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.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the content of the report at Agenda Item 9(b) – Budget 2026/27 and
MTFP 2026/27 to 2030/31 Supplemental Report – providing additional details
regarding updated Standard Spending Assessment Figures Assessment as
supplemental information to Agenda Item 9(a) – Draft Budget 2026/27 and Medium
Term Financial Plan 2026/27 to 2030/31 – be noted.
(2) T H A T a Council Tax increase of 6.5% be approved.
(3) T H A T the budget for 2026/27 be approved.
Reasons for decisions
(1) Having regard to the contents of the report with the most up to date figures as
part of its final budget deliberations and for the avoidance of doubt and to ensure
that all relevant matters were considered as necessary.
(2) Setting the annual rate of Council Tax was a key policy decision for Council.
(3) Setting a balanced budget was a statutory responsibility and decision for Full
Council.
CAPITAL STRATEGY 2026/27 AND FINAL CAPITAL PROGRAMME PROPOSALS 2026/27 TO 2030/31 (REF)
The Leader presented the report which outlined the Council’s approach to capital
finance for the forthcoming years and highlighted a range of schemes to undertaken
in the medium and longer term, to the value of approximately £0.5billion. They
outlined that where possible there would best endeavours to ensure minimal
slippage and that the proposals included schemes such as schools, housing and
wider infrastructure alongside decarbonisation activity, and the Western Vale
Gateway. They further noted that the emerging conflict in the Middle East would
have an impact due to oil and gas prices, but budgets included contingency
arrangements.
Councillor Franks queried how the Council would manage potential slippage and
sought assurance for how deliverable this strategy would be.
Councillor Dr. Johnson raised concerns over year-on-year slippage and the
completion of plans, citing Western Vale Gateway as an example, and further raised
the lack of a second Welsh medium secondary school in a rural area within the
Strategy.
The Leader responded that there would inevitably be slippage as elements outside
of the Council’s control such as school holidays, but the Council was building
resilience in its Project Management capacity. They noted that Western Vale
Gateway scheme had taken a number of years as it had required negotiations with
the Health Board as site owners, but they would be moving forward imminently, and
that information around a new Welsh Medium secondary school would be provided
when available.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the Capital Strategy 2026/27 as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be
approved.
(2) T H A T the final Capital Programme for the years 2026/27 to 2030/31 as set
out in Appendix 2 to the report be approved.
(3) T H A T officers be granted delegated authority to vire £10k or below between
schemes that were already approved within the five year Capital Programme.
(4) T H A T the Chief Executive and the Head of Finance/Section 151 Officer, in
consultation with the Executive Leader and Cabinet Member for Performance and
Resources, be granted delegated authority to make additions, deletions or transfers
to or from the:
i. 2026/27 to 2030/31 Housing Improvement Programme as appropriate.
ii. 2026/27 to 2030/31 Asset Renewal budgets as appropriate.
iii. S106 funded schemes subject to Member consultation as required under the
existing process.
iv. Decarbonisation Schemes
v. Sustainable Communities for Learning programme.
vi. Discretionary Adaption Grant Schemes.
vii. Pride in Place Impact fund
viii. Plan for Neighbourhood
ix. Transforming Towns
x. Local Growth fund.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To approve the Capital Strategy for 2026/27.
(2) To set and approve future Capital Programmes to 2030/31.
(3) To enable officers to progress schemes more quickly where low value
virements below £10k were required.
(4) To enable the Housing Capital budget, Asset Renewal budgets, S106
schemes, Decarbonisation Schemes, Sustainable Communities for Learning
programme, Discretionary Adaption Grant Schemes, Pride in Place Impact fund,
Plan for Neighbourhood, Transforming Towns and Local Growth Fund to be
managed effectively.
TREASURY MANAGEMENT AND INVESTMENT STRATEGY 2026/27 AND UPDATE FOR 2025/26 (REF)
The Leader provided an overview of the report, which demonstrated how the Council
managed it finances prudently, and thanked attendees of a recent briefing session
surrounding treasury management. They highlighted Appendix 1, containing an
update to the review strategy and updated prudential indicators and Appendix 2
which included areas such as the investment strategy and CIPFA reporting
framework.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the proposed 2026/27 Treasury Management and Investment
Strategy including the following specific resolutions (detailed in Appendix 2 to the
report) be approved:
• The Authorised Limit for External Debt be set at £265.800m for 2025/26,
£308.472m for 2026/27, £370.857m for 2027/28 and £435.486m for 2028/29.
• The Operational Boundary for External Debt be set at £237.168m for 2025/26,
£278.201m for 2026/27, £339.237m for 2027/28 and £402.998m for 2028/29.
• The Section 151 Officer be granted delegated authority within the total
Authorised Limit and Operational Boundary as estimated for individual years
to effect movement between the separately agreed limits for borrowing and
other long-term liabilities.
• An upper limit of £0m for 2025/26, £10m in 2026/27, £10m in 2027/28 and
£10m in 2028/29 be set for total principal sums invested for over 364 days.
• The amount of projected borrowing that is fixed rate maturing in each period
as a percentage of total projected borrowing that is fixed rate be set as shown
below and further detailed in Appendix 1.
Table 1 – Upper and lower Limits for fixed rate borrowing
Upper Limit Lower Limit
Under 12 months 20% 0%
12 months and within 24 months 40% 0%
24 months and within 5 years 40% 0%
5 years and within 10 years 40% 0%
10 years and above 100% 0%
• Any breaches of the Prudential Indicators will be reported through to the next
meeting of Cabinet, with the exception of the Authorised Limit for External
Debt which would require prior Council approval.
(2) T H A T delegated authority be granted to the Head of Finance/Section 151
Officer to approve the Treasury Management Policy Statement and Treasury
Management Practices.
(3) T H A T delegated authority be granted as set out in paragraph 2.34 of the
report, to enable the assigned officers to place investments with the Debt
Management Account Deposit Facility (DMADF) in line with the daily cash flow
projections.
Reasons for decisions
(1) In order for the Treasury Management and Annual Investment Strategy as
prepared be approved as required by the Local Government Act 2003.
(2) In order for the Treasury Management Policy Statement and Treasury
Management Practices to be approved.
(3) In order for smooth running of daily cash flow.
BIGLIS TO DINAS POWYS ACTIVE TRAVEL ROUTE (REF)
The Deputy Leader presented the report, noting that this work had been underway
for several years, but that this would allow the Council to move into construction on
both phases in line with regulations. They indicated that they were seeking to utilise
8 pieces of land owned by 4 landowners, with the preferred approach being
negotiation ahead of Compulsory Purchase Order. They noted that this active travel
route was essential in supporting people’s health, providing an alternative form of
transport and improving safety on a particular route.
Councillor Dr. Johnson said that this route was long awaited, with initial plans for this
to be delivered in 2020, and that this would be considered by Planning Committee in
the future. They highlighted the twin track approach outlined by Welsh Government,
with the emphasis being upon discussions, which could take several years.
Councillor Ernest indicated that this this could be an opportunity to revive the Dinas
Powys bypass project and provide better links for road users.
Councillor Penn stated that many people were put off cycling to Barry due to safety
concerns and welcomed anything that could be done to facilitate active travel.
The Deputy Leader emphasised that negotiations were due to get underway as
quickly as possible, and that the scheme had significant preparation work over many
years, and they hoped it would help the aim of reducing car users and improving
safety.
RESOLVED – T H A T the use of delegated powers regarding the use of
Compulsory Purchase Orders be approved.
Reason for decision
To comply with governance requirements, as Cabinet does not hold delegated
powers to authorise the use of Compulsory Purchase Orders and in order to
maintain legal and constitutional integrity.
PAY POLICY 2026/27 (REF)
The Leader presented the report, noting that the median and mean pay gap had
reduced significantly from 2019 to 2025 to 1.6% and 2.3%, respectively. ONS had
reported that the average UK figure for the previous year had been 7% and so
reflected a positive position for the Council as a position of parity was worked
towards.
RESOLVED – T H A T the Council’s Pay Policy, as attached at Appendix A to the
report to Cabinet on 8th January, 2026 (Minute No. C180), be approved.
Reason for decision
To respond to the legal requirement under the Localism Act 2011 and to provide
openness and accountability in relation to how the Council rewards its staff.
N.B. All Chief Officers, save for two Democratic and Scrutiny Services Officers
servicing the meeting and the Head of Human Resources and Organisational
Development, left the meeting when this item was considered. The Head of
Human Resources and Organisational Development remained in the meeting,
until the matter was to be voted upon, in order to provide any clarification
required by Elected Members.