The Economy & Culture Scrutiny Committee met on 20 January 2026 to review the progress of the Central South Active Partnership and to begin a short scrutiny of Cardiff Council's allotment provision. Key decisions included the approval of terms of reference for a new inquiry into improving the daytime experience of Cardiff city centre users and the confirmation of ongoing funding for the Central South Active Partnership.

Central South Active Partnership Update

The committee received an update on the Central South Active Partnership (CSAP), a regional sports partnership that includes Cardiff. Gavin Hawkey, Managing Director of CSAP, and Laura Williams, Assistant Director for Sport, Physical Health and Health at Cardiff Met, presented on the partnership's progress, mission, and future plans.

CSAP's mission is to integrate movement into the everyday and to create a significant step change in health and wellbeing by collaborating across the region. They aim to achieve this by influencing the wider system rather than solely delivering projects. The partnership is currently in a build phase and has been focusing on establishing its core team, developing internal processes, and building relationships with partners.

Key points discussed included:

• Funding: Councillor Anny Anderson raised concerns about inflationary pressures effectively reducing the council's funding for CSAP. Steve Morris, Operational Manager for Sport, Leisure and Development, confirmed that the grant funding from Sport Wales for the current financial year and the next will remain the same, with CSAP having autonomy to allocate monies from 2026/27. He acknowledged that inflation and rising costs are managed through budget efficiencies, and that the council is also leveraging external funding.
• Programme Delivery: Laura Williams highlighted progress in Cardiff, including the development of a new structure to encompass various health and movement strategies, and the establishment of a Leadership and Enabling Change meeting to bring the system together. She also noted that CSAP has supported a scoping exercise to identify additional funding sources for city-based work.
• Research and Insight: CSAP has commissioned a state of the region report to map existing data and provide an informed understanding of the current situation across the region. This will be supplemented by richer data from local community groups and individuals.
• Cardiff's Role: Councillor Anderson sought reassurance that Cardiff would be protected within the regional model. Steve Morris stated that Laura Williams sits on the CSAP board and that Gavin Hawkey, who has a background in Cardiff's sports development team, understands the local context. He added that the regional strategy is adopting some of the work already being done in Cardiff.
• Underutilised Facilities: Councillor Catriona Brown-Reckless raised concerns about expensive sports facilities, such as sports centres and ice rinks, being underutilised during the school week. Laura Williams explained that work is being done with schools to influence the school day and build more movement into it, and that efforts are being made to open up facilities for greater access.
• Parkrun and Community Initiatives: Councillor Owen Jones discussed the success of Parkrun and other community initiatives, highlighting challenges such as weather-related cancellations and the need for better infrastructure. Steve Morris acknowledged these issues and mentioned ongoing investment in facilities like 3G pitches, drainage, and lighting. He also pointed to successful partnerships with governing bodies like the LTA for tennis courts and the thriving model of running groups supported by Welsh Athletics.
• Social Prescribing and Inclusivity: Councillor Margaret Lewis inquired about provision for older people and disabled individuals, and the process for social prescribing. Laura Williams confirmed that there is a funded programme with GLL for over 60s, a large disability and inclusive programme, and that an activity finder is being developed to help people access opportunities.
• Measuring Impact: Councillor Anny Anderson questioned the extent to which the impact of CSAP's work is being measured and whether there are targets for increasing the proportion of the population that is active. Gavin Hawkey explained that CSAP focuses on system-level changes and cultural shifts rather than traditional KPIs, but that they are developing a framework to evaluate the effect of small changes on population-level activity. He also noted that Cardiff's data analysis, including layering information with the Index of Multiple Deprivation, is providing valuable insights for targeted interventions.

Cardiff Council Allotments: Short Scrutiny - Part 1

The committee began its short scrutiny of Cardiff Council's allotment provision. Jennie Judd, Operational Manager for Parks, and Rhodri Edwards, Parks Strategy and Technical Manager, provided an overview of the current situation.

Key points discussed included:

• Statutory Provision: Cardiff Council has a statutory requirement to provide land for allotment gardening, with 28 statutory sites offering 3,457 plots. Of these, 14 are locally managed and receive a financial grant.
• Vacant Plots and Waiting Lists: There are an estimated 493 vacant plots, but some are not immediately available due to their condition. Waiting lists vary significantly by site, with some having waiting times of up to five years.
• Resource Challenges: Jennie Judd highlighted that the current resource and budget, including staffing, is insufficient to deliver the mandate effectively. There is a significant backlog in maintenance and repairs, with a limited budget for response maintenance across 28 sites. The volume of correspondence received by the single dedicated allotment officer was also noted as a significant challenge.
• Welsh Government Grant Funding: The council has received Welsh Government Allotment Support Grant funding for five years, which has been used to improve access and reclaim overgrown plots. This funding has enabled approximately 180 plots to be brought back into use.
• Allotment Strategy: The current Allotment Strategy 2022-2027 aims to ensure effective site representation, address repairs and maintenance, improve processes and communications, and promote sustainability. Progress on the 37 actions within the strategy was reviewed, with some completed, some in progress, and some ongoing.
• Partnership Working: The council works with site representatives and allotment site committees, including the Cardiff Allotment Holders Association (CAHA). 14 sites have entered into Local Management Agreements, which involve them taking on specific tasks and receiving an annual grant.
• Orchestrate Software: Issues with the new Orchestrate software, including signal problems on site and the restriction of access to council-owned hardware due to IT security and GDPR requirements, were discussed. The council is offering training and support to address these issues.
• Social Prescribing: The council works with charities and community organisations, such as Grow Cardiff and Cardiff Salad Garden, to provide allotment plots for social prescribing initiatives.
• New Allotment Sites: For new housing developments, the council secures obligations for new allotment land through Section 106 agreements. For North West Cardiff, an extension of allotments at Forest Farm is the proposed solution, subject to further due diligence.
• Multiple Plot Holders: Councillor Anny Anderson inquired about individuals or organisations holding multiple plots. While it was confirmed that some plot holders do have more than one plot, a precise number was not available. The council aims to reallocate vacant plots to new gardeners.
• Comparison with Other Authorities: Councillor Peter Wong asked how Cardiff compares to neighbouring local authorities in terms of allotment provision. While specific comparative data was not available, it was noted that Cardiff has a more generous provision than London.

The committee agreed to proceed with site visits to various allotment sites in February and March 2026 as part of the scrutiny process.

Work Programme

The committee agreed to the terms of reference, scoping, and membership for a new inquiry into Improving Cardiff City Centre Users' Daytime Experiences. Councillors Ash-Edwards, Hunt, and Reid-Jones were approved to join the task group alongside the existing members. The inquiry will explore various aspects of the city centre's daytime experience, including work by the council and partners, user feedback, and best practices from other UK cities, with the aim of making evidence-based recommendations to Cabinet.

Correspondence Update

The committee received an update on correspondence sent and received since the previous meeting. Several responses were awaited from Cabinet Members regarding various scrutiny items, including the Heritage Building Support, International Sports Village Development, City Hall, Shared Prosperity Fund, FIFA Women's World Cup, Euros 2028 preparations, the draft Regeneration Strategy, and the Cardiff Riding School. Responses had been received regarding the City Centre Management and Night Time Economy, and the Cardiff Riding School.