Climate change, net zero, flooding, energy, biodiversity, parks and green spaces.
What councils do
Every Welsh council has declared or responded to the climate emergency and has plans to cut its own emissions, from buildings, vehicles and the things it buys. Councils also manage flood risk on local rivers and streams.
Who decides
The Cabinet agrees climate plans; scrutiny committees check progress.
Having a say
Ask your councillors how the council is doing against its own targets, and respond to its consultations on plans.
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By council, last 12 months
How many agenda items on this topic each council dealt with, and how many had a decision recorded.
AGREED –
(1) T H A T the progress detailed in the report and Appendix A in relation to the
challenges in the Climate Change Challenge Plan be noted.
(2) T H A T future reports be presented to the Committee to include a case study
in order for the Committee to ascertain what a particular activity was achieving with
regard to Project Zero.
Reasons for recommendations
(1&2) Having regard to discussions at the meeting.
Minutes - KB
RESOLVED – T H A T the applications as outlined within the report, on pages 38
through 42, as determined by the Head of Sustainable Development under
delegated powers, be noted.
RESOLVED – T H A T in pursuance of the powers delegated to the Committee,
the following applications be determined as indicated and any other necessary
action be taken.
Minutes - AR
No.
2021/01710/FUL Received on 23 September 2022
(p70)
APPLICANT: Business Loan Services (UK) Ltd Pension Scheme C/o Agent,
AGENT: Mr Andrew Ayles Office 14, 35 Stow Park Circle, Newport, NP20 4HF
Former Eastbrook Methodist Chapel, Chapel Row, Eastbrook, Dinas Powys
Demolition of chapel building and the erection of a dormer bungalow, on-site car
parking and amenity provision and associated development thereto.
Councillor Gilligan declared a prejudicial interest in relation to this item and
therefore withdrew from the meeting for the entirety and did not take part in any
related vote.
In presenting the report, the Principal Planner highlighted a drafting error on page
96 of the report whereby text had not been omitted from the recommendations as
intended. Therefore, the text set out on the page between the Recommendation
Heading and Recommendation 1, should be amended to “approve subject to
conditions”, and the following erroneous text be deleted: “Subject to the relevant
person(s) first entering into a Section 106 Legal Agreement or undertaking to
include the following necessary planning obligations:
• to pay a financial contribution to the sum of £27,631.20 for an off site
affordable housing contribution.”
A recorded vote was called for the Application, based on the recommendations
within the report as amended, with the results as follows:
Member For Against Abstain
G. Bruce √
I. Buckley √
Mrs. C.A. Cave √
C. Champion √
M. Cowpe
Mrs. P. Drake √
A. Ernest √
W. Gilligan
N.P. Hodges √
Dr. I.J. Johnson √
H. Payne √
S. Perkes √
I. Perry √
C. Stallard √
N. Thomas √
E. Williams √
M.R. Wilson √
TOTAL 7 6 2
Minutes - AR
No.
APPROVED – Subject to the conditions as amended and contained within the
report.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the content of the report and discussions at the meeting.
2023/00087/FUL Received on 27 January 2023
(p102)
APPLICANT: Loft-Co Urban Regeneration Company Limited C/O Agent,
AGENT: Gwen Thomas Unit 9, Oak Tree Court, Cardiff Gate Business Park,
Cardiff, CF23 8RS
Crossway Methodist Church, Court Road, Barry
Proposed development of 15 no. affordable flats and associated works
A recorded vote was called for the Application, with the results as follows:
Member For Against Abstain
G. Bruce √
I. Buckley √
Mrs. C.A. Cave √
C. Champion
M. Cowpe
Mrs. P. Drake √
A. Ernest √
W. Gilligan √
N.P. Hodges √
Dr. I.J. Johnson √
H. Payne √
S. Perkes √
I. Perry √
C. Stallard √
N. Thomas √
E. Williams √
M.R. Wilson √
TOTAL 10 5 0
APPROVED – Subject to the conditions as contained within the report.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the content of the report and discussions at the meeting.
Minutes - AR
No.
2023/00895/FUL Received on 29 August 2023
(p128)
APPLICANT: Mr Huw Llewellyn Great House Farm, Penllyn, Cowbridge, CF71
7RQ
AGENT: Ms Bethan Evans Unit 9, Oak Tree Court, Cardiff Gate Business Park,
Cardiff, CF23 8RS
Great House Farm, Penllyn
Proposed change of use from agricultural use to glamping visitor accommodation
comprising 3 yurts, separate kitchen units and conversion of the existing barn to a
shower block and farm storage.
DEFERRED – to a future meeting of the Committee, given the need to re consult
neighbours for a consultation period of 21 days, following the submission of an
amended certificate of ownership.
Minutes - AR
RESOLVED – T H A T in pursuance of the powers delegated to the Committee, the
following applications be determined as indicated and any other necessary action be
taken.
2020/01218/HYB Received on 29 October 2020
(P. 103)
APPLICANT: Mr. Phil Worthing c/o Agent
AGENT: Mrs. Emma Fortune, Brunel House, 2 Fitzalan Road, Cardiff, CF24 0EB
Leckwith Quay, Leckwith Road, Leckwith
Hybrid planning application for residential development for up to 228 dwellings
(submitted in OUTLINE), associated highway and bridge improvement / realignment
works (submitted in FULL). Development involves the demolition of all buildings on
site and of the existing B4267 Leckwith Road Bridge.
RESOLVED – T H A T subject to the applicant entering into a Section 106
agreement to provide for the following:
• Procure that 10% (up to 23) of the dwellings built on the site pursuant to the
planning permission are built and thereafter maintained as affordable housing
units in perpetuity;
• Pay a contribution of £240,000 for the provision or enhancement of education
facilities to meet the needs of future occupiers;
• Pay a contribution of £60,000 for the off-site planting of trees to mitigate loss
as a result of the development.
APPROVED – Subject to the conditions as contained within the report.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the content of the report and discussions at the meeting.
2021/00476/FUL Received on 27 April 2023
(P. 189)
APPLICANT: Westbourne School, Hickman Road, Penarth, CF64 3EF
AGENT: Mr. Liam Griffiths, Unit 9, Oak Tree Court, Cardiff Gate Business Park,
Cardiff, CF23 8RS
GM2 House, Plymouth Road, Penarth
Full planning application for a proposed 2 storey extension and associated works.
APPROVED – Subject to the conditions as contained within the report.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the content of the report and discussions at the meeting.
2023/00337/FUL Received on 29 March 2023
(P. 226)
APPLICANT: Ceri Jones, 7 Sycamore Close, Llandough, Penarth, Vale of
Glamorgan, CF64 2NP
AGENT: Nicky Watkins, Studio 1, The Platform, Hemmingway Road, Cardiff,
CF10 5LS
7 Sycamore Close, Llandough, Penarth
Proposed two storey extension to rear elevation with hipped roof.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the Head of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to issue an
Enforcement Notice under Section 172 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990
(as amended) to require:
(i) The removal of the development;
or
(ii) The completion of the development in accordance with planning
permission 2023/00337/FUL.
(2) T H A T in the event of non-compliance with the Notice, authorisation be
granted to take such legal proceedings as may be required.
APPROVED – Subject to an amendment to Condition 3 to amend the position of the
bird boxes on the building and to the conditions as contained within the report.
Reasons for decisions
The decision to recommend planning permission has been taken in accordance with
Section 38 of The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, which requires that,
in determining a planning application the determination must be in accordance with
the Development Plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. The
Development Plan for the area comprises the Vale of Glamorgan Adopted Local
Development Plan 2011-2026 and Future Wales – the National Plan 2040.
Having regard to Policies SP1 (Delivering the Strategy), MD2 (Design of New
Development), MD5 (Development Within Settlement Boundaries) and MD9
(Promoting Biodiversity) of the Vale of Glamorgan Adopted Local Development Plan
2011-2026 and Future Wales – the National Plan 2040 and Supplementary Planning
Guidance on Residential and Householder Development; and national guidance
contained in Planning Policy Wales (11th Edition), and TAN12 (Design); the revised
proposal is considered acceptable in terms of the design and visual impact, impact
up on neighbouring properties, parking, amenity space and will secure biodiversity
enhancements.
Having regard to the Council’s duties under the Equality Act 2010 the proposed
development does not have any significant implications for, or effect on, persons
who share a protected characteristic.
It is considered that the decision complies with the Council’s well-being objectives
and the sustainable development principle in accordance with the requirements of
the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.
The appropriate marine policy documents have been considered in the determination
of this application in accordance with Section 59 of the Marine and Coastal Access
Act 2009.
RESOLVED – T H A T the applications as outlined within the report, on pages 40
and 41, as determined by the Head of Sustainable Development under delegated
powers, be noted.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales’ (IRPW) draft Annual
Report 2024/25 proposals be noted.
No.
(2) T H A T the draft response to the IRPW Determinations as set out below be
forwarded to the IRPW on behalf of the Council:
Determination 1 – Basic Salary in 2023/24 for Elected Members of Principal
Councils shall be £18,666
The basic salary will be aligned with three fifths of the All Wales 2022 ASHE
(Annual Survey for Hours & Earning), the latest figure available at drafting.
This represents a 6.06% increase in the basic salary.
Council’s Response
The Council supports the continued linking of remuneration to Elected
Members’ salaries to ASHE however requests that the IRPW consider a pay
freeze for Principal Council Elected Members’ salaries for 2024/25.
Determination 2 – Senior Salary Levels in 2024/25 for Members of Principal
Councils shall be set out in Table 1 (of the IRPW Annual Report)
The All Wales 2022 ASHE (Annual Survey for Hours & Earnings) applies to
Band 1 (Leader of Council and Deputy Leader of the Council) and Band 2
(Executive Members), Band 3 (Committee Chairs), Band 4 (Leader of the
largest Opposition Group), Band 5 (Leader of other Political Groups) where
pay is frozen and the basic salary increase will apply.
Council’s Response
The Council supports the continued linking of remuneration to Elected
Members’ salaries to ASHE however requests that the IRPW consider a pay
freeze for Principal Council Elected Members’ salaries for 2024/25.
Determination 3 – The Salary Level for a Chair of a Joint Overview and
Scrutiny Committee and Vice-Chair
The proposed amounts are £9,333 and £4,667 respectively.
Council’s Response
The Council supports the continued linking of remuneration to Elected
Members’ salaries to ASHE however requests that the IRPW consider a pay
freeze for Principal Council Elected Members’ salaries for 2024/25.
Determination 4 – Payments to National Park Authorities and Fire and
Rescue Authorities
Payments will be increased as a result of the uplift proposed for Elected
Members of Principal Councils. Therefore, there will also be an uplift of
6.06% in the basic salary element.
No.
The remuneration for Chairs will remain linked to a Band 3 senior salary of
Principal Councils. Therefore, there will be a small increase to the role
element of their pay. Deputy Chairs, Committee Chairs and other senior roles
will remain linked to Band 5. Therefore, their role element of pay will remain
frozen. The increase in basic salary will apply. Full details of the levels of
remuneration for members of National Park Authorities and Fire and Rescue
Authorities, is set out in Table 2.
Council’s Response
The Authority makes no comment on the increase as it is a matter for those
authorities.
Determination 5 – Co-opted Member Payments
The Panel proposes there should be local flexibility for the relevant officer to
decide when it will be appropriate to apply a day or a half day rate or to use an
hourly rate where it is sensible to aggregate a number of short meetings. The
full and half day rates remain unchanged from 2023 to 2024. The only
change is the stipulation of hourly rates.
Council’s Response
The Authority supports the introduction of the flexibility to use an hourly rate
where appropriate.
Determination 6 – Payments towards costs and expenses of Members of
Community and Town Councils / Basic payment for extra costs of working
from home
All Community / Town Councils must pay Members £156 per year (equivalent
to £3 a week) towards extra household expenses (including heating, lighting,
power and broadband) of working from home.
Set Payment for Consumables
These Councils must pay their Members £52 a year for the cost of office
consumables required to carry out their role, or alternatively Councils must
enable Members to claim full reimbursement for the cost of their office
consumables. It is a matter for each Council to make and record a policy
decision in respect of when and how the payments are made and whether
they are paid monthly, yearly, or otherwise. The policy should also state
whether and how to recover any payments made to a Member who leaves or
changes their role during the financial year.
Council’s Response
The Authority makes no comment on the proposal but supports the principle
that Members should be reimbursed.
No.
Determination 7 – Compensation for Financial Loss
This is an optional payment and the amount was not increased last year.
Previously the Panel determined that an appropriate level of payment be set
at the daily rate of ASHE. To maintain this link, the figures for 2024 are now
proposed as £119.62 for a full day and £59.81 for a half day.
Council’s Response
The Authority makes no comment on the increase.
Determination 8 – Returns in Respect of Mandatory Payments
The Panel proposes that from September 2024, the returns need only show
the total amounts aid in respect of the mandatory payments mentioned above.
This is the £156 contribution to the costs of working form home and the £52
set rate consumables allowance and the travel and subsistence expenses
paid. This brings these in line with the reporting of the costs of care and
personal assistance allowances.
Council’s Response
The Authority supports the principle of alignment with reporting of the costs of
care and personal assistance allowance.
(3) T H A T with regard to the Survey at Appendix B to the report, that the
responses to the questions be as follows :
• Question 1 – Uplift of remuneration using the Annual Survey of Hours
and Earnings (ASHE)
The Panel is fully aware of the current constraints on public funding and
the impact its decisions will have on the budgets of Principal
Authorities. The Panel is also mindful of our Aims and Objectives to
provide a fair and reasonable remuneration package to support elected
members and to encourage diversity of representation. We therefore
propose to uplift their remuneration based on the average earnings of
their constituents.
Do you think that the Panel has struck the right balance between
affordability and adequate remuneration for representatives? If
not, do you have other suggestions?
Council’s Response
Yes but would comment that the Council maintains its support for the
continued linking of remuneration for Elected Members’ salaries to
ASHE however, the Panel could consider a freeze in Member
remuneration in exceptional circumstances.
No.
• Question 2 – Local flexibility for payments to co-opted individuals
The Panel has received evidence that it would be more cost effective
and fairer to provide for flexibility in paying those who are co-opted to
serve on committees of Principal Councils, National Park Authorities
and Fire and Rescue Authorities.
The Panel has therefore proposed there should be local flexibility for
the relevant officer to decide when it will be appropriate to apply a day
or half day rate or to use an hourly rate where it is sensible to
aggregate a few short meetings.
Do you agree with this proposal? If not, do you have any
suggested alternatives?
Council’s Response
Yes and the Council accepts the stance taken by the IRPW to review
existing payment methods to reflect agile working arrangements and
changing demands on Co-opted Members.
• Question 3 – Encouraging sustainable travel
The Panel would like to ensure that we support environmental
sustainability in our decisions about remuneration. We are aware that
there are schemes in many bodies in Wales which encourage
sustainable travel and we have advised that, if possible, elected
members should be encouraged to participate in these schemes.
Do you have any examples of good practice or other ideas of ways
in which we might use our powers to encourage more sustainable
travel among members?
Council’s Response
No, the Council however supports the principle of encouraging the use
of sustainable travel. The Council is currently looking to review
information that is provided to its Members to raise awareness of the
initiatives that they may wish to take advantage of.
• Question 4 – Awareness of the entitlements of representatives
The Panel has seen evidence of a lack of awareness amongst local
elected members of the payments to which they are entitled. We would
like to find out if this is a significant issue, and if so, we will aim to raise
awareness further, targeted at areas where this may be a problem.
No.
Please identify which type of body you serve Principal Council
What is your status? Response of the
Committee
Did you know that you may be entitled to some of or all of the
following:
Remuneration for your role Yes
Pension (Principal Councils only) Yes
Reimbursement of expenses Yes
Reimbursement for caring responsibilities Yes
Family absence payments (Principal Councils only) Yes
What steps does your council or authority take to make its elected
members and co-opted members aware of their entitlements?
Council’s Response
Information relating to Member Remuneration is published in the
Elected Member Handbook. Members have also been provided
practical workshops on how to claim expenses via its digital portal.
• Question 5 – Publication of consolidated sums for Community and
Town Councils
Community and Town Councils are required to submit an annual
statement of payments to the Panel by 30 September each year, and
also publish this on their website. The Panel have provided a template
return for clerks to use. The Panel have discussed and considered
changing the requirements for Community and Town Councils when
submitting their statement of payment returns. The Panel’s aim is to
simplify administration and encourage Councils to ensure all mandatory
payments are made to individual members.
The Panel proposes that from September 2024, the returns need only
show the total amounts paid in respect of the mandatory payments
mentioned above. That is the £156 contribution to the costs of working
from home, the £52 set rate consumables allowance and the travel and
subsistence expenses paid.
This brings these in line with the reporting of the costs of care and
personal assistance allowances.
Do you agree that these figures may be published as a global total
rather than individually?
Council’s Response
No View
No.
What are the reasons for your view?
Council’s Response
Whilst this is a matter for Town and Community Councils, the Council
supports the Panel’s proposal to encourage all Members to take
appropriate remuneration for carrying out their duties.
• Question 6 – Publication of consolidated sums for other bodies
In future reports, we are thinking of allowing consolidation of the travel
and subsistence expenses of members of principal councils, National
Park Authorities and Fire and Rescue Authorities and would be
interested in your views.
Do you agree that these figures may be published as a global total
rather than individually?
Council’s Response
No.
What are the reasons for your view?
Council’s Response
The Council supports the principle of publishing travel and subsistence
expenses on an individual basis.
Reason for decisions
(1-3) Having considered Appendices A and B and following discussions at the
meeting.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T it be recommended to Council that the Final Statement of Accounts
and Annual Governance Statement at Appendices A (revised Appendix) and B to the
report respectively be approved.
(2) T H A T delegated authority be granted to the S151 Officer in liaison with the
Chair of the Governance and Audit Committee to make any final adjustments to the
Final Statement of Accounts and Annual Governance Statement as necessary.
(3) T H A T the response to the Audit Wales Audit Enquiries at Appendix C to the
report be approved.
(4) T H A T the draft Audit Wales ISA260 and management actions agreed by the
Vale of Glamorgan be noted.
(5) T H A T the minor updates to Appendices A and D be noted.
(6) T H A T the Section 151 Officer liaises with officers and the Chair of the City
Deal Joint Committee with a view to representatives being in attendance at a future
meeting of the Governance and Audit Committee to present their accounts.
Reasons for decisions
(1) In order for Full Council to approve the Statement of Accounts and Annual
Governance Statements.
(2) The Audit of the Statement of Accounts and Annual Governance Statement is
essentially complete but there may be some minor amendments to be made before
they are approved by Council.
(3) Audit Wales has written to both offices and those charged with governance
with a set of queries to provide assurance on fraud, legal and related parties.
(4) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
(5) Having regard to further minor updates received.
(6) Having regard to the technical nature of the accounts that representatives of
the City Deal Joint Committee be present at a future meeting to advise Committee.
RESOLVED – T H A T the applications as outlined within the report, on pages 44
through 48, as determined by the Head of Sustainable Development under
delegated powers, be noted.
Minutes - AR