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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED: 1. To consider the draft work programme, attached as Appendix 1, and subject to any amendments, approve the Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Cabinet Sub-Committee Work Programme for the 2025-2026 Municipal Year; 2. To undertake a site visit during the Municipal Year to the Clydach Vale Hydro Programme; and, 3. Subject to the agreement of 2.2, to receive a future update from the Chair with the findings from the site visit.
RESOLVED: 1. To consider the information contained within the report; and, 2. To note any considerations that could be implemented in the RCT Schools Eco Award, Gold level which will be launched in the 2025/2026 academic year.
RESOLVED: 1.To consider the progress reported; and, 2. To note the comments and feedback from Members of the Climate Change Frontline Services and Prosperity Scrutiny Committee in the Pre-Scrutiny feedback letter.
RESOLVED: 1. To note the contents of this report as part of the ongoing work under the remit of the Energy Efficiency & Decarbonisation Cabinet Sub Committee; 2. To publish the data on the Council’s Carbon Footprint Dashboard; and, 3. To receive future reports providing updates on progress as and when deemed appropriate.
RESOLVED: 1. To note the contents of this report, as part of the ongoing work to deliver the Council’s Climate Change and EV Charging Strategy.
RESOLVED: 1. To note the contents of this report as part of the ongoing work towards decarbonising the Council’s estate; and, 2. To receive further reports at the appropriate time.
The Chair welcomed Members and Officers to the inaugural meeting of the Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Cabinet Sub Committee.
In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, there were no declarations of interest.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: 1. To consider the draft work programme, attached as Appendix 1, and subject to any amendments, approve the Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Cabinet Sub-Committee Work Programme for the 2025-2026 Municipal Year; 2. To undertake a site visit during the Municipal Year to the Clydach Vale Hydro Programme; and, 3. Subject to the agreement of 2.2, to receive a future update from the Chair with the findings from the site visit.
The Democratic Services Officer presented the draft Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Work Programme to Members for the 2025-26 Municipal Year. Members were referred to Appendix 1 and the proposed list of matters requiring consideration by the Cabinet Sub-Committee. Members were advised to note that the Work Programme also includes a site visit to the Clydach Vale Hydro Programme, which will take place on the 14th April. Members were also reminded that the work programme is a fluid document and can be amended to reflect any changes to business needs throughout the Municipal year. Discussions ensued and a Member referenced the Electric Vehicle Charging item on the Work Programme and asked about the provision of charging points and queried if there was any intention to re visit the Council’s policy or if there was abny intentions to run pilots or working groups in this area. The Service Direct, Audit Performance and Transformational Services advised Members that during the 2025-26 Municipal Year the Council has received 46 enquiries from members of the public to trial cables from their house to their cars. Members were advised that the Council’s current response is to decline those requests at the moment taking into account highway safety, planning and insurance liabilities. The Service Director advised that they are aware of trials being undertaken by several other Councils in Wales and quite a few in England. Members were told that over the next few months the Council intends to touch base with those Councils and see what lessons they’ve learned as part of their pilots and then bring that information back to Officers and Members of the Council to help inform any future decisions. The Member thanked the Service Director and noted her agreement that highways safety for members of the public is crucial. The Chair welcomed this approach going forward. Following discussions, Members RESOLVED: 1. To consider the draft work programme, attached as Appendix 1, and subject to any amendments, approve the Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Cabinet Sub-Committee Work Programme for the 2025-2026 Municipal Year; 2. To undertake a site visit during the Municipal Year to the Clydach Vale Hydro Programme; and, 3. Subject to the agreement of 2.2, to receive a future update from the Chair with the findings from the site visit.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: 1. To consider the information contained within the report; and, 2. To note any considerations that could be implemented in the RCT Schools Eco Award, Gold level which will be launched in the 2025/2026 academic year.
The Lead For Strategic Planning & MIM presented the School Eco Awards report to Members. Members were advised that eight schools have successfully completed the Bronze level of the Award to date, and that an award ceremony was held in the Council Chamber for the first tranche of four schools that completed the bronze award to celebrate the hard work that the pupils have put in to achieving this Award. These schools are now able to participate in the Silver level of the Award. Members were also advised that as part of the Education Service’s contribution to reducing carbon/energy use across its school portfolio, work has also been undertaken to improve some of our old school buildings that are not energy efficient. In line with the requirements for Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, all new build and refurbished school facilities are Net Zero Carbon in operation. These projects will also meet Welsh Government targets in relation to embodied carbon and are built to a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’ and an EPC rating of ‘A’. The Council is also building a new ultra-sustainable primary School in Glyn-coch which is targeting several sustainability accreditations and targets (including Passivhaus, Building with Nature and BREEAM outstanding) and is on track to achieve the Welsh Government’s 2030 embodied carbon target 4 years ahead of time. The Chair thanked the Officer for the report and congratulated officers on the Sustainable School Challenge funding and noted that this is something that will set the standard for the future. Following discussions, Members RESOLVED: 1. To consider the information contained within the report; and, 2. To note any considerations that could be implemented in the RCT Schools Eco Award, Gold level which will be launched in the 2025/2026 academic year.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: 1.To consider the progress reported; and, 2. To note the comments and feedback from Members of the Climate Change Frontline Services and Prosperity Scrutiny Committee in the Pre-Scrutiny feedback letter.
The Head of Planning introduced the RCT Peatland Programme to Members. Members were 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. The Head of Planning advised 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. The Sub Committee were informed that 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 Head of Planning advised Members that 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. The Head of Planning reminded Members that the report had also been subject to pre scrutiny by the Climate Change, Frontline Services and Prosperity Scrutiny Committee and that a feedback letter can be accessed for Members convenience. The Chair noted how pleasing it was to see that the Council is treating RCT Peatbogs with such great importance. Another Member commented how pleasing it was to see that RCT has such a wide range of peatbogs and queried how many we have exactly in RCT. The Senior Ecologist advised Members that RCT and Neath Port Talbot do have a vast range of peatbogs and noted that some of these are the most southern peatbogs in the British Isles. The aim of the Council is to now start to repair and restore those peatbogs. Members were advised that there is ongoing work as there is more to be found. Another Member emphasised the importance of raising awareness of the Council’s ongoing work with restoring Peatbogs and praised the Council’s ongoing work in this area with Young People in RCT. Another Member referenced the peatbogs in Treherbert and emphasised the importance of liaising with local schools to arrange school visits to the mountains in Treherbert. Following discussions, Members RESOLVED: 1.To consider the progress reported; and, 2. To note the comments and feedback from Members of the Climate Change Frontline Services and Prosperity Scrutiny Committee in the Pre-Scrutiny feedback letter.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: 1. To note the contents of this report as part of the ongoing work under the remit of the Energy Efficiency & Decarbonisation Cabinet Sub Committee; 2. To publish the data on the Council’s Carbon Footprint Dashboard; and, 3. To receive future reports providing updates on progress as and when deemed appropriate.
The Principal Carbon Reduction Officer presented the Welsh Government Carbon Annual Report 2024/25 to Members. The Principal Carbon Reduction Officer advised Members that the report provides an overview of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council’s Welsh Public Sector Net Zero (WPSNZ) Reporting Submission for financial year 2024/25, summarising the data reported and key findings. Members were advised that the Council continues to implement a wide range of projects aimed at reducing future emissions across Scopes 1 and 2, including ‘Net-Zero’ School buildings, improvements in the Council’s fleet, promotion of energy efficiency measures, infrastructure for renewable generation and further improving waste reduction. These ongoing actions are expected to support progress towards the Council’s carbon neutrality targets and will continue to be reflected in the Council’s annual WPSNZ reporting submission. The Principal Carbon Reduction Officer explained that Carbon Neutrality relates to Scope 1 and 2 (operational emissions). These are the emissions that the Council can directly influence. There is no requirement for a defined reduction target to be set, with neutrality achieved through offsetting any remaining greenhouse gas emissions. To calculate the equivalent carbon emission of each category, such as kilowatt of electricity used, or litre of diesel consumed, each category or sub-category is assigned a standardised carbon emission factor or coefficient by which the unit of consumption is multiplied to get the equivalent carbon emission in kg CO2e. These carbon factors vary widely between different categories of consumption and are reviewed on a regular basis to take account of improvements in technology and methods of calculation. The Chair congratulated Officers for providing such an in-depth report and noted that it is difficult for officers to provide information on an annual basis when Welsh Government keep changing the reporting criteria. A number of Members agreed that it is good news in terms of RCT achieving its target of being Net Zero by 2030 and noted their agreement that reporting is difficult when Welsh Government keep moving the reporting targets. Following discussion, Members RESOLVED: 1. To note the contents of this report as part of the ongoing work under the remit of the Energy Efficiency & Decarbonisation Cabinet Sub Committee; 2. To publish the data on the Council’s Carbon Footprint Dashboard; and, 3. To receive future reports providing updates on progress as and when deemed appropriate.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: 1. To note the contents of this report, as part of the ongoing work to deliver the Council’s Climate Change and EV Charging Strategy.
The Principal Officer Carbon Reduction provided Members with an update on the progress made in respect of EV Charging facilities across the Council’s assets. Members were advised that a total of 163 electric vehicle charge bays have been installed by the Council, at Council sites. The sub committee were advised that indications are that the Rapid DC Chargers are very popular, with 39,600 kWh of energy being used, over a total of 1,393 charging sessions, within the 4 months, from the beginning of October, leading up to the end of January 2026. The Principal Officer emphasised that in addition to Council installed EV charge points, the Council has worked with the Cardiff Capital Region Transport Authority to help identify suitable sites for additional EV charging bays. Through this work 130 EV charging bays have been installed, at 53 sites. Officers have made good progress with rolling out EV chargers and have worked with the Council’s GIS team to map progress of the CCR and Council installed electric vehicle charging points throughout the County Borough. This is now available on ‘iShare’ and helps inform the Council’s monitoring against the target of having a publicly accessible chargepoint within 1 mile of 90% of RCT residents. The Principal Carbon Reduction Officer concluded that the next steps for Officers will be twofold. Firstly, to support fleet services in their work to continue to upgrade the fleet to ULEV status (wherever practicable and possible), and secondly, to further improve available charge point coverage through the continued roll-out of public charging, directed to meet the Council’s stated targets. Discussions ensued and a Member queried if there was any intention to install more rapid charging points and queried if it was possible to get data on the usage of charging points across RCT. The Principal Officer Carbon Reduction advised that he will circulate this information to Members following the meeting. In respect of rapid charging, the Principal Carbon Reduction Officer advised that the three that have been installed were secured from external funding and emphasised that a rapid charging point is extremely costly and noted that if further funding becomes available then further rapid charging points will be installed across the County Borough. Another Member congratulated Officers on the progress being made across the County Borough with EV Charging and noted that the usage seems to have increased in recent years and agreed that data on usage would be useful. Following discussion, Members RESOLVED: 1. To note the contents of this report, as part of the ongoing work to deliver the Council’s Climate Change and EV Charging Strategy.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: 1. To note the contents of this report as part of the ongoing work towards decarbonising the Council’s estate; and, 2. To receive further reports at the appropriate time.
The Temporary Head of Operational Energy provided Members with an update on the delivery of renewable energy projects in respect of the Council’s Carbon Reduction Programme. In respect of Solar projects Members were advised that the Council has a proven track record of identifying sites where the installation of solar arrays can actively reduce the amount of energy required from the grid. This approach has helped the Council to reduce overall costs of electricity consumption for sites which has the corresponding benefit of reducing the carbon impact associated with electricity consumption. It was emphasised that to date 152 sites have benefitted from solar installations and there is a structured approach in place to identify further sites that will benefit from this technology. The Officer referenced the Coed Ely Solar Farm and noted that the construction of the land based solar farm at Coed Ely started in November 2024 and is now practically complete. In respect of future projects, Members were advised that feasibility studies are underway in respect of a selection of brownfield sites to determine their suitability for use as small-scale land based solar farms. Future updates on these sites will be reported to Members in the event that they prove to be viable projects. In respect of Hydro projects, Members wrere advised that proposals for a hydroelectric project are being developed with the aim of reducing the carbon impact of a local school via a private wire. The Officer also referenced Low Carbon Heat Projects and emphasised that Officers have worked with relevant service areas to identify sites that will benefit from investment via the Carbon Reduction Programme and are now following a similar process to consider when, where and how to take advantage of the ‘Low Carbon Heat Grants’ being offered by Welsh Government Energy Service. It was noted that two projects are currently being delivered, Ysgol Nantgwyn which includes Installation of air source heat pump technology and additional solar PV. And Hawthorn Swimming Pool – Installation of air source heat pump technology and associated heating systems, plus the provision of an energy efficient pool water backwash system. Discussion ensued and a Member congratulated the Officers on the huge amount of work being done to bring profit into the Council and cut Carbon Reduction. The Member noted the huge benefits that these projects are bringing to communities and to Council buildings. Another Member referenced the Coed Ely Solar Farm and congratulated Officers on their hard work and noted that this work will be extremely beneficial to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital. Following discussion, Members RESOLVED: 1. To note the contents of this report as part of the ongoing work towards decarbonising the Council’s estate; and, 2. To receive further reports at the appropriate time.
There was no urgent business.
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