Wrthi'n llwytho
Cynhaliodd y pwyllgor graffu cyn penderfynu, sef adolygu eitemau cyn i'r Cabinet benderfynu, ar bedwar eitem am wastraff, amlosgfa, teithio llesol a Crossrail. Prif fater y drafodaeth oedd sut y gall Caerdydd gyrraedd targed ailgylchu o 70% Llywodraeth Cymru, ac mae'n debygol na fydd yn ei gyrraedd. Cytunodd y pwyllgor y bydd y Cadeirydd yn ysgrifennu at yr Aelodau Cabinet gyda'i sylwadau ar bob eitem.
Apologies were received from Cllr Carr and Martha Lewis (Youth Council).
The Chair advised Members that they have a responsibility in accordance with Part III of the Members’ Code of Conduct within the Council’s Constitution to notify at the start of the meeting in general terms whether they have an interest in any of the items on today’s agenda. A declaration form must be completed for all declared interests. No declarations of interest were received.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee expressing their comments and observations captured during the way forward and will write to you to inform you of the Committee’s observations, comments and/ or recommendations.
This item provided members with an update in relation to recycling performance and proposed interventions that will hopefully help to reach the Welsh Government’s 70% target. The Chair welcomed: • Cllr Mackie, Cabinet Member for Waste, Street Scene & Environmental Services • Matt Wakelam, Assistant Director, Street Scene The Cabinet Member introduced this item explaining the 2024/2025 projected target is likely to meet 64% which is below the target and risks fines under the Waste Wales Measure. There are a number of interventions in place and some impact is being made. There has been an increase in Q3 this year with the highest dry recycling and compost levels met. Two key interventions planned in the report are: · Moving to weekly Absorbent Hygiene Products (AHP) products collection. This is at 36% currently and the aim is 50%-70% which will increase the recycling by 0.2%-0.4% of the recycling targets. · From Summer, 2026, the start of kerbside soft plastics collection. This has received good feedback in other areas. It also reduces residual waste levels, is expected to will increase the recycling by 0.4%-0.7% of the recycling targets and is funded by the Extender Producer Responsibility Funding. The Chair opened the floor to questions from the Committee. Members asked about plans to communicate these changes and Officers explained that often what the press reports and what the reality is can differ, and some public feedback has been positive on this. There will also be a drive to ensure areas with a frontage to the premises have their collection bags put back on the property, so they are not causing an issue on the pavements or blowing into the road. This is more challenging in areas with no frontage. Feedback shows that the black sacks used for the black bags are working well in some areas, but more education is needed. Members welcomed the changes and asked what was happening in the other Council’s that were not meeting their targets, as there are 10 of which Cardiff is one. Officers explained that it is difficult to compare Councils, as they differ a lot in terms of population numbers and composition, as well as the types of properties in those areas, so the reasons for slow take up and targets not being met varies too. Officers also explained that performance and rates also differ depending on the time of year. For example, grass waste is heavy so when this is high in the warmer months, figures look good. Cardiff has a lot of HMO’s and flats so will struggle with this, but a dedicated team of Officers is working with residents to support and educate. All Local Authorities are held to the same 70% rate, despite the differences, but all incremental increases are welcomed. Members asked about what education was available for those harder to reach and whether the plans to check the waste and take out and recyclable items was taking place. Officers confirmed the cleansing teams would be separating anything they can and explained that they are using the Extender Producer Responsibility Funding (EPR) to fund 10 officer posts to support in targeted locations where support is needed, and demonstrating what needs to be done with the bags for collection and caddies etc. Members asked whether any exemptions to the 70% target had been agreed with Welsh Government and Officers explained that they are in discussion with Welsh Government but have had nothing agreed formally and have not heard whether fines for not hitting targets in previous years are also due. Some fines, or reduction in future funding, are expected. All incremental changes make a difference, and we have a clear plan going forwards. This year by Q3 we have the highest figure to date of 66.1%, so it is moving the right direction. Recycle London have contacted Cardiff Council for support, so we are starting to lead the way. Given the makeup of the city and accommodation, the most we could expect to achieve ever would be 82% and there is a risk that Welsh Government may increase the target in the future. Members asked if funding from EPR is likely to continue or will this need to be found from the central budget and Officers explained that producers are charged for the packaging on the product and this comes to the Local Authorities for recycling. Payments are likely to reduce as more packaging used become more recyclable. If this funding was reduced, it would be a challenge. Members asked whether the EPR had to be applied for annually and Officers explained that it is allocated in the form of a grant to each Council based on WLGA benchmarking. It reduced from £10m, in the last financial year to £6m, in the current year and Officers are working with Welsh Government and WLGA to understand specifically why this has happened. Members expressed their appreciation for garden waste collection being extended to all year around and how happy residents are with this change. They asked whether Officers thought it would be better to embed existing changes if the funding stream is uncertain, and Officers explained that the existing changes are embedded and the proposed changes will aim to prevent targets being missed and funding being reduced, so it is a good time to do this, and also help with discussions with Welsh Government. Members asked how the soft plastics collection bags would be communicated and distributed and Officers explained that this had not been fully agreed but it is likely that a roll of 52 bags would be delivered and collected kerbside weekly in the red sacks. RESOLVED: That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee expressing their comments and observations captured during the way forward and will write to you to inform you of the Committee’s observations, comments and/ or recommendations.
Rhaid i gynghorwyr ddweud pan fydd ganddyn nhw gysylltiad personol â rhywbeth sy'n cael ei drafod, fel swydd, eiddo neu aelod o'r teulu. Mae buddiant sy'n rhagfarnu yn ddigon cryf i'r cynghorydd adael yr ystafell fel arfer a pheidio â chymryd rhan.
Dyw'r cofnodion ddim yn cofnodi unrhyw ddatganiadau o fuddiant.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee expressing their comments and observations captured during the way forward and will write to you to inform you of the Committee’s observations, comments and/ or recommendations.
This item provided members with an opportunity to consider the proposal to build a new Green Crematorium in Cardiff. The Chair welcomed: • Cllr Mackie, Cabinet Member for Waste, Street Scene & Environmental Services • Andrew Gregory, Director for Planning Transport & Environment • Martin Birch, Operational Manger, for Bereavement & Registration Services. The Chair reminded members that all the appendices in relation to this item are confidential as they are considered commercially sensitive, so if they wanted to discuss them or ask any questions in relation to them, they must go into a closed session. The Cabinet Member introduced this item explaining the proposals and the aim to create a modern fit for purpose facility, as well as keeping funeral costs low for families. The Chair explained that officers had a presentation for the Committee however it was confidential. The Chair sought agreement from the Committee to open the closed sessions which Members agreed to. The recording of the meeting was then paused. The Chair asked if Members had any questions for the panel in relation to the information in the public domain and opened the floor to questions on this. Members expressed their support for this idea and the positive impact on the environment and asked if Officers thought people may move away for burials to more environmentally friendly cremation options and if this was part of the considerations for this plan. Officers explained that it is personal choice, but providing more options would be attractive. RESOLVED: That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee expressing their comments and observations captured during the way forward and will write to you to inform you of the Committee’s observations, comments and/ or recommendations.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee expressing their comments and observations captured during the way forward and will write to you to inform you of the Committee’s observations, comments and/ or recommendations.
This item provided members with an opportunity to consider the proposed updates to the Active Travel Network Map before it undergoes a formal 12-week consultation period before submission to Welsh Government. The Chair welcomed: • Cllr De’Ath, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Strategic Planning & Transport • Andrew Gregory, Director for Planning Transport & Environment • Gail Bodley Scott, Section Leader for Transport Vision Policy & Strategy The Cabinet Member introduced this item explaining that the report seeks approval for a 12-week consultation on Active Travel Network Map. The report sets out ambitious but realistic plans. They want to hear from cyclists and non-cyclists and this consultation will run from May to July 2026. Officers delivered a presentation, after which the Chair opened the floor to questions from the Committee. Members asked about the perceived disconnect between what is being asked for and what the map and plans show, and Officers explained that expectations and what can be done in certain time frames do not always align, and there are a lot of routes in the plan that will take a long time to become a reality. Areas are prioritised as part of the plan and it is also dependant on funding and Welsh Government grants, and these have reduced in recent years. Members asked if Welsh Government approve the Active Travel Network Map, whether they would also look at how this would be funded, and Officers explained that the way the funding works is that if the route is not on the plan, funding cannot be applied for, and one of the issues with this is that it does not secure funding for routes. Members suggested that it would be useful to have some idea of the prioritisation of routes so the public have an idea of what could happen and when, which Officers took on board. Members ask whether finding and including all walking routes on the map could be part of the consultation, as some are missing, and Officers explained that it is not enough for routes to be in the map, they must also meet certain audit criteria, and Members asked whether this walking and cycling audit tool could be part of the consultation. Officers agreed to look at this possibility. Members asked why local knowledge was not sought and included when the map was put together and this would also involve local people. Officers explained that this will be part of the consultation and be a very valuable part of it. RESOLVED: That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee expressing their comments and observations captured during the way forward and will write to you to inform you of the Committee’s observations, comments and/ or recommendations.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee expressing their comments and observations captured during the way forward and will write to you to inform you of the Committee’s observations, comments and/ or recommendations.
This item provided members with an opportunity to consider the proposed next phase needed to progress the delivery of Cardiff Cross rail. The Chair welcomed: • Cllr De’Ath, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Strategic Planning & Transport • Andrew Gregory, Director for Planning Transport & Environment • Gethin Shields, Operational Manger Major Projects The Chair reminded members that all the appendices in relation to this item are confidential as they are considered commercially sensitive, so if they wanted to discuss them or ask any questions in relation to them, they must go into a closed session. The Cabinet Member introduced this item explaining that it seeks authority to award the contract for these works to John Graham Construction Ltd, and to change the way transport works in the City. Officers were thanked for the time they have spent on this and the good work that has been done. Officers delivered a presentation, after which the Chair asked for the recording to be paused as they entered the closed session for this item, The Chair opened the floor to questions from the Committee relating to the information in the public domain. Members asked about the planned timescales for the works to be completed in 2028 and how that would work alongside completion of the new arena. Officers explained that the plan is for both to be available at the same time, and included plans for training and testing with TfW, and could not see a reason why this could not be achieved. They added that the projects are not dependant on each other from a construction point of view. RESOLVED: That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee expressing their comments and observations captured during the way forward and will write to you to inform you of the Committee’s observations, comments and/ or recommendations.
I can confirm there are no Urgent Items to discuss.
To review the evidence and information gathered during the meeting, agree Members comments, observations and concerns to be passed on to the relevant Cabinet Member by the Chair.
Members were advised that the next Environment Scrutiny Committee was scheduled for Thursday 16th April 4:30 pm, but this has been postponed, with the agreement of the Committee, so the next meeting will be on Thursday 14th May at 4.30pm.
Yn rhestru cynghorwyr presennol y cyngor yn unig. Nid yw aelodau cyfetholedig, swyddogion a chyn-gynghorwyr yn cael eu dangos.