Here is the latest update from Cardiff Council, covering: building on achievements of the Race Equality Taskforce for Cardiff's future; public consultation on Cardiff's plans to deliver an intelligent transport network; overhaul of allotment provision; vaccination totals for Cardiff & Vale; and case and test numbers.

Building on achievements of the Race Equality Taskforce for Cardiff's future

A report that highlights the community engagement work, key initiatives and next steps of the Race Equality Taskforce, 20 months after it was set up to help address racial inequalities in Cardiff, has been published.

The taskforce was proposed in July 2020 by the Leader of Cardiff Council, Cllr Huw Thomas, in response to the tragic death of George Floyd in the USA, and the campaign by the Black Lives Matter movement in the UK calling for greater justice and equality for Black Communities.

The taskforce identified Cardiff's priorities through a consultation with residents and developed a programme of change to drive equality in employment, citizen's voice, services for young people, health and criminal justice.

Chair of the Race Equality Taskforce and Councillor for Butetown, Cllr Saeed Ebrahim, said: "Cardiff has always been a proudly diverse city and holds one of the oldest settled ethnic minority communities in the UK with people from across the world making it home.

"The work led by Cardiff's Race Equality Taskforce since its inception in July 2020, has gone beyond just making recommendations, we have got things done. By consulting with insightful individuals across a range of industries and organisations and with the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic community to gather views on what the taskforce's priorities should be, we have ensured some real change.

"Additionally, the Taskforce's extensive efforts has culminated in new policies, initiatives and actions that will become embedded within the relevant areas across the city.

"I'm proud of the solutions and proposals this taskforce is putting in place to build a positive and inclusive city and help to ensure future generations have the same chances and opportunities in life; and education and work will be two key areas where we can continue to help make a difference to people. I feel positive to look to the future at the possibilities of what is still come."

Cllr Huw Thomas, Leader of Cardiff Council said: "The people, groups, industries and organisations involved in this taskforce have really committed to putting ideas into action, focussing on tactical issues where the Council - and other partners - can act quickly, and galvanise change in others, responding to the real needs of our communities. It is a robust and comprehensive and robust report, and I am grateful to everyone involved in its development.

"My commitment, in return, is to do everything in my power to enact the recommendations that have been put forward. People of colour in this city - and across the world - still today, deal with racism as part of their everyday lives, continuing to face barriers and challenges as a result of their skin colour. That is simply unacceptable, and I believe and hope the recommendations from the Taskforce offer a concrete roadmap to change things for good in Cardiff."

Read more here:

https://www.cardiffnewsroom.co.uk/releases/c25/28630.html

Public consultation on Cardiff's plans to deliver an intelligent transport network

Cardiff Council will be engaging the public on how the city can improve the transport network using data and technology to reduce congestion, improve bus travel and incentivise cycling and walking.

Using real-time information an ‘intelligent transport system' could use a range of measures to help people take decisions about the best way to move around the city on a given day or time, including:

• Having a transport user app for the public
• Ensuring that the new bus interchange is integrated into Cardiff's highway network
• Developing integrated ticketing between different forms of transport
• Implementing SMART corridors to improve bus journey times and manage cross-border travel from neighbouring authorities
• Creating an integrated control room with our transport and public sector partners, and
• Upgrading telematics systems and infrastructure.

Cllr Caro Wild, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport said: "We want to ask the public their views on our draft strategy to build an Intelligent Transport System in Cardiff. We do have systems in place already, but they are not integrated, and many are coming to the end of their life, as they have been superseded by newer technology.

"We want to reduce harmful emissions, improve air quality and make Cardiff a healthier city to live and work in. One of the best ways to do that is to change the way we move around the city encouraging public transport, cycling and walking as preferred ways of getting around.

"By 2030, we would like to see 76% of all journeys made by sustainable forms of transport. To do that we will need to double the number of people travelling by bike or by bus. To achieve this, we need better infrastructure which is managed by an integrated, intelligent transport system. It would act as the nerve centre ensuring bus corridors, cycleways and improved pedestrian crossings and pavements are recognised as a key part of the network, and helping to make travel on Cardiff's roads as efficient as possible.

"Through the development of the transport user app, integrated ticketing and SMART technology, residents and commuters will be better informed, so they themselves can make informed decisions on the best way to travel on any given day at any given time.

"Our draft strategy looks at the use of data and technology to reduce congestion, incentivise active travel to make our highway network more efficient, and will help deal with incidents on the highway more effectively.

"The opening of the bus station in 2023 will act as a trigger point to implement new services and technology, so it is important that we do this work now. "

Read more here:

https://www.cardiffnewsroom.co.uk/releases/c25/28623.html

Cardiff Council plans overhaul of allotment provision

Growing our own food on allotments has been one of the more popular ways of keeping active during the pandemic and Cardiff Council is keen to ensure as many of us as possible can get back to the land.

There are currently 28 allotment sites across the city, made up of more than 3,400 plots tended by around 2,400 holders but during the pandemic the waiting list of people eager to grow their own fruit and vegetables has grown from 793 in 2020 to 1,292.

Now, the Council is proposing an overhaul of its allotment services to take into account this increase in demand and continue a programme of improvements that were held back because of lockdown restrictions.

The Cardiff Allotment Strategy, which goes before the Cabinet next Thursday (March 10), outlines a series of measures planned for the next five years. These include:

• Reducing waiting lists
• Improving cultivation standards
• Increasing biodiversity
• Working with charities and other bodies to improve access to allotments for disadvantaged groups, and
• Identifying new allotment sites

Cllr Peter Bradbury, the Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, said allotments were a great way to bring communities together and give everyone, regardless of their age or abilities, a healthy and fulfilling pastime. "Many of the allotments across Cardiff are run by their members, supported by the Council's Allotment Officer, and are thriving but it's clear from a consultation exercise carried out among holders last autumn that there is much we can do improve facilities and help make allotments more accessible."

Read more here:

https://www.cardiffnewsroom.co.uk/releases/c25/28627.html

Cardiff & Vale University Health Board Vaccination Status Update - 01 March

Data provided by CAVUHB

Based on the figures available at the time of publication.

Please note that there may be minor amendments to data as it is validated over time.

The total number of vaccination doses given by the Cardiff & Vale University Health Board so far, in both local authority areas:  1,084,098 (1^stDose: 402,727 2^ndDose: 377,332 3^rdDose: 8,251 Boosters: 295,687)

Cohort Data - Last updated: 24 February 2022

• 80 and over: 22,124 / 95% (1^stDose) 21,968 / 94.3% (2^nd& 3^rd*Dose) 20,871 / 95% (Booster)
• 75-79: 16,760 / 96.5% (1^stDose) 16,647 / 95.9% (2^nd& 3^rd*Dose) 15,875 / 95.4% (Booster)
• 70-74: 21,139 / 95.9% (1^stDose) 21,011 / 95.3% (2^nd& 3^rd*Dose) 20,333 / 95.3% (Booster)
• 65-69: 22,730 / 94.2% (1^stDose) 22,496 / 93.2% (2^nd& 3^rd*Dose) 21,177 / 94.1% (Booster)
• 60-64: 27,019 / 92.2% (1^stDose) 26,660 / 91% (2^nd& 3^rd*Dose) 24,751 / 92.8% (Booster)
• 55-59: 29,709 / 90.3% (1^stDose) 29,245 / 88.9% (2^nd& 3^rd*Dose) 26,800 / 91.6% (Booster)
• 50-54: 29,055 / 88% (1^stDose) 28,451 / 86.1% (2^nd& 3^rd*Dose) 25,391 / 89.2% (Booster)
• 40-49: 56,605 / 81.9% (1^stDose) 54,848 / 79.4% (2^nd& 3^rd*Dose) 45,863 / 83.6% (Booster)
• 30-39: 63,391 / 77.2% (1^stDose) 59,850 / 72.9% (2^nd& 3^rd*Dose) 43,740 / 73.1% (Booster)
• 18-29: 83,820 / 79.5% (1^stDose) 75,676 / 71.7% (2^nd& 3^rd*Dose) 47,605 / 62.9% (Booster)
• 16-17: 4,047 / 71.3% (1^stDose) 3,046 / 53.7% (2^nd& 3^rd*Dose) 72 / 2.4% (Booster)
• 13-15: 14,098 / 57.9% (1^stDose) 8,684 / 35.7% (2^nd& 3^rd*Dose)

• Care home residents: 1,999 / 98.6% (1^stDose) 1,982 / 97.7% (2^nd& 3^rd*Dose) 1,830 / 92.3% (Booster)
• Care Home Workers: 3,703 / 99.1% (1^stDose) 3,651 / 97.7% (2^nd& 3^rd*Dose) 2,930 / 80.3% (Booster)
• Healthcare Workers: 27,157 / 98.2% (1^stDose) 26,894 / 97.3% (2^nd& 3^rd*Dose) 24,245 / 90.2% (Booster)
• Social Care Workers**: 8,207 / 82.7% (Booster)
• Clinically extremely vulnerable: 10,775 / 94.7% (1^stDose) 10,617 / 93.3% (2^nd& 3^rd*Dose) 8,190 / 77.1% (Booster)
• Underlying Health Conditions: 46,342 / 90.8% (1^stDose) 45,040 / 88.3% (2^nd& 3^rd*Dose) 38,305 / 85% (Booster)
• Underlying Health Conditions (12-15): 676 / 64.9% (1^stDose) 490 / 47% (2^nd& 3^rd*Dose) 59 / 12% (Booster)
• Underlying Health Conditions (5-11): 506 / 37.2% (1^stDose)

*Those who have received two COVID-19 vaccine doses, with the exception of those who are severely immunosuppressed who are recommended three doses

**Data taken from an alternative source

Cardiff Cases and Tests - 7 Days Data (25 February - 03 March 2022)

Based on latest figures from Public Health Wales

Data correct as of:

07 March 2022

Cases: 724

Cases per 100,000 population: 197.3 (Wales: 178.0 cases per 100,000 population)

Testing episodes: 2,728

Testing per 100,000 population: 743.5

Positive proportion: 26.5% (Wales: 23.0% positive proportion)