ‘live’. The RCT Local Nature Plan is also a website with a lot of information on it and engaging with SEWBReC through these sites is something the team is actively engaged with. Members felt that the Authority could be doing more in terms of its social media campaigns to encourage residents to report wildlife sightings to SEWBReC as this will ensure that any decisions the Authority is making based on SEWBReC records is based on the most up to date records available. A Member felt that more could be done to ensure that subs schemes take on board the requirement for biodiversity and ecology. Members were encouraged to learn that the new LDP will include more detail in respect of biodiversity requirements. A Member raised a query in respect of the Council’s new ‘cut and collect’ policy and sought clarification as to whether the grass will be picked up immediately following it being cut or is it cutting and then collecting the litter. In respect of fly tipping, the Member also queried if the Council regulated individuals who offer to collect bulky items from residents but are unlicensed collectors. The Senior Ecologist advised that the cut and collect policy is all about wildflower management for those sites where the grass is cut and then remove the cuttings as the cuttings is what helps the wildflower to grow. Members wished for their comments and recommendations to be considered and conveyed to the Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Cabinet Sub Committee at its meeting on the 18th December 2025. Following discussion, Members RESOLVED: • To undertake pre-scrutiny of the Council’s S.6 Biodiversity Duty Action Plan 2022/23 to 2025/26, attached at Appendix 1 to this report, thus providing Scrutiny with an opportunity to contribute to this matter; and, II. To provide comment on the report, which will form part of the reported feedback to the Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Cabinet Sub Committee, at its meeting to be held on the 18th December 2025.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: • To undertake pre-scrutiny of the Council’s RCT Peatland Programme, attached at Appendix 1 to this report, thus providing Scrutiny with an opportunity to contribute to this matter; and, • To provide comment on the report, which will form part of the reported feedback to the Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Cabinet Sub Committee, at its meeting to be held on the 18th December 2025.
The Members Researcher and Scrutiny Officer introduced the report to Members and emphasised that this item is being brought before the Committee as part of this Council’s ongoing commitment to improve the function of Scrutiny as a critical friend. The purpose of this report is to provide Members of this Committee with the opportunity to pre scrutinise the Council’s RCT Peatland Programme. Members were reminded that the purpose of pre-scrutiny activity is to influence the decisions before they are made. It was emphasised that Members comments on tonight’s report will form a part of the reported feedback to Cabinet, at its Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Cabinet Sub Committee meeting to be held on the 18th December 2025. The Head of Planning provided Members with an overview of the report and emphasised the importance of peatbogs and advised that Peatbogs are the largest and most important stores of carbon in the natural environment in RCT. Peat is an organic-rich deposit that has accumulated, very slowly, in wet locations since the last ice-age. Peatlands provide important ‘ecosystem services’ like natural flood risk management, biodiversity, knowledge archives and cultural resources as well as carbon storage. Members were told that previous reports have highlighted the work undertaken to restore peatland and associated habitats through Planning mitigation and enhancement requirements. These agreements with developers have been negotiated over a twenty-year period under the nature conservation requirements of policy AW8 in the RCT Local Development Plan. Most are in the form of S106 agreements (typically for 25 years) although a few are enforced via conditions on the relevant planning consent. For the five years to March 2025, the National Heritage Lottery Fund supported the Lost Peatlands project on the Pen y Cymoedd wind farm site, run by Neath Port Talbot Council in conjunction with Rhondda Cynon Taf. When the project came to an end, the Lost Peatlands team successfully obtained one year ‘development phase’ funding from NHLF to work up a further four year implementation programme (to 2030). RCT council is supporting this development phase with £10k contribution to the match funding.The Wales National Peatland Action Programme (NPAP) also aims to restore Welsh peatlands. In 22/23 NPAP grant funding enabled RCT to commission the design of a scheme to rewet a Council owned peatbog at Cwmparc, in consultation with the Council’s agricultural tenant. The proposals will bring the bog into ‘good condition’ with subsequent emissions reductions, biodiversity enhancement and will slow the flow of water from the site. Funding to implement this scheme has been included in the proposals for Lost Peatlands Connections. Following the overview, Members were provided with the opportunity to scrutinise the report. Members praised the Council’s involvement in the Lost Peatlands Programme, working collaboratively with Neath/Port Talbot Council on the Pen Y Cymoedd wind farm site and felt that it had been a huge success, particularly in terms of public engagement. Members felt that as the next phase of the Lost Peatland Programme goes ahead within RCT, a focus should be placed on widening community engagement and involvement across RCT to raise public awareness of the importance of the project, promoting the good work the Council is doing in respect of lost peatbogs and emphasising the benefits for residents in the wider area. Discussions ensued and a Member queried if there were any plans after 2028 to keep the Lost Peatland Programme going. Members raised concerns that grant funding for the lost peatlands programme was only available until March 2028 and noted that continuing with this vital piece of work relies on external funding. Members emphasised the significance of this work and expressed their hopes that this will continue to be in place post March 2028. A Member queried if the Authority had a good working relationship with NRW and neighbouring Local Authorities. Members were encouraged to hear from Officers that a close working relationship exists with neighbouring Local Authorities, however, Members felt that more could be done to improve upon the resilience of the relationship between the Authority and NRW and recommended that this is looked into further by the team. The Chair raised concerns in respect of forestry fell in the Rhondda and the fact that the tree stumps are left in situ, how this could impact the water flow off the mountains and the impact this could have on flooding and ecology issues. Members recommended that this is prioritised in the second phase of the Lost Peatland Programme and the Chair recommended that an educational site visit should be arranged for all Elected Members to visit an area within RCT where there is restoration of a lost peatbog during the 2026-27 Municipal Year. The Senior Ecologist advised that the Pen Y Coed Windfarm Scheme between RCT and Neath Port Talbot is a gradual restoration programme and that’s being done in catchments and they are waiting for the trees fell to see what they can do to stop the water falling off the mountain so quickly and to slow it down and hold it on the site. It was advised that these sites are looked at as natural flood management areas. The Senior Ecologist advised that these are pilot projects that can be used in the second phase of the Lost Peatland Programme to see how they can do it in a hydrological sensible way. The Chair requested that a further report is brought to Scrutiny in 12 months time. Another Member queried how we are educating the public on the peatlands in RCT and the importance of the peatbogs. Members felt that the Council could do more to educate the public on the important role that peatbogs play throughout RCT, particularly in terms of its social media campaigns. The Senior Ecologist advised that the Local Nature Plan, which is an online document, has got a big peatland’s section in it and any peatland events get advertised through the Council’s biodiversity social media site. The Lost Pearland Programme itself was doing a lot of its own promotional campaign and online videos. Members were advised that any suggestions on how to engage with the public are always welcome. Members were advised that links to these webpages will be sent on to Members following today’s meeting. Members were pleased to hear that their views would continue to be sought on the Council’s Lost Peatbogs Programme and that their views will be passed on to the Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Cabinet Sub Committee for their consideration. Following discussions, Members RESOLVED: • To undertake pre-scrutiny of the Council’s RCT Peatland Programme, attached at Appendix 1 to this report, thus providing Scrutiny with an opportunity to contribute to this matter; and, • To provide comment on the report, which will form part of the reported feedback to the Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Cabinet Sub Committee, at its meeting to be held on the 18th December 2025.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: • To Consider the content of the report: and, • To Consider whether the Committee wishes to scrutinise further, any matters in the report.
The Service Director – Public Spaces and Integrated Transport presented the report to Members in respect of the Council’s Standardised refuse collection policy. Members were informed that in the 12 months following the introduction of standardised refuse collections, refuse tonnages have reduced by 33%; food waste tonnages have increased by 21% and dry mixed recycling has increased by 11%. The Service Director advised that this has equated to an average weekly recycling performance increase of 11% since the beginning of Q3 2024/25, as Rhondda Cynon Taf continues to collect more weekly dry mixed recycling than any other Council, achieving a provisional Q1 2025/26 recycling rate of 76%. Members were advised that in addition, there has been an improved street scene appearance post-collection since refuse collections were standardised, with footways and rear lanes becoming increasingly free from large bins. Indeed, the Council took back more than 2,000 wheelie-bins at the request of residents and has removed a further 1,500 such bins from the Highway due the hazards caused. The Service Director acknowledged that there have been some concerns raised as an unintended consequence of introducing bag-only refuse collections in the Cynon & Taf areas, and there has been a increase in domestic waste, including food waste, being placed into street litter bins. However, this has also been reported in the Rhondda where there has not been a change, which is suggests that any correlation to the changes is debatable. Following the overview, Members had the opportunity to scrutinise the report. A Member noted that since the standardised refuse collection policy came in there has been an increase in street littering and that this has undoubtedly been as a result of policy change. However, the Member noted that the policy change is clearly working and praised the team for reaching such high recycling rates. The Member queried if the recycling rate of 76% includes the ‘soft plastic’ that is recycled in supermarkets such as crisp packets, bread wrappers etc. The Member also queried how this figure can be improved upon particularly in respect of food waste. The Member referred to paragraph 5.5 in the report and questioned whether the litter bins are all in the right place, are they the right size and is there yet an electronic method by which a resident can report an overflowing bin by scanning a QR code. The Service Director advised Members that the soft plastics are not included in the recycling rate of 76% as they are not something we collect as an Authority, however, the Service Director acknowledged that if this were included then the percentage would potentially be even higher. In respect of food recycling, the Service Director acknowledged that residents do not seem keen on recycling food waste. Members were informed that the awareness team are working to improve this across the County Borough. In respect of litter bins and their locality/size etc Members were advised that there is currently an ongoing review which will involve changing some of the locations and sizes in litter bins throughout the County Borough. In respect of the electronic reporting, Members were told that there is no QR Code yet, however, Members were encouraged to use the Council’s reporting web page where they will find a mapping lay out of exactly where each bin is located and report it. Members were assured that if they can’t find the mapping area there is a free text box that they can tap into to report an issue. A Member noted that not all bins are on the mapping area as it’s a very old out of date system and also emphasised that the map is always in the North of the Rhondda and noted that scrolling down to find a ward is very difficult to do. The Member sought reassurance that this could be looked into and improved upon. The Service Director advised that this will be looked into in conjunction with ICT colleagues. Discussion ensued and a Member noted that some residents have been told that there will no longer be rear lane collections and therefore need to carry the black bags to the collection point out front and queried if the number of assisted collections has increased since the change over to black bag collection. The Member also queried what the response has been from the collection teams that may have to carry bags that are heavy with pet waste. The Member also noted that at collection points it is difficult for the collection team to identify who owns each bag and queried if there has been further consideration of residents having bags with their numbers on them. In respect of rear lane collections, the Service Director advised that efficiency savings have meant that some residents will now have all collections taken from the front of the property and not the rear lane. In respect of pet waste, the Service Director acknowledged that cat litter can be quite heavy, however, Members were advised that a resident would therefore be expected not to fill an entire black bag full of cat litter as they would themselves have difficulty carrying this out of the house on collection day. In respect of assisted collections, the Service Director noted that there has been an increase in the number of requests since the change to black bag collection was brought in, however, Members were reassured that this increase was anticipated and therefore no issues have arisen. In respect of social housing and bag ownership, the Service Director acknowledged that it is difficult for collection teams to identify any offenders and advised that a number of trials have been run in different locations with different colour bags as opposed to numbered bags. Members were advised that the trials produced mixed results, however, Members were reassured that the Authority continues to work with their Social Housing partners to try and counteract any rule breaking. The Service Director emphasised that it’s about a change in behaviour and stopping the reasons why a resident would put out more than three bags. It was emphasised that there is very little that can’t be recycled and therefore there shouldn’t be a need for more than three black bags. The Service Director advised that WRAP Cymru had recently conducted a composition analysis of what is actually inside the black bag waste post the changes and the results of that will be available next Spring. Discussions continued and a Member pointed out that a number of complaints have come forward from residents about the availability and quality of recycling bags. The Member sought clarification on this issue. The Member also pointed out that there used to be large food bags available and queried what happened to these. The Member also questioned if community hubs and centres will be receiving food recycling bags regularly going forward. In terms of recycling bags and their quality, the Service Director advised that the team did receive a batch of bad quality recycling bags going back a few months ago and noted that since then no further issues have arisen regarding the quality of the bags distributed to residents. In terms of the large food bags, Members were told that they went out of use two to three years ago when the changes were brought in to three weekly collections and at the same times the smaller bags were made stronger in terms of strength. In terms of deliveries, the Service Director advised that there are approximately 120 distribution points across the County Borough and all stock piles of recycling bags are delivered on schedule. The Service Director advised that a trend has been for residents to stock pile bags, however, Members were reassured that there is no issue with supplies or delivery schedules. Discussions continued and a Member sought clarification on the Council’s policy that grass cutting will be accompanied by litter picking. The Director of Environmental Services advised Members that the Council is trying to pick up litter as quick as they can after grass/hedge cutting and agreed with Members that the amount of litter waste is disgraceful and that a culture and behaviour change is needed. The Director praised the hard work being done by staff to clear up the litter, particularly throughout the bad weather in the winter months. A Member explained that the cross part Senedd Group on Fly Tipping have discussed the potential in the future for people to use their dashcam in the future to record those that are throwing litter from cars. The Director acknowledged this to be a good idea and also advised Members that the Authority encourages residents to also make a note of a drivers number plate if they see someone throwing litter from a cars. The Service Director – Public Spaces and Integrated Transport advised Members that the Authority has already been taking enforcement action against drivers who throw litter from cars using dashcam footage. Members praised this and agreed to publicise this to residents. A Member queried if, as Councillors, there was a way to view data on enforcement action that has been carried out by the Authority. The Service Director advised Members that the data on fly tipping cases were provided at the last full Council meeting. Following discussions, Members RESOLVED: • To Consider the content of the report: and, • To Consider whether the Committee wishes to scrutinise further, any matters in the report.
There was no urgent business to report.
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