Biodiversity duty and new Action Plan for Nature
Decided: That the work being undertaken to meet the Council's biodiversity duty be supported, and that the new Action Plan and the Welsh Government report be agreed.
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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: That the work being undertaken to meet the Council's biodiversity duty be supported, and that the new Action Plan and the Welsh Government report be agreed.
Decided: The Committee noted the responses to its earlier comments and the Quarter 2 position of corporate risks. It referred its comments to Cabinet on the increased risks from major projects, cyber security and climate change and the nature emergency.
Decided: Cabinet noted the changes to the Leader's Scheme of Delegation. The changes update the Senior Leadership Team and the Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Cabinet Sub-Committee.
Decided: The committee deferred the item to its next scheduled meeting or to a special meeting, so the report can be fully discussed.
Decided: The committee noted the report.
RESOLVED That the Notice of Motion be referred to Cabinet.
Decided: Cabinet noted the progress made in 2024-25.
Decided: Cabinet noted the mid-term report on the Climate Change and Nature Strategy 2021-2030.
Decided: Members resolved to pre-scrutinise the Council's Section 6 Biodiversity Duty Action Plan 2022/23 to 2025/26 and to comment on it. Their comments will go to the Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Cabinet Sub Committee on 18 December 2025.
Decided: Members resolved to pre-scrutinise the RCT Peatland Programme and to comment on it. Their comments will go to the Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Cabinet Sub Committee on 18 December 2025.
Decided: The Committee was minded to grant conditional planning permission for renewable energy equipment at Abergele Leisure Centre, subject to surface water drainage matters being resolved to the satisfaction of the Development and Building Control Manager.
RESOLVED – That the Assessment be noted, with the assessment returning for further comment by the Board in the future.
Decided: The committee asked for the fuel usage, municipal waste and carbon emissions figures to be checked and revised if needed, with any revised data sent to members. It asked that the next update include how the procurement strategy is being carried out, with spend within the county and Wales if available. It agreed that reports on this matter will come to the committee each year, before they go to the Executive Board, the council's main decision-making body. It asked for more information on safer routes to be sent to members. It supported a focus on 'big ticket' items, meaning large projects that could cut carbon the most, and thanked the lead member and officers for their work.
Decided: The Committee asked officers to review parking enforcement around schools, where illegal parking on yellow lines continues. It asked officers to include benchmarking of sickness absence against similar services elsewhere in the End of Year report. It asked for a note on street lighting problems on the South Distributer Road, including the role of other agencies. It asked that ward-by-ward roadwork information be published for the public on the Council website, and that major roadworks be announced in good time. It asked officers to consider safe cycling practice areas and to review the active travel network. It recommended that data guide decisions on the Burns Commission recommendations. It asked for an update on the city-wide bin review, and recommended trials of designated dog exercise areas in parks. It asked for continued work to raise staff check-in rates, which remain below target, and recommended simpler booking for the household waste recycling centre.
Decided: The Committee decided to refuse the application. It gave these reasons: harm to the landscape of the Llŷn Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB, a protected landscape), loss of good farmland that had not been fully considered, and not enough information on the extra sewage flow.
Decided: The Committee decided to approve the application with conditions. The conditions limit the site to business, general industrial and storage uses (use classes B1, B2 and B8), require biodiversity measures and protect Welsh Water's pipes.
Decided: The Committee decided to approve the application, subject to conditions. The conditions cover the permitted use, flood measures, opening hours of 07:00 to 23:00, noise limits with a noise survey within three months of opening, and bilingual signs.
Decided: The Committee decided to approve the application, subject to 18 conditions. The conditions limit the site to four portable units and one toilet unit, restrict use to holidays, require units to be removed out of season, and set landscaping, lighting and hedge relocation measures.
Decided: The Council objects to the proposed new National Park. Its reasons are extra costs from visitor growth that Welsh Government funding would not cover, and a lack of clarity on the Welsh language, housing affordability and planning. Members also agreed to treat the matter as urgent, because the consultation closes on 8 December 2025.