Topics

Climate and nature

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.

By council, last 12 months

How many agenda items on this topic each council dealt with, and how many had a decision recorded.

Council	Items	With a decision
Vale of Glamorgan	137	10
Swansea	25	4
Cardiff	24	21
Carmarthenshire	5	4
Rhondda Cynon Taf	5	4
Newport	4	0
Powys	3	0
Neath Port Talbot	2	0
Bridgend	2	0
Gwynedd	2	1
Blaenau Gwent	1	0

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Latest business

Vale of Glamorgan, Governance and Audit Committee, 17 February 2025

To receive declarations of interest and the nature of such interests under the Council’s Code of Conduct.

Swansea, Climate Change & Nature Recovery Service Transformation Committee, 17 February 2025

Local Development Plan 2 (LDP 2) - Impact on Environment, Sustainability and Nature Recovery.

Vale of Glamorgan, Planning Committee, 13 February 2025

Trees:

Vale of Glamorgan, Planning Committee, 13 February 2025

To receive declarations of interest and the nature of such interests under the Council’s Code of Conduct (including whipping declarations).

Vale of Glamorgan, Democratic Services Committee, 10 February 2025

To receive declarations of interest and the nature of such interests under the Council’s Code of Conduct.

Vale of Glamorgan, Cabinet, 6 February 2025

To receive declarations of interest and the nature of such interests under the Council’s Code of Conduct.

Cardiff, Pensions Committee, 5 February 2025

Asset Allocation 2025/26

RESOLVED To: approve the Investment decisions below: (1) A commitment of £50m for the WPP Closed Ended Infrastructure sub-fund Series II (2) An investment of £20-£30m in the WPP Real Estate UK Impact sub-fund funded from top-slicing the existing Property Investments (3) The transfer of the existing BlackRock Low Carbon Tracker Fund into the new WPP bespoke BlackRock passive fund. The decision on the private credit fund was delegated to the Section 151 Officer and Chairperson, with further information to be gathered and shared with committee members.

Vale of Glamorgan, Community Liaison Committee, 30 January 2025

To receive declarations of interest and the nature of such interests under the Council’s Code of Conduct.

Vale of Glamorgan, Standards Committee, 30 January 2025

To receive declarations of interest and the nature of such interests under the Council's Code of Conduct.

Vale of Glamorgan, Voluntary Sector Joint Liaison Committee, 27 January 2025

To receive declarations of interest and the nature of such interests under the Council’s Code of Conduct.

Vale of Glamorgan, Early Retirement and Redundancy Committee, 23 January 2025

To receive declarations of interest and the nature of such interests under the Council’s Code of Conduct.

Vale of Glamorgan, Public Rights of Way Sub-Committee, 22 January 2025

To receive declarations of interest and the nature of such interests under the Council’s Code of Conduct.

Swansea, Scrutiny Performance Panel - Climate Change and Nature, 21 January 2025

Renewable Energy / Local Area Energy Plan

Vale of Glamorgan, Welsh Church Act Estate Trust, 20 January 2025

To receive declarations of interest and the nature of such interests under the Council’s Code of Conduct.

Cardiff, Local Authority Governor Panel, 20 January 2025

Nominations to Local Authority Governor Vacancies

RESOLVED – That the Council be recommended to approve the recommendations of the Panel to appoint the following persons to current Local Authority Governing Body vacancies as follows: School Ward Start of Vacancy Applicant Allensbank Primary School Gabalfa 21/09/2024 Bryn Deri Primary School Radyr & Morganstown 01/10/2024 Cardiff West Community High School Caerau 31/12/2024 30/11/2024 Danescourt Primary School Llandaff 13/03/2024 Katherine Shearer Ely and Caerau Childrens Centre Ely 24/10/2024 Ffederasiwn y Ddraig (Ysgol Pen y Pil and Bro Eirwg) Trowbridge/Llanrumney 20/04/2024 Adheesha Liyanagunawardana Lakeside Primary School Cyncoed 13/09/2023 Millbank Primary School Caerau 26/11/2024 Pentyrch Primary School Pentyrch & St Fagans 12/09/2023 23/10/2024 Pontprennau Primary School Pontprennau & Old St Mellons 08/11/2024 Cllr Peter Littlechild Radyr Primary School Radyr & Morganstown 22/03/2024 Nigel Shears Severn Primary School Riverside 22/10/2024 St Mellons CW Primary School Llanrumney 21/09/2024 St Teilo's C.W High School Pentwyn 29/02/2023 Whitchurch High School Whitchurch & Tongwynlais 01/03/2024 Ysgol Glan Ceubal Llandaff North 23/10/2024 Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf Llandaff North 18/09/2024 Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Hamadryad Butetown 06/10/2023 Ysgol Pencae Llandaff 12/09/2024 The Committee received and considered applications to future vacancies against criteria, matching skills to vacancies. RESOLVED – That the Council be recommended to approve the recommendations of the Panel to appoint the following: School Ward Start of Vacancy Re-appointment New Applicant Albany Primary School Plasnewydd 01/05/2025 Birchgrove Primary School Heath 01/02/2025 Bishop Childs C.W Primary School Trowbridge 01/05/2025 Richard Leyshon Bryn Celyn Primary School Pentwyn 01/05/2025 Cardiff High School Cyncoed 24/03/2025 01/05/2025 01/05/2025 Julia Phillips Lewis Nonny Matthewson Cardiff West Community High School Caerau 19/03/2025 Joanne Larner Cathays High School Gabalfa 01/05/2025 Cllr Peter Wong Coed Glas Primary School Llanishen 01/05/2025 Cllr Garry Hunt Corpus Christi R.C High School Lisvane & Thornhill 01/05/2025 Fitzalan High School Fairwater 24/04/2025 01/05/2025 Cerys Furlong Ramesh Patel Grangetown Primary School Grangetown 01/05/2025 Hawthorn Primary School Llandaff North 01/05/2025 01/05/2025 01/05/2025 Steven Chadwell Paul Rock Llanedeyrn Primary School Pentwyn 01/05/2025 Alex Ingram Llysfaen Primary School Lisvane & Thornhill 01/05/2025 Susan Powell Marlborough Primary School Penylan 01/05/2025 Cllr Rodney Berman Meadowbank School Llandaff North 01/05/2025 Mike Borley Meadowlane Primary School Trowbridge 01/05/2025 Mount Stuart Primary School Butetown 01/05/2025 Ivor Gittens Ninian Park Primary School Grangetown 01/05/2025 Radyr Comprehensive School Radyr & Morganstown 01/05/2025 David Silver Rhiwbeina Primary School Rhiwbina 29/03/2025 Siva Sivapalan Rhydypenau Primary School Cyncoed 01/05/2025 Nonny Matthewson Rumney Primary School Rumney 01/05/2025 01/05/2025 Cllr Bob Derbyshire Caroline Derbyshire Springwood Primary School Pentwyn 19/03/2025 Jessica Gow St Teilo's C.W High School Pentwyn 01/05/2025 Trelai Primary School Caerau 24/03/2025 Whitchurch High School Whitchurch & Tongwynlais 01/05/2025 Whitchurch Primary School Whitchurch & Tongwynlais 01/05/2025 Ysgol Glan Morfa Splott 01/05/2025 Cllr Huw Thomas Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Edern Penylan 01/05/2025 01/05/2025 01/05/2025 Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf Llandaff North 27/01/2025 01/05/2025 Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Hamadryad Butetown 01/05/2025 Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pen-y-Groes Pentwyn 01/05/2025 Michael Landers Ysgol Mynydd Bychan Gabalfa 01/05/2025 Cllr Rhys Taylor Ysgol Y Berllan Deg Pentwyn 01/05/2025 Cllr Rodney Berman

Vale of Glamorgan, Planning Committee, 16 January 2025

To receive declarations of interest and the nature of such interests under the Council’s Code of Conduct (including whipping declarations).

Vale of Glamorgan, Cabinet, 16 January 2025

To receive declarations of interest and the nature of such interests under the Council’s Code of Conduct.

Cardiff, Planning Committee, 16 January 2025

Development Management Applications

RESOLVED: Pursuant to this Committee’s delegated powers the following development management applications be determined in accordance with the recommendation set out in the reports of the Director of Planning, Transport and Environment, subject to any further amendments as detailed below and notification be given of the decisions in accordance with Section 70 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 or Section 74 of the Planning (Listed Building & Conservation) Act 1990. APPLICATIONS GRANTED 24/01641/DOC – WHITCHURCH AND TONGWYNLAIS Land to the North West of Whitchurch Hospital Playing Fields, Whitchurch. Re-discharge of Condition 20 (Drainage) of 17/01735/MJR subsequently varied under 20/02632/MJR. The application was granted subject to the conditions outlined in the report. 23/02481/FUL – BUTETOWN Parcel of Land located to the South of Hemingway Road, West of Future Inns Hotel and South of Miller & Carter Steak House. Demolition of an existing building and construction of a car park with associated lighting, EV provision and landscaping. (Cllr Gunter left the meeting during discussion of this item in accordance with her prejudicial interest). The application was granted subject to the conditions outlined in the report. 24/02088/FUL – BUTETOWN Land South of Future Inns Access Road, Butetown. Multi-Storey Car Park including an ancillary office, and associated infrastructure including vehicular and pedestrian access, landscaping, drainage and a temporary construction compound. (Cllr Gunter left her seat as a member of the Committee during this item in order to speak as a Ward Councillor, and did not vote in accordance with her prejudicial interest.) The application was granted subject to the conditions outlined in the report. 23/01914/FUL – CATHAYS Medallion House Crwys Road, Cathays. Partial change of use of the ground floor from A1 retail to D1 community centre and A1 retail, demolition of the existing first and second floor and the construction of 64no. affordable flats on 4 new upper floors and 3no. 2-bed flats in existing car park and associated works. (Cllr Humphreys left the meeting during discussion of this item in accordance with her personal and prejudicial interest). The application was granted subject to the conditions outlined in the report. APPLICATION DEFERRED 24/01620/OUT – OLD ST MELLONS Land adjacent to Cefn Eurg, Druidstone Road. Proposed construction of a detached dwelling with integral garage. The application was deferred for a site visit to take place. APPLICATION REFUSED 23/02600/FUL – LLANDAFF Land at Radyr Court Close. Erection of affordable houses together with access, landscaping, drainage, engineering and other associated works. (Cllr Driscoll left his seat as a member of the Committee during this item in order to speak as a Ward Councillor, and did not vote in accordance with his prejudicial interest.) The application was refused.

Vale of Glamorgan, Cabinet, 9 January 2025

To receive declarations of interest and the nature of such interests under the Council’s Code of Conduct.

Cardiff, Public Protection Sub Committee, 8 January 2025

Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Matters

RESOLVED – That the following matters be dealt with as indicated: (1) Application 1 The Sub Committee was asked to determine if a driver remained a fit and proper person to continue to hold a Hackney Carriage / Private Hire Driver’s License given that a complaint had been received stating that he attempted to charge a customer an extra amount for paying by debit card and was attempting to charge a fixed fee and not utilise the calibrated meter in the vehicle. Addressing the Sub Committee, the driver explained that he had taken card payments long before it was mandatory to offer them, and often picked up passengers near the train station who did not have cash on them. On the night in question, at about 1am he saw the witness waiting for a taxi and asked him if he needed to pay by card, which he did. The passenger asked how much it would be to go to Penylan, which he said would cost about £10. The driver added that he had accidentally pressed the £1 extra button on SumUp while waiting to leave the rank but did not intend to charge this. He was aware of the rules against charging more than was on the meter, even though he had to pay fees on card payments. The driver suggested that during the journey, the passenger was upset and rude. After arriving at the destination, they paid the £9.30 fare listed on the meter by card and then took pictures of the inside and outside of the car. The passenger was not charged anything extra, which the receipt showed. The driver’s representative added that there had been no previous complaints against the driver, and he had been taking card payments for six years now without ever being accused of trying to charge more than what was on the meter. Responding to questions from the Sub Committee, the driver emphasised that he knew it was not legal to charge a transaction fee for card payments, and stressed that he had added the £1 fee by mistake at the start of the journey and then not tried to charge it at the end. He also emphasised that he had not asked for a fixed fee, but had just said that a trip to Penylan would likely be around that amount, and then put the meter on as requested. The witness recalled that he had hailed a taxi at the bottom of St Mary’s Street on a Friday night, which was always busy. He found a taxi which was willing to take card, as he didn’t have cash and this was before a card reader became a requirement. He asked the driver if he could go to Penylan and the driver said ‘£10’. The witness said ‘we’ll see what the meter says’, because he was aware of the requirements for journeys within the city boundaries. The driver then said there would be a £1 fee, which he disputed. The witness insisted that he had not been rude or angry. At the end of the journey, as he exited the vehicle he took a photo of the numberplate, because he didn’t think it was right that the driver had tried to charge him a fixed fare within the city boundaries. Members asked what the fee was at the end of the journey. The witness responded that he paid £9.30 and suggested that the photo he took of the meter showed a £9.30 total with a £1 fee having been added to it. The driver clarified that the £1 fee had not been added to the fare, as he had to press an extra button to add this on before taking payment, but did not do this because he had pressed the £1 button accidentally. The driver added that he had never been accused of overcharging before, and he always used the meter even when he went outside of the boundaries to places like Penarth. The driver’s representative suggested that the situation may have stemmed from a misunderstanding when the driver advised that the likely cost to go to Penylan would be around £10, which the passenger interpreted as a fixed fare. RESOLVED – that no further action be taken. (2) Application 2 The Sub Committee was asked to determine if a driver remained a fit and proper person to continue to hold a Hackney Carriage / Private Hire Driver’s License given that he had 9 penalty points on his driving licence. Addressing the Sub Committee, the driver explained the offences and acknowledged complacency on his part, particularly regarding two of his speeding offences which had occurred in the same week. At the time he was going through a personal crisis with his partner being ill in hospital, and he failed to notice a recent change in speed limit in an area from 40mph to 30mph. Members asked why the driver had only declared 6 penalty points when renewing his licence when he actually had 9. The driver explained that the second offence in that week, in June 2023, was not actually penalised until the following February, which he still did not understand. He had paid the fine initially but then had it reimbursed in December 2023, so he assumed it had been a mistake and they had charged him twice for the same offence. In January 2024 he was summoned to court and told that he hadn’t paid the fine. He co-operated in every way he could and accepted his punishment for speeding, which ended up being a larger fine than the original one. At the time he renewed his application, he believed there were only 6 points on his licence. Responding to questions from the Sub Committee, the driver explained that the two offences in the same week were committed on Manor Way. The driver added that he drove past there almost every day because he lived nearby. He was not making excuses but felt there were some mitigating circumstances on his mind when he failed to notice the change to a 30mph road, and he did not deny that he was speeding. Members noted that with 9 points now on his licence, he would need to be very careful in order to keep driving at all. The driver agreed and stressed that he was very aware of this. Taxi driving was very important to him because it allowed him to work flexibly and care for his wife. He reiterated that the offences had been a temporary lapse of judgement which he had owned up to. RESOLVED – that no further action be taken. (3) Application 3 The Sub Committee was asked to consider an application for a Hackney Carriage / Private Hire Driver’s License given that he had a conviction contrary to the guidance. Addressing the Sub Committee, the driver stated that he had made a big mistake six years ago, while he was new in the country and had been drinking. He had sexually assaulted a woman who reported him to the police, and he had accepted a caution for this and apologised. Members asked why he had not declared this on his application form. The driver explained that he didn’t know that he needed to at the time, having only been in the UK for a year and only having had limited English skills then. At the police station he had come under the impression that accepting the caution and apologising would be the end of the matter. He didn’t know it would show up on his application but he needed a job and didn’t want to be turned down. He felt very ashamed, both for what he did and for not declaring it. RESOLVED – that the application for a Hackney Carriage / Private Hire Driver’s Licence be refused. (4) Application 4 The Sub Committee was asked to determine if a driver remained a fit and proper person to continue to hold a Hackney Carriage / Private Hire Driver’s License given that he had been issued with a caution by South Wales Police which he did not declare on his renewal application. Addressing the Sub Committee, the driver explained that he had received a caution for battery in 2022 after an incident between him and his wife. He pushed her and she called the police, and he was arrested and released with a caution. When it came to renew his licence, he misunderstood the question and thought it only referred to convictions, not cautions. Members asked why he had not declared the caution immediately in 2022, let alone failing to do so in 2024 upon renewal. The driver responded that he didn’t realise it was something he had to declare as he had been released straight away. He had understood it as a warning rather than something on his permanent record, and apologised for this. Members suggested that having been a taxi driver since 2008, he would have renewed his licence several times before, and should have been aware of the need to inform the licensing authority as soon as possible if he committed any sort of offence. The driver apologised and reiterated that he was under the impression that a caution was more like a warning. The driver added that in 16 years in the trade he had never had any incidents of this or any other nature. The offence was something in his private life which he and his wife had now resolved. RESOLVED – that the Hackney Carriage / Private Hire Driver’s Licence be suspended for 28 days, and the driver receive a written warning. (5) This case was deferred to the next meeting.

Vale of Glamorgan, Governance and Audit Committee, 6 January 2025

To receive declarations of interest and the nature of such interests under the Council’s Code of Conduct.

Vale of Glamorgan, Cabinet, 19 December 2024

Wales Centre for Public Policy – Response to the Vale of Glamorgan Council Carbon Management Plan 2024-2030 – Corporate Performance and Resources Scrutiny Committee: 20th November 2024.

Vale of Glamorgan, Cabinet, 19 December 2024

To receive declarations of interest and the nature of such interests under the Council’s Code of Conduct (including whipping declarations).

Vale of Glamorgan, Planning Committee, 12 December 2024