Wrthi'n llwytho
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RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the meeting held on the 11th March 2026 as an accurate record.
RESOLVED: 1. To consider the progress reported and how this contributes to the broader objective of developing a Living Landscape project across RCT and its contribution to the UN and Welsh Government goal of bringing 30 percent of land into biodiversity management by 2030 (Naturfa in Wales
RESOLVED: 1. To note the overview from the Chair of the Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Cabinet Sub Committee in respect of the Clydach Country Park Hydro Programme and Ysgol Nantgwyn site visit held on the 14th April 2026.
RESOLVED: 1. To note the update in respect of the LAEP action plan; and, 2. To receive updates on progress at future meetings of this sub-committee
In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, there were no decarations of interest.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the meeting held on the 11th March 2026 as an accurate record.
It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the meeting held on the 11th March 2026 as an accurate record.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: 1. To consider the progress reported and how this contributes to the broader objective of developing a Living Landscape project across RCT and its contribution to the UN and Welsh Government goal of bringing 30 percent of land into biodiversity management by 2030 (Naturfa in Wales
The Director, Housing and Prosperity presented the report on ‘Living Landscapes’ to Members. Members were reminded that the Living Landscape project is a key action in the Local Nature Plan for RCT prepared by the Local Nature Partnership and received by Members in October 2022. The project provides a framework for sustainable land management for biodiversity and climate change across Rhondda Cynon Taf. The project is also a key delivery mechanism for the Council’s Section 6 Biodiversity Duty. Members were advised that the long-term potential of the Living Landscape project is to bring together a network of sites in biodiversity management, reflecting the important habitats across RCT. All of the sites currently included in the project are on Council owned land which are the sites referred to as Living Landscape (Nature on Your Doorstep) sites However, there are a number of sites being managed for biodiversity by others, including sites managed by ‘developers’ as ecological mitigation for their developments (i.e. associated with planning permission agreements known as ‘Section 106 agreements’), As part of delivering both the NNF and also the Council’s Living Landscape project, technical specialist expertise within the biodiversity team has allowed the development of an innovative habitat and species spatial mapping and connectivity tool. This tool offers the potential for the Council to collate and collect and interrogate biodiversity information at both a site and strategic level. The Director referred Members to Appendix 2, a map showing the current Living Landscape (Nature on Your Doorstep) sites, Ecological Mitigation Planning sites (with long-term habitat management plans secured through the planning process) and the Statutory Protected Site Network (SSSI and SAC). Members were reminded that the NHLF supported the second phase of the Lost Peatlands Connections project development in RCT by 2030. Nature networks can allow habitats to evolve and adapt to change and prevent species becoming isolated. The management of a network of biodiversity sites it will help to support the biodiversity functioning of RCT. By 2030, the Council expects ‘wildlife to thrive on positively managed council land’. The Living Landscape (Nature on Your Doorstep) sites will contribute towards this target. With grant funding, the number of sites should increase to 69 by March 27. Through the Planning system, further sites many in developer management, will contribute to the wider UN and Welsh Government goal of 30% of land and sea to be in biodiversity management by 2030 (30x30). Following the overview, Members had the opportunity to ask questions. A Member praised the team for securing grant funding and referred to the old ‘Trefforest Tips’ and praised the team for making this a habitable ground for species and noted that it is exciting to see what more can be done there. The Member also referred to Local Flood Risk Management areas and the tenuation ponds in Trefforest and Church Village and asked if there were opportunities for biodiversity. The Senior Ecologist advised Members that a key part of the biodiversity projects is getting areas to be looked after and managed and that going forward this is something the team will be looking at whilst working in partnership with colleagues in the public spaces department. Another Member praised the number of Living Landscapes sites that are increasing. The Member emphasised the importance of promoting the outcome of the sites through social media. The Member referenced the map contained within the report and queried how the team intends to promote public awareness of this going forward. Another Member praised the work of the team in developing the website and information boards and queried if the team are doing anything to engage with schools or younger family members in the biodiversity sites. The Director of Housing and Regeneration advised Members that following today’s meeting, the team will liaise closely with the Communication team to get the information contained within the report out into the public domain and to look at engaging closely to get residents out into the local biodiversity sites. Another Member referred to Appendix 1 and noted that Cwm Clydach is on the list contained within the report but not Clydach Country Park and asked if that could be amended. The Senior Ecologist confirmed that this will be done. Following discussion, Members RESOLVED: 1. To consider the progress reported and how this contributes to the broader objective of developing a Living Landscape project across RCT and its contribution to the UN and Welsh Government goal of bringing 30 percent of land into biodiversity management by 2030 (Naturfa in Wales
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: 1. To note the overview from the Chair of the Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Cabinet Sub Committee in respect of the Clydach Country Park Hydro Programme and Ysgol Nantgwyn site visit held on the 14th April 2026.
Following Members’ site visit to the Clydach Country Park Hydro Programme on the 14th April 2026, the Chair provided Members with the feedback and the outcomes that subsequently followed the visit. The Chair firstly thanked Members and Officers for attending the Clydach Country Park Hydro Programme Site Visit and noted that although the weather was dismal, everyone seemed to find the visit to be enlightening and informative. The Chair also noted her thank the Cambrian Village Trust for hosting the visit and for allowing us to view their facilities and also thanked Ysgol Nantgwyn for allowing us to see how they have been able to utilise the WGES funding to decarbonise the primary school block through the installation of four new heat pumps. Additionally, the Chair noted her thanks to Officers for organising the site visit and for providing us with such a detailed itinerary. The Chair commented that it was great to see young people from YEPs also taking up the offer to attend the site visit, and emphasised how this illustrated once again the importance of Climate Change to each and every one of us. The Chair noted that it would be a privilege to engage with the young people in future visits to listen and share ideas and to demonstrate the positive work being undertaken by the Council. Members were advised that the young people commented that the project provided an environment for innovative and active engagement with local people and demonstrated how nature-based solutions can be harnessed to directly contribute to climate change mitigation. The Chair noted that it was pleasing to hear the thoughts and comments of the young people and once again thanked them all for their attendance. It was emphasised that the site visit demonstrated how local renewable energy can deliver real, practical benefits; lowering bills, reducing emissions, and creating stronger communities. This positions Rhondda Cynon Taf as a leader in community?focused decarbonisation. The Chair noted that the proposed Clydach Country Park Hydro Programme is another step forward for RCT Council to become Carbon Neutral by 2030 and once again expressed her congratulations to all those who have been involved in this successful and inspiring proposal. Following the overview, the Chair introduced the Principal Carbon Reduction Officer, who provided further detail on the project and the next steps going forward. With the aid of a power point presentation showing Members photographs taking at the Site Visit, the Principal Carbon Reduction Officer informed Members about the next steps in respect of the Clydach Country Park Hydro Programme. Members were informed that the visit began at Clydach Lakeside, where Members were welcomed by the Cambrian Village Trust (CVT) and introduced to their existing hydroelectric scheme, which currently powers the Lakeside café. This provided valuable context for the proposed next phase of hydro development. CVT also provided Members with an overview of their future ambitions, including their aspiration to become Wales’s first net zero football club. The Principal Carbon Reduction Officer advised that Members then received a presentation on Phase 2 of the hydroelectric scheme, which is being developed through Welsh Government’s Whole Systems Research and Innovation for Decarbonisation (WSRID) Programme, under the Challenge “Maximising Renewable Energy Generation for Community Benefit.” The WSRID Challenge was established to support the development of a pipeline of innovative decarbonisation projects, enabling local authorities to test and scale new approaches that deliver practical carbon reduction and wider community benefit. Members were advised that Rhondda Cynon Taf successfully secured Welsh Government WSRID funding specifically to explore how locally generated renewable electricity can be used locally, reduce energy costs, and retain financial value within the community, rather than exporting that value to the national grid. The proposed scheme is a 170kW micro?hydro project, connected via a private wire to a local school where onsite generation is maximised via solar PV and battery storage. The project also sought to decarbonise the local school by investigating low carbon heating and transport solutions. Generation, storage, and demand would be coordinated using smart control systems, enabling electricity to be used locally where possible and reducing reliance on grid supply. The project is exploring innovative mechanisms for the use of surplus generation to deliver wider community benefit, including through an Energy Club model to local community assets. The Principal Carbon Reduction Officer advised that the visit then extended to Ysgol Nantgwyn, where Members saw how low?carbon heating solutions have already been integrated with this wider energy system approach. Ysgol Nantgwyn has already benefited from receiving the WGES Low Carbon Heat Grant to install 4 heat pumps to decarbonise the primary block. In addition to this, the E&CR team have also installed solar PV and battery storage on site, to compensate the annual increase in electrical demand created by the low carbon heating technology. To summarise, the Officer noted that the visit demonstrated how Welsh Government investment, Council leadership, and community ambition are coming together to deliver lower emissions, lower bills, and stronger communities. It positions Rhondda Cynon Taf at the forefront of community?focused decarbonisation and provides a practical example of how our strategic commitments are being delivered on the ground. Following the overview, Members had the opportunity to ask questions. A Member wished to commend the officers for the ongoing work with Welsh Government and noted that the Hydro Programme in Clydach Country Park is an example for all community groups ro work with Councils. Another Member queried if, as a Sun Committee, will officers provide them with further updates in respect of the benefits to the school from the heat pumps in bringing down the cost of electricity bills. The Member also emphasised the importance of communication and urged the team to share the ongoing energy projects online and through social media platforms. The Principal Carbon Reduction Officer advised that the team will report back to Members on the benefit of the heat pumps and explained that a year’s worth of data needs to be collated and reviewed first. In respect of engaging with Schools and young people, the Officer advised that the team does engage with these groups through project outreach as well as variousworkshops with older school children and Universities. Following the overview, Members RESOLVED: 1. To note the overview from the Chair of the Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Cabinet Sub Committee in respect of the Clydach Country Park Hydro Programme and Ysgol Nantgwyn site visit held on the 14th April 2026.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: 1. To note the update in respect of the LAEP action plan; and, 2. To receive updates on progress at future meetings of this sub-committee
The Principal Carbon Reduction Officer presented the ‘Llocal Area Energy Plan’ (LAEP) implementation report to Members. Members were advised that the LAEP is a strategic framework developed to guide the transition of the local energy system towards decarbonisation, it details energy usage and associated greenhouse gas emissions in a defined area and utilises modelling techniques to forecast and predict future energy demand and supply within a net zero scenario. Members were told that a Local Area Energy Plan is in place for each Local Authority. Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council falls within the Cardiff Capital Region, and, like all authorities in the region, has an adopted LAEP. The Rhondda Cynon Taf LAEP focuses on six key areas/ themes: · Retrofitting buildings · Decarbonising transport · Deploying onshore renewables · Fostering innovation · Reinforcing electricity distribution networks · Transitioning from the gas network Members were advised that each area / theme is designed to address specific aspects of the energy system, contributing collectively to the overarching goal of reducing carbon emissions and enhancing sustainability. It is supported by a detailed action plan that identifies a range of Partners responsible for its overall implementation. Members were reminded that in November 2025, the CCR presented the Cardiff Capital Region, Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) Annual Report, to the South East Wales Corporate Joint Committee (SEWCJC). The report provided an overview of delivery, highlighting progress made across the ten local authorities as well as shared challenges relating to grid capacity, skills, and investment readiness. In addition to the regional report, Members were advised that the Cardiff Capital Region also prepared an annual report for the area of Rhondda Cynon Taf. The report contained an update on the action plan specific for our area. Members will note a range of Partners are listed as responsible entities within the action plan, in the event that Members have specific comments or questions aligned to actions allocated to Partners then Council Officers will seek responses and feed them back to the next meeting of the sub-committee. Members were reminded that a copy of the action plan is provided at Appendix 1. Following the overview, Members had the opportunity to ask questions. A Member noted that there was a lot of good work going on in the region as a whole. The Member referred to the table in Appendix 1 and asked if Welsh Water are a part of the group working on LAEP as well as Welsh Government. The Principal Carbon Reduction Officer confirmed that all external parties are invited to participate in the Cardiff Capital Region Steering Group and noted that the Council would rely on a regional approach with regards to engagement with Welsh Water. **At this point, the Chair had left the meeting due to technical difficulties and the Vice Chair continued to Chair in her absence** Another Member queried if it was a realistic goal to achieve decarbonisation by 2050 and queried if the cost implications are slowing the Authority down in respect of ongoing energy projects and is it resource restrictive going forward. The Principal Carbon Reduction Officer noted that the cost of decarbonisation is a very big hurdle to achieve and emphasised the importance of ensuring that the next generation workforce is educated on this and that a regional and national approach needs to be taken. With regards to funding, Members were advised that the Council has been very innovative and progressive in respect of targeted decarbonisation funding and noted that it is good to see that Welsh Government are acknowledging that the funding is needed to progress energy projects. It was also emphasised that the Council has committed to being Carbon neutral by 2030, which is less restrictive that Net Zero. The Temporary Head of Operational Energy also emphasised that whilst the cost can be incredibly high, it is not just funding that is needed but also there are many other factors involved in achieving Net Zero by 2050. Discussions ensued and a Member noted that a Hydrogen fuelled refuse/recycling vehicle was recently demonstrated in Trefforest and queried if any officers present had attended the event and if there was any feedback on whether these would be a good fit for RCT, given that the previous trials of EV vehicles proved they were unsuitable for the gradients and hills within the area. The Member also queried if there were still plans to install EV chargers within areas of high footfall such as supermarkets and municipal buildings or if there are any new technologies or new initiatives on the horizon. The Temporary Head of Operational Energy confirmed that the corporate plan states there should be an EV charger within one mile of 90% of residents within RCT and stated that this has essentially been achieved, although there are several areas where the road layout and geography mean that residents have to travel slightly further than a mile, but this is being addressed as the target if fully achieved. In respect of the Trefforest trial, the Officer confirmed that the trial didn’t actually take place, however, this is due to happen in the imment future. Following discussion, Members RESOLVED: 1. To note the update in respect of the LAEP action plan; and, 2. To receive updates on progress at future meetings of this sub-committee
There was no urgent business to discuss.
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