Decision details

The Director of Prosperity and Development updated the Sub-Committee on works relating to peatlands in Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council.

The Director drew Members’ attention to Section 5 of the report, which detailed the work undertaken by officers to gain an understanding of the peatbogs within RCT, from both local and national research. The Director explained that throughout the UK and in RCT, peatlands in the worst condition were emitting the most carbon, and even partial restoration can reduce the emissions.  It was explained that peatland condition is typically improved by raising the water-table and making them wetter. 

The Director informed Members of the National Peatland Action Plan, delivered by NRW, which is a 5 year plan of peatland restoration in Wales and a recently launched a grant scheme for 22/23 to enable grant recipients to develop costed restoration projects from September 2022 until April 2023. Members learned that an application to NRW was submitted on the 30^th of June 2022 for a peatland restoration planning project at Cwmparc with a total project cost of £23,866.25.

The Cabinet Member for Development and Prosperity, again, wished to place on record, his thanks to Elizabeth Dean and Richard Wistow for their work. The Cabinet Member agreed with the Director that the peatbogs were a huge store which the Council were not currently making use of and spoke positive of the proposals.

The Cabinet Member for Environment & Leisure requested a site visit to the peatlands in RCT to gain a better understanding, to which the Chair agreed would be organised in due course with an invitation extended to all Sub-Committee Members.

The Climate Change Cabinet Sub-Committee RESOLVED:

1.    To consider the progress reported, and endorse the proposed central objective for peatland management and the direction for future work.