The leader of Cardiff Council has set out the key changes he wants to make to the city. At the launch of the Labour group's Stronger, Fairer, Greener strategy at the Parkgate Hotel in Cardiff on July 19 Huw Thomas laid out his priorities for the city over the next five years.
Among the key commitments was a pledge to build 1,500 more council houses, the development of a homegrown festival, and adopting stricter controls on houses of multiple occupation (HMOs). Presenting the strategy at its launch on Tuesday Cllr Thomas said that housing was "essential" to the council's regeneration plans and at the "heart" of its plans to tackle poverty.
The leader also highlighted climate change as a cornerstone of the strategy, saying there would be an emphasis on getting members of the public involved in taking action. He added: "If we are going to solve the challenges that are coming, especially in relation to the climate emergency, it is going to involve more people taking responsibility for their actions."
Read more: 'Hundreds of temporary flats to be built on Cardiff gasworks site in face of housing crisis'
Here is a further breakdown of some of the standout pledges laid out in the strategy.
Education
- Make Cardiff the first British city to be awarded Unicef child-friendly city status by the end of 2022
- Establishment of a young persons panel with the aim of making sure the voices of young people are heard in the decision-making process
- Opening eight new primary schools and two new secondary schools by 2030
Climate
- Replace all 24,000 residential lights with low energy LED lighting
- Achieve 70% recycling performance by 2025
- Extra front-line staff at the council to tackle fly-tipping in the city
Culture
- Keep Cardiff Castle open as a public park
- Secure an additional Green Flag award for parks each year, taking the number of Green Flag parks in Cardiff from 15 to 20
- The development of a major events programme anchored around homegrown music festival
Finance and investment
- Increase the number of council services available to citizens via digital platforms
- Generate £25m in capital receipts through land and asset sales by the end of 2025-26
Housing and planning
- Increase the council's housing stock by a minimum of 1,500 units
- Explore the feasibility of community-led housing and introduce further charges on empty properties
- Adopt stricter controls on HMOs and press for reform of the planning inspectorate system
- Explore the application of a 300% council tax premium with the aim of tackling long-term empty properties
Transport
- Set out the plans for new stations at Crwys Road, Butetown, St Mellons, Velindre, Ely Mill, Roath Park, Gabalfa, and Newport Road
- Investigate the use of a congestion charge in Cardiff
- Complete five strategic cycleways including a full route to Newport
You can find the full details of the leader's pledges here.
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