The Environmental Scrutiny Committee of Cardiff Council met on Tuesday 24 February 2026 to discuss the One Planet Cardiff annual report and Green Growth Proposition, as well as the draft Corporate Plan and budgetary proposals for 2026-2029. Key decisions included the approval of the Green Growth Proposition, which focuses on accelerating local renewable energy generation and domestic energy retrofit, and the endorsement of working with Welsh Government on a domestic energy retrofit pilot scheme.

One Planet Cardiff and the Green Growth Proposition

The committee received an update on the progress of the One Planet Cardiff strategy, noting a 16% reduction in the Council's direct operational emissions between 2019/20 and 2024/25, excluding procurement. However, a 2% increase in operational emissions was observed between 2023/24 and 2024/25, highlighting the increasing difficulty in achieving further reductions. Procurement emissions, which represent the largest source of the Council's carbon footprint, saw a significant increase of 61% since the baseline year.

Councillor Dan De'Ath, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Strategic Transport and Planning, emphasised the ongoing commitment to tackling the climate emergency, despite a perceived breakdown in cross-party consensus nationally. He highlighted that many of the proposed Green Growth Proposition projects, such as improving home energy efficiency and installing solar panels, would offer tangible benefits to residents, including reduced energy bills and improved living conditions.

The Green Growth Proposition, which focuses on local renewable energy generation and domestic energy retrofit, was presented as a strategic plan to accelerate the city's transition to carbon neutrality. Key initiatives include:

• Local Renewable Energy Generation: Projects such as the Lamby Way Solar Innovation Hub, aiming to generate 14MW of solar power with battery storage and EV charging, and the Large-Scale Renewables Pipeline to identify sites for solar and wind generation. The expansion of the Cardiff Heat Network was also highlighted as a significant step towards decarbonising heat.
• Domestic Energy Retrofit: Acknowledging that 91,000 homes in Cardiff require some form of energy retrofit, the proposition prioritises households in fuel poverty. Initiatives include a partnership with Welsh Government for an area-based domestic energy retrofit pilot, a collective solar panel purchasing scheme for able to pay households called Switch Together, and a Warm Homes for Health project in collaboration with health professionals to target those with health conditions exacerbated by cold and damp homes.

The committee discussed the challenges of grid capacity, the need for significant government and partner investment, and the importance of community engagement to ensure public buy-in. The potential for Local Climate Bonds to enable community investment in local energy projects was also explored, with evidence from other cities suggesting this is a viable mechanism for raising funds.

The committee was informed that the Green Growth Proposition had undergone a Single Impact Assessment, which found no negative impacts on protected characteristics and positive impacts on most groups due to improved energy efficiency. However, the assessment noted that community engagement would be crucial to mitigate potential disruption and stress caused by retrofit works.

Decisions Made:

• The committee noted the progress made on carbon reduction over the period of the One Planet Cardiff Strategy.
• The committee approved the Green Growth Proposition, focusing on local renewable energy generation and domestic energy retrofit.
• The committee delegated authority to the Director of Planning, Transport and Environment, in consultation with statutory officers and Cabinet Members, to undertake activities related to the procurement of a regulated supplier, due diligence, and business cases for energy projects to be offered via Local Climate Bonds, subject to budgetary approval.
• The committee approved working with Welsh Government to develop an area-based domestic energy retrofit pilot scheme and delegated authority to the Director of Planning, Transport and Environment, in consultation with statutory officers and Cabinet Members, to agree specific proposals and approve necessary agreements.

Draft Corporate Plan and Budgetary Proposals 2026/27

The committee also scrutinised the draft Corporate Plan 2026-2029 and draft budgetary proposals for 2026/27. Councillor Weaver, Cabinet Member for Finance, Modernisation and Performance, presented the budget, highlighting a 4.2% increase in Welsh Government funding, which was higher than anticipated but still required a £22.6 million budget gap to be closed. This gap was addressed through £40 million in savings, primarily from back-office efficiencies and the change programme, alongside a 3.9% council tax increase, which is expected to remain one of the lowest in the country.

Key areas of increased spending in the budget reflect public priorities, with significant allocations to education, schools, and adult and children's services. Additional funding was also allocated to highways maintenance (£2 million) and street cleansing (£1.4 million), reflecting public feedback from consultations.

The committee discussed the financial resilience mechanism, which has allocated £2 million for pothole repairs throughout the year. Councillor Norma Mackey, Cabinet Member for Waste, Street Scene and Environmental Services, assured the committee that despite the challenges posed by extreme weather, the additional funding would help address the significant pothole problem. Matt Wakelam, Assistant Director of Street Scene, noted a 100% increase in potholes needing repair compared to the previous year, attributing this to an extremely wet winter which also hampered repair efforts.

Regarding waste management and recycling, savings have been achieved through the closure of the material recovery facility, with staff retained. An initial £1.249 million from the finance resilience mechanism will support community improvements, including street watching, signage, and view lanes initiatives. The committee was informed that the recycling centre in the north of Cardiff is not currently required due to sufficient capacity at existing sites. Instead, the focus is shifting towards working with the third sector on reuse initiatives. A new strategy for 2026-2030 is being developed to achieve a 70% recycling performance, with changes to hygiene collections and the introduction of soft plastics collection planned. The KPI for environmental street enforcement actions was discussed, with an acknowledgement that numbers may initially increase due to increased enforcement and education efforts before a behaviour shift leads to a decrease. The cost of replacement sacks was also discussed, with assurances that the cost is significantly less than previous single-use plastic bags.

Decisions Made:

• The committee noted the draft Corporate Plan and budgetary proposals, with specific attention paid to the implications for the Planning, Transport and Environment directorate, as well as civil parking enforcement, highway maintenance, bereavement services, waste management, and recycling.

Other Matters

The committee also received updates on the Road User Payment Scheme, with a potential implementation date of 2028, and the progress of new transport infrastructure, including the proposed station at Croes Road. Discussions also touched upon the potential impact of UK Government announcements on the Cardiff to Newport line and the franchising of bus services, with assurances that Cardiff Bus would be supported to remain competitive. The committee also noted the significant work being undertaken on flood defence schemes.

The committee agreed to write to the relevant Cabinet Members with their observations and concerns regarding the matters discussed. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, 12 March 2026.