Cardiff Council Update: 10 June 2022

10/06/22

Here is the latest update from Cardiff Council, covering: Cardiff joining the World Health Organization's Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities; Cardiff Council considers Welsh Government plans to improve bus services across Wales;20,000 trees planted in first six months of Cardiff's urban forest projectand the launch of the ‘More More Cardiff Strategy' to help residents get more active.

Age-friendly Castle celebrations marks global network membership

Music, dancing and a sense of celebration filled the grounds of Cardiff Castle today in a special event to mark Cardiff joining the World Health Organization's Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities.

The city became the first Welsh member of the network in March and celebrated the achievement in style with an official launch party today featuring performances from Only Men Aloud, Rubicon Dance and schoolchildren from Millbank Primary, Ely.

Assembled guests, including Cardiff's Older Person's Champion, Cllr Norma Mackie, and Welsh Government Deputy Minister for Social Services, Julie Morgan MS and some of our older citizens who access day services in the city enjoyed the sunshine and festive atmosphere at the event.

The city's membership of the WHO network, which was set up in 2010 to connect cities, communities, and organisations worldwide with the common vision of making their communities a great place to grow older, is a result of extensive collaboration with stakeholders across the city including Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, educational institutions, and third sector organisations.

Welsh Government needs to protect municipal bus companies, says Cardiff Council

Welsh Government plans to improve bus services across Wales are being considered by Cardiff Council.

The government's White Paper consultation, "One network, one timetable, one ticket: planning buses as a public service for Wales", sets out proposals designed to grow the bus network, meet public needs, maximise value for public investment in bus services, and break the reliance on private cars.

A report to Cardiff Council's Cabinet will recommend the council responds positively to the consultation while highlighting areas of concern the council feels need addressed, including;

More information around long-term funding plans;
More clarity on support for municipal bus companies which often operate less well-used routes, avoided by private sector companies chasing profit margins;
Consideration of school transport arrangements currently not covered in the consultation; and
Introduction of measures which ensure local councils are best placed to determine how local bus routes are delivered linking in with plans for park and rides and smart corridors.

20,000 trees planted in first six months of Cardiff's urban forest project

20,000 new trees have been planted in the first 6 months of an ambitious ten-year project to create an urban forest in Cardiff.

The Coed Caerdydd project forms part of Cardiff Council's response to the climate emergency aims to increase tree canopy coverage in Cardiff from 18.9% to 25%.

Working with local communities, the first season of planting has seen new community orchards planted, important species restored, new hedgerows created, hundreds of trees donated to households, community groups and schools.

Move More Cardiff Strategy Launching to help Residents Get Active

Could you be more physically active? From walking, cycling and activity in daily life, through to sport, Cardiff is already a physically active city and now a new Move More Cardiff strategy is launching to help residents reach their full potential.

Cardiff Council, Cardiff Metropolitan University and Cardiff University Health Board have connected partners from across the whole system to develop a 5-year strategy to get Cardiff moving more. The strategy will target four key areas of action: active systems, active environments, active societies, and active people, with the aim of reducing sedentary behaviour and making being active the norm.

Developed through 12 months of discussions with stakeholders, Move More Cardiff is a physical activity and sport strategy that takes a whole systems approach, putting the community at its core, and considering the city, its potential and barriers to activity in their entirety.