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 membership for this task group.

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. They highlighted that CSAP is in a build phase and a transitionary year, focusing on developing its core team, internal processes, and relationships with wider partners.

A key concern raised by the committee was the impact of regionalisation on Cardiff's funding. 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 would remain the same, with a pledge for it to stay the same in the following financial year. He acknowledged inflationary pressures but stated these were being managed through efficiencies. The committee was informed that CSAP is consulting partners via the Move More Partnership group on its future plans and is exploring new funding opportunities, though Gavin Hawkey emphasised the importance of making better use of existing investment.

Discussions also covered specific programmes, including improvements to school swimming, with public transport being used to reduce costs for schools and increase participation. For older people and those with disabilities, a funded programme with GLL offers discounted activities, and an activity finder is being developed in conjunction with the health board. The use of council parks for events like Parkrun was acknowledged, with ongoing investment in facilities such as 3G pitches, drainage, and lighting. The committee noted the recognition by CSAP of the need to better coordinate work across partners to avoid competition and maximise opportunities.

Regarding metrics, CSAP explained they are moving away from traditional Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and are instead using data from school and national surveys, layered with information on multiple deprivation, to target interventions and understand population-level change. The committee expressed a desire for more clarity on how the impact of the partnership's work is being measured and requested further information on project-specific measures.

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. Cardiff Council manages 28 statutory allotment sites, offering 3,457 plots, with 2,489 currently occupied and an estimated 493 vacant.

A significant challenge identified was the insufficient resource and budget for the service, impacting staffing and infrastructure maintenance. The single dedicated allotment officer is managing a high volume of correspondence, estimated at around 4,500 pieces annually. The committee heard about the ongoing implementation of the Orchestrate software, intended to improve management information and speed up processes, though issues with signal quality on-site and access restrictions to council hardware were raised.

The council has secured Welsh Government Allotment Support Grant funding, which has been used to bring redundant plots back into use and improve site security and infrastructure. Discussions also touched upon the Allotment Strategy 2022-2027, with progress on its 37 actions being monitored. Opportunities for increasing locally managed sites and introducing new tenancy agreements were highlighted.

The committee explored questions around social prescribing and the benefits of allotments for mental health, with confirmation that the council works with partners like Grow Cardiff and the Community Park Rangers to facilitate access for those referred through social prescribing. The issue of rubbish being dumped on sites was also discussed, with officers explaining proactive engagement with site committees to tackle this.

Regarding new allotment sites, particularly in areas with significant housing development, the council is exploring options, with an extension of allotments at Forest Farm being the current proposal for the North West Cardiff area, subject to further due diligence. The committee also raised the need for ward councillors to be aware of allotment maintenance backlogs to potentially influence the allocation of Section 106 funding.

Work Programme and Correspondence

The committee agreed to the terms of reference 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 committee also received an update on correspondence sent and received, noting several outstanding responses from Cabinet Members on various scrutiny items.

The next meeting of the Economy & Culture Scrutiny Committee is scheduled for 24 February 2026, focusing on Budget Scrutiny.