The Environmental Scrutiny Committee met on Thursday 15 January 2026 to discuss progress on the Cardiff Local Nature Partnership and the work of Shared Regulatory Services. Key decisions included noting the ongoing review of the Nature Recovery Action Plan and the Biodiversity and Resilience of Ecosystems Duty forward plan, and acknowledging the significant work undertaken by Shared Regulatory Services despite budget and staffing challenges.

Cardiff Local Nature Partnership and Nature Recovery

The committee received an update on the Cardiff Local Nature Partnership (LNP) and the delivery of the Nature Recovery Action Plan (NRAP) and the Biodiversity and Resilience of Ecosystems Duty (BRED) forward plan. The LNP, established in 2019, aims to create a nature recovery network across Wales to reverse biodiversity loss. It is funded by the Welsh Government through their Local Places for Nature scheme.

Significant achievements highlighted included:

• Broadening engagement with nature through over 40 events and 50 volunteer training workshops.
• Recruiting over 60 volunteer surveyors and supporting over 70 planting events with schools and community groups.
• Enhancing and restoring nature through planting at over 70 sites, installing bird and bat boxes, and creating ponds and bog gardens.
• Restoration projects such as the River Rumley Wetlands Scheme and the Glenmorgan Kingel at Forest Farm.
• Cardiff becoming the first place in Wales to join the UK National Hedgehog Monitoring Scheme.

The forward plan includes the recruitment of additional staff, continued work on the NRAP, and the development of a training programme for members and staff on the BRED duty. A new focus is the Welsh Government's 30 by 30 framework, aiming to protect 30% of land, freshwater, and sea by 2030.

The NRAP will replace the Cardiff Local Biodiversity Action Plan, with a public consultation having been undertaken. The plan is expected to be finalised by March 2026.

Regarding the BRED duty, the council is reviewing its forward plan, which was last updated in 2019. The review is expected to be completed this year and will cover the period from 2026 to 2029. This plan will articulate what the council has done to improve the resilience of ecosystems and what it will do in the future. The review aims to incorporate monitoring and measurable targets, moving beyond a simple collection of projects.

Councillors raised questions about the tangible impact of these plans on the ground, the application of new legislation to existing developments, and the ambitious target of planting a further 800 hectares under the Coed Caerdydd tree planting project. Officers assured the committee that new development proposals are assessed against net biodiversity benefit, and that sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) are contributing to ecosystem connectivity. The challenge of finding space for the 800 hectares of tree planting was acknowledged, with efforts to maximise green space on council land, in partnership with private landowners, and through initiatives like providing trees for private households.

Concerns were also raised about the lack of an active Local Access Forum in Cardiff and how the declared nature emergency is being incorporated across council departments. It was noted that the BRED duty primarily focuses on actions by public bodies, while the NRAP is broader, encompassing community groups and businesses. The committee was assured that the council is taking the nature emergency seriously through a combined approach to green infrastructure management, planning policy, and corporate commitment.

The 30 by 30 framework was explained as a new initiative with guidance from Welsh Government received in June, requiring swift action to identify areas for protection and integrate them into the Local Development Plan (LDP).

Shared Regulatory Services (SRS)

The committee received an update on the progress of Shared Regulatory Services (SRS), which delivers Environmental Health, Trading Standards, and Licensing functions for Bridgend, Cardiff, and the Vale of Glamorgan Councils. SRS serves a population of approximately one-fifth of Wales' population and regulates over 10,000 businesses.

Key areas of work and achievements highlighted included:

• Food Safety: A backlog of inspections from the COVID-19 pandemic has been cleared, with Cardiff achieving a 96.04% broadly compliant figure (food hygiene rating of three or above), exceeding the national average of 95%. Two significant prosecution cases were concluded: a major supermarket fined £640,000 for selling food past its use-by date, and a Cardiff wholesaler prosecuted for food fraud, with defendants receiving custodial sentences.
• Rogue Traders: A Cardiff-based rogue trader targeting vulnerable residents was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison, with an accomplice receiving nine months for perverting the course of justice. The report also detailed efforts to address issues with dumped building materials and signage on highways.
• Illegal Tobacco and Vapes: SRS is tackling the issue of illegal tobacco, with 15% of tobacco products in Wales being illegal. Investigations have led to significant custodial sentences. Closure orders were obtained for two premises on Clifton Street, closing them for three months due to illegal activity.
• Housing Enforcement: A prosecution of a landlord and letting agent was successfully concluded. The report also highlighted work on Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), with properties requiring an EPC rating of E or above to be let. This work has led to a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumption. Efforts to bring empty properties back into use are ongoing, with 162 returned to use in the last financial year and a target of 150 for the current year.
• Workforce Development: SRS is addressing shortages of qualified officers and an aging workforce through match funding for additional qualifications, including Masters degrees, and alternative routes to qualification. Two apprenticeships have been established, one focusing on environmental health and the other on trading standards.

Councillors expressed concern about the impact of budget and staff reductions on SRS's ability to manage the pressures of large events in Cardiff, noting that additional financial support was provided last year. The regulation of vape shops and tobacconists was discussed, with acknowledgement that they are not regulated in the same way as alcohol-licensed premises. It was noted that Welsh Government is considering a licensing regime for tobacco and vapes.

The committee also discussed the sharing of learning across councils and departments, with SRS acknowledging that more could be done to raise awareness of their work. The effectiveness of preventative measures against rogue traders was debated, with emphasis on the plausibility of these traders and the importance of public awareness campaigns. The potential impact of future legislation, such as changes to MEES and licensing for tattooing and animal welfare, was also considered, with SRS highlighting an intelligence-led approach to enforcement due to resource constraints. The committee acknowledged the vital work of SRS in ensuring the safety and security of residents and recommended that increased responsibilities should be accompanied by adequate resources.