The Cabinet Trust Committee of Cardiff Council met on Thursday, 19 March 2026, to discuss the future of two properties held in trust: 28 The Parade and Roath Park House. Decisions were made regarding the progression of options for both sites, aiming to ensure their best use in line with charitable objectives.

28 The Parade

The committee considered the future of the Grade II listed building at 28 The Parade, which has been vacant for several years and fallen into disrepair. The building is held by the council as trustee for the Cardiff Further Education Trust (CFET) Fund, with its original purpose being for county secondary school provision.

Decision: The committee decided to reject Option 1, which was to retain the building for formal education provision as a county secondary school. This option was deemed not viable due to the building's size and layout being incompatible with modern educational standards, as detailed in Building Bulletins¹ set by the Department for Education. Councillor John Lancaster expressed concern about the pattern of listed assets falling into disrepair and questioned why Option 1 was being discounted, referencing a past interest from Cardiff and Vale College. However, a council officer confirmed that Cardiff and Vale College had declined to express further interest. Councillor Ash Lister supported moving forward with either Option 2 (disposal) or Option 3 (repurposing).

The committee agreed to proceed with Option 3: repurposing the property for wider educational use, such as a youth hub. This decision was made with the understanding that it would require an application to the Charity Commission to amend the trust's scheme. Authority was delegated to officers to undertake the necessary preparatory work and bring a further report back to the committee for a decision. Councillor Peter Bradbury, as Cabinet Member for Children's Services, Tackling Poverty & Supporting Young People, would likely have a keen interest in the development of a youth hub.

Roath Park House

The committee also addressed the future of Roath Park House, a former caretaker's house located within Roath Park, which has been vacant for over five years. The property is held in charitable trust for the purposes of public recreation and pleasure grounds.

Decision: The committee approved in principle the proposal to dispose of Roath Park House via a lease. This decision aims to provide rental income to benefit the Roath Park Charitable Trust and support the management of the park and its facilities. Councillor Jennifer Burke, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport & Parks, would have oversight of this decision. The committee also delegated authority to officers to undertake a public consultation, procure specialist advice from an independent surveyor, and consult with the Charity Commission. A further report will be brought back to the committee for a final decision. Councillor Rodney Berman welcomed the proposal, noting that residents had raised questions about the property's future. He also questioned why it had taken so long to bring the matter forward.