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: The Cabinet approved moving the power to approve spending from the climate plan fund from the Chief Executive to the Cabinet Member for the climate and nature portfolio, in consultation with the Climate and Nature Board members and the Social Services Director.
Decided: Councillors approved a 6.5% Council Tax rise and the 2026/27 budget, by 26 votes to 22 with 5 abstentions. They approved the capital strategy and capital programme to 2030/31, and gave officers delegated power to move up to £10k between approved schemes. They approved the 2026/27 treasury management and investment strategy, including borrowing limits. They approved delegated powers to use Compulsory Purchase Orders for the Biglis to Dinas Powys active travel route. They approved the 2026/27 Pay Policy.
Decided: Members approved the variation, in line with the officer recommendation. A motion to hold a site visit was seconded but failed.
Decided: Council received four petitions. Julie Bartlett presented one with 84 relevant signatures, calling for Letton Road to return to two-way access for residents' cars. Cllr Ed Stubbs presented one with 117 signatures calling for a school bus for pupils of Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Edern. Cllr Rodney Berman presented one with 916 signatures supporting a Welsh-medium high school for the south of the city and calling on the council to rule out removing Ysgol Bro Edern. Cllr Berman also presented one with 1,619 signatures objecting to plans to demolish Cardiff East Park & Ride.
RESOLVED (a) That the revised Allocation of Committee Seats and Outside Bodies to political groups under the requirements of Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 as set out in Appendix 1 be approved, subject to the Plaid Cymru Group being allocated an additional seat on the Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee. (b) That the following appointments of Members not in a Political Group be approved: (i) Urgency Committee – Councillor Pat Davies (ii) Governance and Audit Committee – Councillor Steve Alderman (iii) Housing Revenue Account Working Group – Councillor Bethan Price (iv) School Modernisation Working Group – Councillor Viv Stoddart (v) Net Zero Working Group – Councillor Michele Wiggins (vi) South West Wales Corporate Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Councillor David Simpson (vii) Celtic Freeport Joint Scrutiny Committee – Councillor Steve Alderman (c) That the following changes be noted: (i) Licensing Committee – Councillor Bethan Price to step down. (ii) National Park Authority – Councillor Steve Alderman to step down. (iii) Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Councillor Steve Alderman to step down. (d) That the appointment of Members to Committees and other bodies, as set out in Appendix 3, be approved subject to the above amendments.
Decided: Council gave delegated authority to the Head of Planning to approve the application, after publicity as a departure from policy, subject to a Section 106 agreement tying the business to the farm, and to conditions. If the agreement is not completed within three months, the Head of Planning may refuse the application. The vote was 28 for, 15 against and 1 abstention.
Decided: The Council approved a 25-year lease of the property, shown edged red on the plan, to Bedwellty Park Bowls Club. The decision was unanimous.
Decided: Cabinet approved opening parks and gardens to pedestrians 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Victoria Gardens is excluded and keeps its traditional opening and closing times.
RESOLVED That Councillor John Parsons be granted dispensation to speak only on matters relating to Planning Application 23/0576/PA in respect of land south of Cleggar Park, Lamphey, Pembroke,; and that the dispensation be valid until the end of the administrative year (May 2027). [Councillor David Edwards rejoined the meeting at this juncture]
Decided: The committee approved planning permission for a three-bedroom house and a one-bedroom annexe, subject to the conditions in the report. The approval also depends on no objection from the Environmental Health Officer to the location of the private treatment plant.
Decided: Permission was granted in line with the officer's recommendation, with two added conditions. Before first use, a Car Park Management Plan and a Travel Plan must be submitted to and approved by the Council.
Decided: Permission was granted in line with the officer's recommendation.
Decided: Permission was refused, against the officer's recommendation to grant it. The reason given is that the site does not have enough off-street parking, so more cars would likely park on nearby streets and harm highway safety. This conflicts with policies GDP1 and T8 of the Wrexham Unitary Development Plan, the Council's main planning policy document.
Decided: The Committee approved the application with conditions. The approval is subject to a legal agreement, either a Section 106 agreement or a unilateral agreement, to secure a contribution to open spaces. A Section 106 agreement is a legal deal between the council and the developer that secures money or works. A unilateral agreement is a legal undertaking given by the developer alone. A proposal to defer the application for further talks with Natural Resources Wales about the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty was put forward but not seconded, so it fell.
Decided: The Committee approved the application with conditions, subject to a Section 106 agreement or a unilateral agreement to secure a £10,000 contribution towards a play area. The conditions cover highways, biodiversity, landscaping, drainage, archaeology and protection of the public footpath.
Decided: The Committee approved the application with conditions. The conditions require the work to follow the avoidance and pollution measures in the Initial Environmental Assessment and the tree protection measures, and require biodiversity enhancements to be agreed.
Decided: Cabinet noted the progress made on carbon reduction under the One Planet Cardiff Strategy. It approved the Green Growth Proposition on local renewable energy and home energy retrofit (upgrading buildings to use less energy). Subject to the project being in the budget Council considers in March 2026, it delegated powers to the Director of Planning, Transport and Environment, in consultation with the Section 151 Officer (the Council's chief finance officer) and others, to appoint a regulated supplier, carry out due diligence and prepare business cases for energy projects offered through Local Climate Bonds (bonds sold to raise money for climate projects). It also approved engagement with Welsh Government on an area-based domestic energy retrofit pilot scheme, and delegated power to agree details and enter agreements.
Decided: The Council approved a net budget of £368,792,041 for 2026/27. It set the Band D council tax at £1,832.57 for its general expenses. It also set extra charges for footway lighting in some areas, ranging from £6.61 to £22.40 at Band D. It agreed that any extra funding from the final local government settlement will be spent as the report prescribes or used to cover extra inflation costs. It approved the Medium Term Financial Plan, the reserve strategy, the Capital Strategy, the Treasury Management Strategy and the Investment Strategy.
Decided: Cabinet deferred the report to its next meeting on 24 March.
Decided: Council agreed the school governing body appointments, reappointments and resignations listed.