Councillor Altaf Hussain to the Leader

Leader, we are all responding to competing needs, the environment and future of the planet at the same time as responding to a housing crisis. Can you confirm how you will balance the need to both develop our environment and reduce carbon emissions at the same time as engaging communities about proposed developments which are sometimes poorly thought through?”

Councillor Altaf Hussain to the Leader

Leader, we are all responding to competing needs, the environment and future of the planet at the same time as responding to a housing crisis. Can you confirm how you will balance the need to both develop our environment and reduce carbon emissions at the same time as engaging communities about proposed developments which are sometimes poorly thought through?

Response

The Leader confirmed, that in 2020 this authority declared a Climate Emergency and Cabinet created a Climate Emergency Response Programme. These actions highlighted that the authority has a role as:

• A community leader – to work with residents, groups and businesses in relation to their energy use and preparing for climate impacts 

• A service provider – to deliver more resource efficient services that are less carbon intensive, encourage more resilience and support the most vulnerable in society.

• The manager of an estate – to ensure that the estate and its operations are as resource efficient as possible, to use clean energy and prepare for the impacts of climate change. 

A target for Local Authorities in Wales to be net-zero carbon must be met by 2030. In response, the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) with local government Leaders have established a Decarbonisation Strategy Panel, supported by all 22 local authorities, WG, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and Cardiff University. The Decarbonisation Strategy Panel, alongside WG, have defined the areas of focus in reaching net-zero carbon as follows:

•             Mobility and Transport

•             Building and Energy

•             Land Use and Biodiversity

•             Procurement

The planning system plays a key role in tackling this climate emergency through the decarbonisation of the energy system and the sustainable management of natural resources (Planning Policy Wales 11, 2021). 

The recently published Future Wales – the National Plan 2040 is the national development framework, setting the direction for development in Wales to 2040. It is a development plan with a strategy for addressing key national priorities through the planning system, including sustaining and developing a vibrant economy, achieving decarbonisation and climate resilience, developing strong ecosystems and improving the health and well-being of our communities.  At a local level, national planning policy is reinforced via the Local Development Plan (LDP) which, is a high level strategy document which must be prepared by the Council. The LDP also expresses in land-use terms the vision, wellbeing objectives and priorities of the Council and sets the strategic direction for development in Bridgend.  The LDP is currently being reviewed and consultation on the draft plan has recently ended and a consultation report will be prepared in due course.

The Welsh Government published its Welsh Public Sector Net Zero Carbon Reporting Guide in May 2021.  This sets out detailed scope and boundaries of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and a consistent calculation methodology to determine the degree to which Public bodies are progressing towards reaching net-zero carbon.  In developing a position of net-zero carbon for Council operations, this authority is seeking to undertake an innovative and radical decarbonisation programme across the Council and in doing so develop accurate, scientific and robust technical support to enable the delivery and achievement of this ambition.  Work is well underway to complete a thorough GHG emissions scoping and emissions baseline review to support the authority to consider and set the boundary, period and scope of what will be included and excluded from the authority GHG emissions baseline. This will define and calculate a robust carbon footprint to take forward as the baseline for the reduction trajectory and net-zero carbon route map.  This will be followed by the creation of a wide-ranging GHG emissions reduction trajectory that will adjust according to annual data to align this authority’s carbon reduction pathway with international agreements on carbon budgeting to tackle climate change and limit global warming to well below 2 ºC.  This will result in the development of a net-zero carbon route-map with comprehensive Decarbonisation strategy and action plan that set out the objectives and actions required to achieve net-zero carbon.  This will develop a robust pipeline of projects and activities with detailed assessment and prioritised opportunities based on carbon saving potential, costs and timeframes.

Focusing on the priority themes of (a) mobility and transport (b) buildings and energy (c) land use and biodiversity and, (d) procurement is not new for this authority. Amongst other recent activities in relation to these themes this authority has secured a grant from The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to develop The Bridgend District Heat Network, secured funding through the Re:fit programme to retrofit 18 buildings installing energy conservation measures such as LED lighting replacement, Solar PV systems and Building Managements Systems, secured funding to plant a targeted 15,000 tress in 2021/22 and  been awarded a grant of nearly £500k from Welsh Government as part of the national Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV) Transformation Fund to improve its electric vehicle charging infrastructure with the possibility of further funding of £300k via the Welsh Local Government Association. In addition to these projects, work is also progressing in relation to phase 2 property rationalisation via the updating homeworking policy and development of active travel routes, Metro Plus Schemes across the Borough and a Metro link bus facility in Porthcawl. 

To oversee the current and future work which the authority has to undertake we have internally developed a new governance structure, the Bridgend 2030 Decarbonisation Programme Board. The Bridgend 2030 Decarbonisation Programme Board will receive direct engagement with a Citizens Assembly once established and a Steering Group of interested delivery partners. Direct engagement is held with Public Services Board (PSB) to establish synergies, shared resources and commonality of vision.

The land use planning system must balance the need for future growth, to provide the necessary homes and employment land to ensure a vibrant and healthy economy whilst protecting natural assets, ensuring sustainability and promoting a low carbon environment.  One of the key objectives of the LDP is to create high quality sustainable places through sound placemaking principles and whilst there are number of large strategic development sites coming forward these must be developed in a sustainable way.  This will include developing in locations close to or on the edge of existing settlements with existing infrastructure and good links to centres of employment and retail/leisure/education facilities (20 minute neighbourhoods), inclusion of sufficient open space/recreational areas with priority given to active travel and public transportation and the ability for homes and businesses to connect to district heat networks.  It is crucial therefore to ensure that the replacement LDP is adopted in order to ensure that future sustainable development and avoid sporadic, unplanned development.

As such it is considered that the future development in Bridgend if managed correctly via the land use planning system and the LDP will make a significant contribution to meeting carbon reduction targets.

Supplementary question from Councillor Altaf Hussain

Proportionality of the LDP in BCBC is failing our valleys communities which is evident when one sees 14% or 1,360 of the 9,200 homes planned are situated in valleys on the North of Bridgend like Ogmore and Garw.

Why is our LDP process in Bridgend failing our valleys communities when levelling up of the valleys is a new political buzzword?

Response

The Chief Executive confirmed that the Local Development Plan (LDP) of BCBC when finalised has to be evidence based and credible, as it has to get through an inspection by Welsh Government. In terms of our valley areas, particularly in Ogmore and Garw, there were limitations for housing development infrastructure. Though smaller more limited housing sites were encouraged for build in these areas. There were examples of the construction of residential developments in valley areas, namely at Ewenny Road, Maesteg and a small site at Bettws, he added.

The Corporate Director – Communities supplemented this by adding that within the LDP consultation had to take place on areas to locate Strategic Housing sites, as the local authority had to meet specific targets here, identified by Welsh Government. It was difficult currently to provide housing north of both the M4 and the Level Crossing at Pencoed, whilst money had been allocated by Welsh Government to build at the Ewenny Road development. Every encouragement was being given to site developers etc, so that they may consider providing smaller infill housing at Ogmore and Garw, in-keeping with the limited size of areas of land available there. She added that Planning and Development Officers were also looking at the Placemaking agenda and the value of smaller housing sites, as not everyone wanted to live within large housing developments. Areas for these were in the process of being identified. The Council were also placing a Bid for funding to remove the Level Crossing at Pencoed and put there in its place, a foot bridge and road bridge. This would improve public transport access there, as well as releasing sites for development, north of the M4 junction.

The above was echoed by the Leader, who added that both the Garw and Ogmore Valleys were narrower than the Llynfi Valley and were also dominated by mountains and hillsides with not a lot of area in between upon which site developers could build, due to the geography and topography of the land. He welcomed the views of all Members of locations where housing could be considered for development. The Council had also received Social Housing grant funding he added, from Welsh Government.

The Cabinet Member – Communities further added that the Authority was looking at a ‘whole system’ Council approach, including the making good of empty properties and where there was supply and demand also, so market assessments would be analysed here, including those based on need. There was also difficulty building on contaminated sites, as had been the case in respect of the Ewenny Road development, until funding had been received to alleviate this.

Second supplementary question from Councillor Tim Thomas

Within the Valley Gateway locations there are smaller blockages and cases  of over development that haven’t addressed certain over capacity issues, such as at the River Bridge, Abergarw Road and the A4061. Does the Cabinet Member – Communities have any comment to make on how these blockages could be retrospectively improved, since development has taken place at locations such as these.

Response

As this would be an expansive answer that would need to be investigated and fully prepared prior to a substantive response, the Cabinet Member – Communities advised that this would be put together outside of the meeting and forwarded onto Councillor Thomas and fellow Council Members, at the earliest convenience.

Third supplementary question from Councillor Rod Shaw

How can we address the imbalance of resourcing, that if achieved, could free up many of the available sites located in the Valley areas.

Response

The Corporate Director – Communities confirmed that there was not really an imbalance in terms of resources, as there weren’t any large sites in the Valley areas where development was currently proposed. BCBC were looking at instead, to develop housing at infill plots or through the provision of smaller developments (in perhaps more innovative ways) both in the locations of Ogmore and Garw in order to meet need and the requirements of the LDP. As part of the consultation here, anyone who may be interested had been invited to come forward if they had any suggestions of Candidate Sites where to build on.

The Leader added that expressions of interest weren’t just being sought from residents, builders and developers, but Registered Social Landlords also. All levels of interest needed to be looked at he added, based on sites that are available and the need for housing at various different locations.