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Councils reported on climate and nature plans this month, including net zero reports in Carmarthenshire and Powys and nature plans in Neath Port Talbot, Caerphilly and Bridgend. Planning committees also dealt with carbon capture, flood-related and biodiversity matters.[4][14][2][12][5][1]
Written in November 2026 from council records since 20 September 2026, open consultations and official sources. Written automatically, then checked: every point names its sources and every figure appears in them. Follow the links to check anything before relying on it.
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.
The Cabinet agrees climate plans; scrutiny committees check progress.
Ask your councillors how the council is doing against its own targets, and respond to its consultations on plans.
| Council | Items | With a decision |
|---|---|---|
| Vale of Glamorgan | 138 | 16 |
| Rhondda Cynon Taf | 55 | 52 |
| Gwynedd | 55 | 52 |
| Pembrokeshire | 43 | 36 |
| Carmarthenshire | 41 | 39 |
| Swansea | 40 | 31 |
| Powys | 40 | 29 |
| Monmouthshire | 38 | 9 |
| Wrexham | 27 | 27 |
| Cardiff | 27 | 24 |
| Conwy | 27 | 24 |
| Denbighshire | 22 | 17 |
| Flintshire | 21 | 11 |
| Newport | 21 | 10 |
| Blaenau Gwent | 17 | 17 |
| Neath Port Talbot | 16 | 9 |
| Caerphilly | 16 | 0 |
| Ceredigion | 9 | 8 |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 8 | 7 |
| Torfaen | 7 | 6 |
| Bridgend | 5 | 0 |
Decided: Cabinet approved the funding application and grant award for the Local Places for Nature Challenge Fund. The approved scheme is to be added to the capital programme by the Section 151 Officer, in line with Financial Procedure Rule 7.
Decided: Cabinet agreed to extend the current legal and operational arrangements with Swansea University until 31 December 2026. Subject to the final subsidy control assessment, it agreed that the council will enter a new contract with the wholly owned Joint Venture Company (JVCo), with Swansea University as partner. It noted legal advice on the land disposal and approved a public open space notice for any land that may be public open space, with responses delegated to the Head of Property Services. Subject to no material objections, it approved a 25-year lease to the JVCo for less than best consideration. It delegated finalising the lease terms to the Chief Legal Officer and the Head of Property Services. It agreed that the JVCo will contract with the preferred bidder, from 1 August 2026, on a 10-year term with an optional 5-year extension, with terms agreed by officers acting as JVCo directors.
Decided: The committee agreed to recommend Microsoft Teams training for Members to the Head of Democratic Services. It also agreed to recommend to the Lead Member for Housing and Climate Change that the Cost of Living Working Group consider the 4:1 office-to-home ratio (four days in the office for every day at home), given fuel and energy cost rises linked to the conflict in the Middle East. It also agreed that a further progress update be submitted 12 months after the policy was implemented.
RESOLVED that Tir Glas is designated as a GO (Conditional), subject to the conditions set out in the report. 2.2 RESOLVED that Aberaeron Harbours is designated as under review, subject to the outcome of the feasibility work. 2.3 RESOLVED that Elan Valley Lakes is designated as GO (Conditional), subject to the completion of the normal Growth Deal assurances project. 2.4 RESOLVED that CymruTech’s Park designated as a Go (Conditional), subject to the conditions set out in the report. 2.5 RESOLVED that the Cynefin Project is designated as GO (Conditional), subject to the conditions set out in the report.
Decided: Cabinet delegated authority to the Director of Planning, Transport and Environment, with the Corporate Director for Resources and the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Strategic Planning & Transport, to finalise and award the Stage 2 construction contract to John Graham Construction Limited. This is conditional on the project staying within the approved budget and the Project Team assuring the Programme Board that funding is adequate. Cabinet also delegated authority to vary the Stage 1 contract to cover costs to date, approve future compensation events, and let enabling works and utility diversions start before the Stage 2 Notice to Proceed. Cabinet noted the risks. No Notice to Proceed will be issued until the conditions are met.
Decided: Cabinet approved a strategy for a permanent car park at the ISV site and delegated authority to the Director of Economic Development, with the Cabinet Member for Investment & Development, the Legal Officer and the Section 151 Officer, to procure a contractor or energy developer and to dispose of the land in Confidential Appendix 1. A further Cabinet decision is needed if the Council's contribution exceeds the land's value. Cabinet approved a soft market exercise on the possible disposal of Cardiff Ice Arena and another on the external operation or disposal of Cardiff International White Water, both to return to Cabinet. It noted an amendment to the Option Agreement with Cardiff Peninsula Consortium Limited, subject to the parking strategy. It approved the disposal or long-term lease of the Toys R Us building to the current Ice Arena sub-tenant, subject to valuation, and approved the Council taking ownership of the boardwalk, subject to residents' formal agreement.
Decided: The committee resolved to ask for three things: (1) longer-term data on car park use, to build a stronger business case for the Capital Scrutiny Group (the group that reviews major spending bids); (2) stronger enforcement focused on known hot spots, peak parking times, and an approach led by intelligence and data; (3) a better way for the public to report parking issues through the Contact Centre.
Decided: The committee accepted the report on the Gwent Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) and noted the key findings in the Interim Progress Briefing. It gave comments for the Public Services Board to consider. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is to contact utility companies, such as power providers and Welsh Water, for more detailed local data and vulnerability analysis. NRW is also to set timelines and monitoring for the response, and young people are to be engaged early in the climate risk work. An update report will come to the committee in six months.
Decided: The panel recommended that the Council approve the appointment of named people to current and future local authority governor vacancies at Cardiff schools, as listed in the minute.
Decided: Cabinet agreed new permit fees, including £300 a year for Y Penfro and £240 a year for The Puffin. It agreed to start procedures to change the off-street parking order. The changes include a free one-hour tariff and motorbike bays at Haverfordwest Interchange, a £3 four-hour tariff at Perrots Road, and revoking the Hole in the Wall car park. They also include new Tenby multi-storey charges from 1 May 2026, extra land for Tenby multi-storey, new free parking at Gelliswick, and new Tenby Harbour permit fees from March 2027. Cabinet agreed new on-street resident permit and event charges from 1 April 2026, and noted that a full parking review will return to Cabinet in June 2027, with any changes from September 2027.
RESOLVED To agree to the request for change in the Parc Bryn Cegin project to allocate an additional £1.43m of Growth Deal funding to deliver Phase 2 of the Project to provide an additional 1,856 square metres (20,000 sq. ft) of high-quality modern employment units operating on a low carbon basis. To delegate to the Portfolio Director, in consultation with the Chair, Vice-chair, Monitoring Officer and Section 151 Officer, to agree and approve the relevant changes to the Joint Venture Agreement with the Welsh Government for the delivery of the project. To note that the Full Business Case for Parc Bryn Cegin would be updated following the signing of the contract for phase 2 to reflect the final costs and to delegate the approval of the Full Business Case to the Portfolio Director. REASONS FOR THE DECISION To seek the Sub-committee's approval of the request for change for the Parc Bryn Cegin project, Bangor. DISCUSSION The Report was discussed.
AGREED to note the contents of the Forward Work Programme presented subject to the following: · Road Closures/ Utility Companies (June 2026) · Local Flood Risk Strategy (June 2026) · Report on the possibility of establishing a Coast & Seaside Towns Forum (September/ December 2026)
Decided: The committee adjourned the application for legal reasons. It will be considered at a future meeting.
Decided: Members approved the work programme for 2025-26, subject to any changes. They agreed to make a site visit to the Clydach Vale Hydro Programme during the year. They also agreed to receive a future update from the Chair on the findings of the visit.
Decided: Members considered the progress reported. They noted the comments made by the Climate Change, Frontline Services and Prosperity Scrutiny Committee in its pre-scrutiny feedback letter.
Decided: Members noted the report. They agreed to publish the data on the council's Carbon Footprint Dashboard, and to receive future progress reports when appropriate.
Decided: Members noted the contents of the report, as part of the work to deliver the council's Climate Change and EV Charging Strategy.
Decided: Members noted the report as part of the work to decarbonise the council's buildings. They agreed to receive further reports at the appropriate time.
Decided: Members were minded to grant conditional planning permission, subject to: resolving further tree retention and measures to improve pedestrian connections and lighting in the area, to the satisfaction of the Development and Building Control Manager; and a Section 106 agreement for on-site affordable housing and open space, and commuted sums for waste and off-site open space. If these are not completed within three months, or a longer period agreed, permission would be refused. The Development and Building Control Manager will determine the application under delegation.
Decided: Members were minded to grant conditional planning permission, and the Development and Building Control Manager will determine the application under delegation. The minute does not repeat the report's condition that no relevant objections be received during the consultation period.
Decided: The committee refused planning permission, against officer recommendations, for the reason in the officer's latest report about surface water and flooding downstream. The motion to grant was defeated, with 7 votes for and 12 against.
Decided: The committee voted 18 to 0 to grant the application, in line with officer recommendations. The officer had recommended that the order be confirmed without any changes.
Decided: Refused, contrary to officer advice, for two reasons. First, there would be too little off-street parking, and no room on the street for the cars, so drivers would park where they should not, risking highway and pedestrian safety, contrary to Policy T6 of the Swansea Local Development Plan. Second, the on-site parking space blocks access to the cycle storage, which would also lead to indiscriminate parking and risk to safety, contrary to Policies T1, T5, T6 and PS2. Councillor A Davies was nominated to lead the defence of the decision at any appeal.