Agenda and minutes

An apology of absence was received from County Borough Councillors G Hughes, P Jarman, J James and W. Jones.

The Chair advised Members of the Committee that the scrutiny research facility is available within the Council Business Unit to support Members’ scrutiny responsibilities and their roles as Elected Members. Any requests should be directed to the scrutiny inbox.

To receive disclosures of personal interest from Members in accordance with the Code of Conduct

Note:

1.     Members are requested to identify the item number and subject matter that their interest relates to and signify the nature of the personal interest: and

2.   Where Members withdraw from a meeting as a consequence of the disclosure of a prejudicial interest they must notify the Chairman when they leave.

In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, County Borough Councillor J Brencher made the following declaration of personal interest in relation to Agenda Item 4, North West Cardiff Corridor Transportation Study:

“My son is a Director for Transport for Wales”

To approve as an accurate record the minutes of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on the 12^th May 2021.

It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the 12^th May 2021 as an accurate reflection of the meeting.

Information is provided in respect of relevant consultations for consideration by the Committee.

Members acknowledged the information provided through the consultation links in respect of open consultations, Welsh Government consultations and those matters being consulted upon by the local authority.

The Service Director Democratic Services advised that the Law Commission of England and Wales has launched a consultation on a proposed new coal tip safety regime in Wales that would replace outdated laws and improve how a range of risks with coal tips are managed. It was the intention that the Overview & Scrutiny Committee would have the opportunity to respond to the consultation in advance of its deadline in September 2021.

To receive the report outlining the North West Cardiff Corridor Transportation Study.

The Service Director Democratic Services outlined the report and the intention for the

Overview & Scrutiny Committee to comment upon and feedback to Cabinet in respect

of the North West Cardiff Corridor Transportation Study. It was confirmed that identical

reports were being considered by Cardiff City Council.

The Service Director advised that the Scrutiny working group to consider the development of future transport infrastructure in response to the South Wales Metro as a result of a Notice of Motion to Full Council would resume on the 7^th July 2021 to consider the responses sought by partners in 2020 alongside the information contained with the attached Cabinet report and a wider update on public transport infrastructure.

The Service Director Frontline Service presented his report which explained how due to significant growth identified along the corridor linking Talbot Green, Llantrisant and North West Cardiff, in terms of residential development and economic activity which has been highlighted by the respective Local Development Plans of both Cardiff and RCT, the NW Cardiff corridor was identified as one of the top 4 corridors and was awarded funding in 2020/21 to progress through the first stage of the WelTAG process (Strategic Outline Case (SOC)), with the outcome of the WelTAG Stage 1, being a short list of potential solutions for the corridor. It is a significant corridor which lacks real public transport options at this time.

The Service Director advised that there was already a significant amount of work being carried out such as working with Transport for Wales on the Metro concept to deliver 12 trains per hour, to the Rhondda Valleys benefitting those communities along the route to Cardiff. Work on new stations in Treforest Estate, Upper Boat and the potential for Pontypridd North. Extensions of rail networks, Aberdare towards Hirwaun and commissioning a study looking at a Treherbert extension to Tynewydd. The Mid Valleys corridor from Porthcawl (with a line running along the A473 corridor through Treforest to Pontypridd to Abercynon and a new rail link towards Treharris.

The Porth Hub continues to be developed and Park and Ride considerations around Pontyclun, Porth, Treorchy, Trecynon and Hirwaun. The integrated ticketing project is also being considered.

In conclusion, the Service Director explained that the report is being presented under the Weltag framework and a shortlist of options has been identified which merit further development and assessment at WelTAG Stage 2.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee discussed the report and noted the short-term

and long-term public transport options that offer the best business cases in order to

improve access from RCT through North West Cardiff towards the city centre.

They raised the following queries-

Members were keen to identify how the options within the report connected with the RLDP in terms of whether the routes and sites already allocated in the current LDP would be protected to support the roll out of the work and ensure future funding.

Members made comments and sought assurance that:

• The proposals within the report were realistic proposals and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To undertake pre-scrutiny of the outcome of the consultation on the Council’s Draft Climate Change Strategy (2021-2025).

The Service Director, Democratic Services presented his report which provided

the Overview and Scrutiny Committee with the opportunity to undertake pre-

scrutiny of the report on the Draft Climate Change Strategy (2021-2025)

Consultation Responses.

The Corporate Policy & Consultation Manager advised that the Climate Change

Strategy engagement was branded as “Let’s Talk Climate Change RCT” and had been

undertaken virtually through an online portal which had facilitated stories, chats short

polls and videos. The Social Media team had linked the consultation to key campaigns

such as ‘Earth Day’ to generate more interest and discussion amongst the residents,

businesses, schools and Older Persons Groups that had engaged. It was hoped that

face to face consultation would be possible in the summer

Members welcomed the ‘much needed’ draft Climate Change Strategy (2021-

2025), which had initiated a positive debate amongst the residents and

businesses of RCT. They noted the appetite for green initiatives being

undertaken by numerous community groups across the county borough but

stressed the importance of coordinating the good work locally to avoid a

‘scattergun approach’

One Member raised concern regarding the questioning within the consultation which

they found to be too ‘apple pie’ and encouraged only the right responses. The Member

felt that more could be done to engage with residents and businesses, asking harder

and more challenging questions about the dis benefits and setting priorities.

One Member was disappointed that only 56% of respondents thought that the

Climate Commitments would help the Council to meet its carbon reduction targets.

The Chief Executive referred to the many actions within the draft Strategy such as

supporting landlords to make their properties ‘green’ as long-term actions that will be

implemented over the next 15-20 years. He stressed that many of the actions, however

small, will contribute to the overall strategy and key to achieving targets was to engage

with residents as much as possible.

Members made comments and sought assurance that ongoing climate conversations

and the draft strategy would consider:

·       Support for tree planting which would help mitigate against flooding;

·       Community groups purchasing woodland and developing urban garden projects;

·       Adopting national minimum standards for contractors and suppliers to encourage them to support the council to become carbon neutral;

·       Hydro schemes;

·       Appropriate infrastructure to support and facilitate home EV charging and to investigate ways to realise on-street charging, how to make this feasible;

·       Early discussions with developers to install EV facilities into all new builds

In response to the queries raised, the Chief Executive advised that a strategy was

being developed to ensure natural regeneration of woodland which results in ‘the

right tree in the right place’ more so than planting and can avoid the introduction of

disease. Peatbog restoration projects are also underway as a way of mitigating

increased storm frequency and potentially higher rainfall by storing more

water in the uplands. Restoring the many degraded peatbogs can also increase

carbon sequestration in RCT.

Members were keen to applaud that new- build houses will be carbon zero but

acknowledged the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To reflect on the meeting and actions to be taken forward.

The Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee summarised the key points raised from the earlier discussions around the North West Cardiff Corridor Transportation Study and from the consultation responses received from the Climate Change Strategy engagement held during April and May 2021.

In conclusion the Chair thanked Members for their contributions to the Committee.