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: Council approved its response, as set out in Appendix 1, which formally objects to the proposed Glyndŵr National Park, and agreed to send it to Natural Resources Wales. The vote was 59 to 0.
Decided: The committee refused the application, against the officers' recommendation. It agreed the two refusal reasons: that the proposal would intensify residential activity and harm the character of the area and neighbours' amenity (Policy GP1), and that it would add to concentrations of HMOs without enough off-street parking (Policy H3).
Decided: Council carried the motion, which shares the shock felt by communities hit by Storm Claudia, pays tribute to the emergency services, officers and volunteers, and welcomes the relief announced so far. It also calls on the Cabinet Member to review the flooding, explain why sandbags were not provided, update on drain maintenance, set out a plan for flood prevention, confirm the state and last inspection of the Wonastow pumping station, and return to Full Council with a report.
Decided: Application P/2023/0156 was granted unanimously, subject to the conditions in the report. Officers were given delegated powers to amend the conditions to remove the need for a full tree survey and arboricultural impact assessment. Application P/2025/0183 was granted by 8 votes to 1, subject to the conditions in the report. Officers were given delegated powers to amend the conditions to define the scope of the permission for residential use (C3A, the planning class for homes).
RESOLVED that the application for a hackney carriage and private hire vehicle driver’s licence from Applicant No. SR1227348 be granted subject to the satisfactory completion of the knowledge test. The reasons for the Licensing Committee’s decision were as follows – Members had carefully considered the particular circumstances of the case as set out in the report together with the explanation given by the Applicant. Members also considered the relevant sections of the Council’s Statement of Policy regarding the suitability of applicants and licensees in the hackney carriage/private hire trades. The Committee accepted the Applicant’s explanation in relation to the incident, noting that the court outcome was commensurate with the Applicant’s account and at the low end of the scale in terms of offences of that nature. In reaching their decision Members had also considered the historical nature of the conviction and the age of the Applicant at that time with no further incidents or convictions since then together with the Applicant’s employment history and personal background which attested to his good character. Consequently, the Committee was satisfied that the Applicant was a fit and proper person to hold a licence and concluded that there were exceptional circumstances and justifiable reasons to deviate from the policy on this occasion and grant the licence, subject to satisfactory completion of the knowledge test which was outstanding and part of the application process.
Decided: The Committee agreed to accept the report and noted and discussed the outputs from the Climate Risk Leadership Seminar. It also provided comments and recommendations for the Climate & Nature area of focus lead (a PSB work theme) and for the contractor for the Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA), Netherwood Sustainable Futures (NSF). It supported the PSB's June commitment that people with authority to make key decisions, or to commit resources, attend the leadership seminars in February and March 2026.
Decided: The committee resolved to approve planning application 2025/2137/FUL. The minute does not record any conditions.
Decided: The Committee refused the application because it would harm visual amenity (the look and feel of the area), against the officers' recommendation to approve. Twelve members voted for refusal; none voted against and none abstained.
Decided: The Committee gave the Head of Planning delegated authority to approve the application, subject to a Section 106 planning obligation (a legal agreement) tying the pods to Vaynor Farm, and to conditions limiting use to short-term holiday use, keeping parking areas and securing landscaping and biodiversity enhancement. If the legal agreement is not completed within three months, the Head of Planning may refuse the application. Nine members voted for, none against, and none abstained.
Decided: The Committee approved the application, subject to a condition requiring biodiversity enhancements. The vote was nine for, none against, and none abstained. There was no debate.
Decided: The Committee approved the application, subject to a biodiversity enhancement condition. The vote was nine for, none against, and none abstained. There was no debate.
Decided: The committee approved application DM/2025/01047 to change the use of 9 Park Crescent, Abergavenny, from a home for one household to a house in multiple occupation (HMO), a home shared by unrelated people, subject to the report's conditions. The vote was 12 for, none against and none abstaining.
Decided: The Council approved the Statement of Licensing Principles for 2025 to 2028.
Decided: Members resolved that, at the appeal, the Council would have refused permission on four technical grounds: highway capacity and safety, archaeology, the potential effect on the River Dee and Bala Lake Special Area of Conservation, and on and off-site flood risk. They also resolved that the Council would have refused permission on principle, because the site lies outside the settlement limit, within a Green Barrier and Special Landscape Area, and includes best and most versatile farmland, which conflicts with UDP policies PS1, EC1, EC2 and EC5.
Decided: Permission was granted in line with the officer's recommendation.
Decided: Cabinet supported Option 1. The construction cost of £2,629,638 will be added to the capital programme over 2025-26 and 2026-27. Welsh Government will fund £2,235,192, and the Council will provide the 15% match of £394,446 and award the construction contract.
Decided: Cabinet agreed to seek proposals for the Pride in Place Impact Fund across Pembrokeshire. A panel of MPs, Senedd Members, the Cabinet Member for Place and the Assistant Chief Executive and Director of Place will choose proposals. Decisions on approving grants are delegated to the Assistant Chief Executive and Director of Place. Cabinet also agreed to notify a Pembrokeshire subsidy scheme under the Subsidy Control Act 2022, which governs public subsidies to businesses and others. The process will be reviewed after 2025-26 and six-monthly updates will be given to Cabinet. Seven councillors voted in favour.
RESOLVED: The following items were considered for approval: • The investment allocations of the Annual Delivery Plan • The Investment Zone Programmes as set out in Section 3 of this report • The Terms of Reference for the Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone Working Group (Appendix 1) • That the CJC's Section 151 Officer is permitted to sign and issue the Annual Delivery Plan documents to the UK Government and Welsh Government and make any further non-material amendments necessary to agree the ADP with both Governments. DISCUSSION The Year 1 Annual Delivery Plan for the Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone was reported. It was noted that this was an exciting opportunity for Flintshire and Wrexham, and for the whole of north Wales. It was elaborated that this would achieve enhanced global status in the Advanced Manufacturing sector in north Wales. It was reported that the Investment Zone was now in the delivery phase. Members were reminded that a delivery plan must be set each year, and the intention was to deliver the output of the programme in each year. Members were informed that approval was being sought for the current year's delivery plan, which had commenced in April 2025. It was explained that approval would enable the CJC to submit the Year 1 Annual Delivery Plan, which would trigger the signed final Memorandum of Understanding and the grant offer letter for year one funds. It was elaborated that preparatory work would commence on the Year 2 Annual Delivery fund, and would be starting in April 2026. It was explained that this would be submitted to the Flintshire and Wrexham Working Group and also to the CJC. It was detailed that the programme was well established, and that it covered skills, business support, infrastructure, etc. An intention was noted to work with partners across north Wales, and for partners to deliver innovation development programmes and proposals for key partnerships with manufacturing companies and for the further design and development of the decarbonisation programme. It was reported that proposals from Coleg Cambria and Wrexham University had been received for the first phase of the skills programme, and these would be shared with the Regional Skills Partnership. It was stated that the CJC would decide on the skills programme as it progressed. It was elaborated that the intention was to enter into funding agreements to launch a business support programme in Flintshire and Wrexham, which would see businesses there apply for grant and support. It was stated that the report noted high-level activities and financial allocations for the first two years. The need to consider year one allocations was emphasised at this meeting. It was added that decisions regarding the Investment Zone would be evaluated and agreed with the leaders of Flintshire and Wrexham, but the report would be finally agreed by the CJC. A mandate would be given to the CJC's Statutory Finance Officer to sign-off on the Annual Delivery Plan provided that any insignificant adjustments were made at his discretion and submitted back to the CJC. They were thanked for the update. Concern was expressed about a lack of engagement with schools and young people, particularly around apprenticeships and the opportunity for young people to engage with the project. Pride was also expressed in seeing the Regional Skills Partnership included in the project, especially to support the working for the region project. It was noted that the skills agenda would have to take a regional apporach and not just Flintshire and Wrexham. It was agreed that it was important for local authorities to work together to support the success of the Investment Zone. It was enquired about the Investment Zone Advisory Board, and how it fitted within the governance structure. In response, the consultant was asked to send an e-mail to all Members with details of the Investment Zone Advisory Board and a diagram of the governance structure. It was noted that Investment Zones were required to have independent advisory boards to be able to take advice and recommendations on the strategic direction, and it was noted that it was intended to report quarterly to this group. It was confirmed that the CJC was the accountable body for all decisions. Thanks were expressed to all the officers.
RESOLVED: To note the report and its appendix. DISCUSSION It was reported that the Quarterly Report had been submitted to the Strategic Transport Sub-committee at the meeting on 6 October. It was noted that the Quarterly Report was being presented to the CJC to note the work completed by the Sub-committee and by the officers working on the Regional Transport Plan. Due to the nature of the way work was progressing, it was explained that some of the content in the Quarterly Report was now outdated, but attention was drawn to the content that had changed since then, namely: · The Regional Transport Plan had been approved by the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales and it had now been approved by the Welsh Government. · The Proposed Programme of Schemes, relating to a Regional Transport Fund, had been submitted to the Welsh Government last week and was therefore now awaiting feedback from the Welsh Government. It was agreed that the Chair of the Strategic Transport Sub-committee would be invited to future meetings to present quarterly reports.