The Environmental Scrutiny Committee met on Thursday 10 September 2026 to discuss the annual report and business plan for Shared Regulatory Services (SRS) and receive an update on the Cardiff Coastal Risk Management Programme. Key discussions included noting the progress and challenges of SRS, and an update on the coastal defence scheme.

Shared Regulatory Services Annual Report and Business Plan

The committee received the annual report and business plan for Shared Regulatory Services (SRS), a collaborative service between Bridgend, Cardiff, and the Vale of Glamorgan councils. Councillor Ed Stubbs, Cabinet Member for Waste, Street Scene and Environmental Services, highlighted SRS's continued value in protecting residents and supporting businesses, noting achievements such as high food hygiene standards and successful prosecutions, including a £640,000 fine against a supermarket for selling out-of-date food. Christina Hill, Head of Shared Regulatory Services, presented the business plan, outlining five strategic priorities: improving health and well-being, protecting the environment, safeguarding the vulnerable, supporting the local economy, and maximising the use of resources.

Members raised concerns about recruitment and retention challenges within SRS, describing the shortage of qualified officers as a catastrophic risk. Christina Hill acknowledged these challenges, explaining that the decline in specific degree courses and competition for staff contribute to the issue. SRS is addressing this through apprenticeships, staff development, and efforts to make the service a more attractive employer.

Discussions also covered the effectiveness of prosecutions, with SRS aiming for a 95% success rate, and the impact of new legislation, such as the Tobacco and Vapes Act. Councillor John Lancaster, Leader of the Conservative Group, questioned the licensing of vape shops and the potential for new legislation to grant more powers to local authorities. SRS indicated a need for enhanced powers and a multi-agency response to tackle businesses operating on the edge of legality.

Funding for new regulations was also a point of discussion, with SRS noting that new legislation often does not come with adequate funding, requiring them to lobby for additional resources. The committee also heard about SRS's digital innovation efforts, including the use of tablets for food inspections and early discussions about drones and AI.

Cardiff Coastal Risk Management Programme Update

Graham Harris, Director of Frontline Services, Matthew Wakelam, Operational Manager for Major Projects, and Gary Brown, Head of Highways, Infrastructure and Operations, provided an update on the Cardiff Coastal Risk Management Programme. This significant scheme, the largest coastal defence project in Wales, aims to protect over 1,100 residential and commercial properties, as well as key infrastructure, from coastal flooding and erosion.

The committee was informed that approximately 80% of the works are complete, but the original completion date of 31 October 2026 has been extended to 12 August 2027, a delay of 285 days. A significant portion of this delay (270 days) was attributed to the time taken to secure environmental approvals from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and ministerial permission, as the contract had to be awarded before these were finalised to secure Welsh Government funding.

The approved budget of £35.94 million has increased to a forecast £45.48 million, meaning Cardiff Council's contribution has risen from 15% to approximately 33%. This increase is due to delays, ground conditions requiring redesigns, and changes to the construction methodology on Lamby Way to minimise traffic disruption.

Councillor Michael Ash-Edwards asked about the scheme's resilience to climate change, and it was confirmed that the defences are designed to withstand a one-in-200-year storm event with a 40% climate change allowance, a significant increase from the initial design parameters.

Councillor John Lancaster raised concerns about the budget overrun, questioning why ground conditions were not assessed earlier and why the need to keep Lamby Way open was not factored into the initial budget. Officers explained that while geotechnical investigations were carried out, ground conditions proved different than anticipated, and the decision to keep Lamby Way open was made after the contract was awarded due to concerns about disruption to businesses. Lessons learned regarding stakeholder engagement with NRW and the procurement process were highlighted.

The committee also discussed the potential removal of a £3.2 million riverbank stabilisation proposal, with a move towards a monitoring and intervention approach to manage costs. Cabinet approval was sought for the programme extension and sectional completion of the rock armour area.

Committee Business

The committee reviewed its work programme for 2026/27, noting planned scrutiny items including annual monitoring reports on One Planet Cardiff and Air Quality, updates on the Coastal Protection Scheme, and a review of the Gwaelod-y-Garth incident response. Other proposed items included briefings on climate resilience, the Cardiff Heat Network, and joint scrutiny with the Economy and Culture Scrutiny Committee on the Central Station enhancement project. Waste management, recycling, and environmental enforcement were also prominent, with plans for a task and finish review on litter and fly-tipping and joint scrutiny of premises linked to illegal activity.

The committee also noted that there were no urgent items to discuss.

The next meeting of the Environmental Scrutiny Committee was scheduled for Thursday, 8 October 2026.