The Prosiect Gwyrdd Joint Committee meeting was scheduled to receive updates on the ongoing waste management contract and to review the financial position of the project. Discussions were also planned regarding the budget for the upcoming financial year and future financial projections.

Prosiect Gwyrdd Update Report

A key item on the agenda was an update on the Prosiect Gwyrdd contract. This report detailed the amount of residual waste processed by Viridor at Trident Park, noting a downward trend compared to the previous year. The report highlighted the amount of waste treated from each partner authority: Caerphilly, Cardiff, Monmouthshire, Newport, and the Vale of Glamorgan.

The update also covered the recycling of materials such as Incinerator Bottom Ash and Air Pollution Control Residue, as well as the recycling of metals. It was noted that Viridor had met all key performance targets, including landfill diversion rates and the R1 classification, which signifies the facility as a recovery operation. The report indicated that the waste treatment generated enough electricity to power approximately 32,810 homes and resulted in a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions compared to landfilling.

The Prosiect Gwyrdd Community Benefits Fund was also discussed, with details provided on the amount awarded to community initiatives and the remaining budget. The report included a summary of outreach efforts and community engagement activities undertaken by Viridor.

2025/26 Financial Monitoring and 2026/27 Budget

The committee was scheduled to review the financial monitoring position for the 2025/26 financial year and consider the projected outturn for the 2026/27 budget. The report indicated a projected underspend for the 2025/26 financial year, attributed to savings in areas such as external advisors and contingency budgets.

A significant portion of the discussion was expected to focus on the Joint Committee Reserve Account, which held a projected balance that would be available to support future Prosiect Gwyrdd budgets. The report outlined the proposed budget for 2026/27, including assumptions for pay awards and indexation. It also provided indicative budget projections for the years 2027/28 to 2029/30, aiming to inform the partner councils' medium-term financial forecasts. The report recommended that the Joint Committee note the 2025/26 projected outturn and recommend the 2026/27 budget to the partner councils for approval.

Date of Next Meeting

The date for the next Prosiect Gwyrdd Joint Committee meeting was scheduled for 19th May 2026. Members were expected to explore the possibility of alternative dates for future meetings to better accommodate diary commitments.