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The Update: 21 January 2025
Here is your Tuesday update, covering:
- Fitzalan High School excels in latest Estyn inspection
- Plans for new attraction and improvements at the International Sports Village
- Cardiff Council Unveils Ambitious Five-Year Strategy to Modernise Estate and Boost Capital Receipts by £10m
- New puzzles and games-themed play area for Splott
Fitzalan High School excels in latest Estyn inspection
Fitzalan High School has received glowing recognition in its most recent inspection conducted by Estyn, the Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales.
The report states that the school's work is characterised by high expectations, strong leadership, reflective self-evaluation, and close links with its local community.
The inspection highlights the school's commitment to fostering a highly caring, inclusive, and high-achieving environment for its diverse student body.
The report celebrates the school's success in cultivating a culture that values diversity, equity, and the understanding of different cultures and backgrounds. This inclusive ethos ensures that most of pupils feel safe, valued, and respected within the school community.
Teeing up transformation: Topgolf to drive new era at Cardiff's International Sports Village, while council tackles waterfront and parking upgrades
A major new golfing leisure attraction could soon be coming to Cardiff International Sports Village (ISV). Proposals to bring a Topgolf venue to the former Toys R Us site, previously earmarked for a new Velodrome, are set to be considered next week.
Topgolf attractions offer hi-tech golf games that everyone can enjoy, along with food and drink, all-weather hitting bays, and music. The leading international sports entertainment company, which currently operates at only four locations in the United Kingdom, is planning a significant investment in Cardiff's ISV.
The Cabinet will be recommended to enter into an Option Agreement with Topgolf for the former Toys R Us site. If approved, Topgolf would have 18 months to secure planning permission and enter a lease, potentially bringing the golf-based entertainment venue to Cardiff.
The ISV report to Cardiff Council's Cabinet on Thursday, January 23, also reveals the council is looking to address other improvements in the area. This includes restoring waterfront access by bringing forward clear plans for the ISV boardwalk, which has been closed on safety grounds for several years.
Additionally, a temporary car parking solution is proposed, creating approximately 400 new parking spaces to alleviate congestion and problem parking during peak times. The council intends to meet with local residents shortly to engage directly on these plans.
Cardiff Council Unveils Ambitious Five-Year Strategy to Modernise Estate and Boost Capital Receipts by £10m
Cardiff Council has launched a bold new five-year property strategy aimed at creating ‘Efficient Spaces, Sustainable Futures' property portfolio by 2030.
The strategy is aligned with the council's ‘Stronger, Greener, Fairer' policy agenda, the Replacement Local Development Plan, and One Planet Cardiff.
The strategy seeks to modernise the estate, increase income, and reduce the carbon footprint of council-owned buildings and land by focussing on five key areas up to 2030:
Carbon reduction:
Cut the carbon impact of the council's estate by 20% in line with the One Planet Strategy.
Estate rationalisation:
Improve the efficiency of the property portfolio and reduce running costs by £600,000.
Statutory compliance:
Achieve and maintain compliance levels of at least 80% or higher across the Estate.
Property disposals:
Sell non-essential properties to raise £10m.
Commercial income:
Increase leasehold property income by £700,000 and consider selling underperforming properties.
Over the past decade, the council has had to save more than £210m with financial pressures mounting each year, innovative solutions are needed to help fund essential services like social care, education, and housing and the council is looking at how it can utilise its property portfolio to help do that, either through sales or reducing maintenance and running costs.
Currently, Cardiff Council manages 300 freehold operational properties, including schools, venues, depots, offices, and sports facilities, costing around £40m annually. Additionally, the council leases 420 properties to community groups and organisations, generating £4m in income each year.
New puzzles and games-themed play area for Splott
Work gets underway to develop a new games and puzzle-themed play area in Splott next week.
As part of the Council's Neighbourhood Renewal Scheme programme and with funding from the UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund, delivery of the new playground in Splott Park begins on Monday January 27 and is expected to last 14 weeks.
The Neighbourhood Renewal Schemes programme is based on regeneration priorities identified by ward councillors, as representatives of their communities and delivers regeneration projects all over the city ranging from new parks and street improvements to community safety improvements.
The design of the Splott playground was finalised, taking into consideration the views of the local community on what they would like to see in the park. The area includes play equipment for toddlers, juniors and teens as well as accessible play equipment and natural play areas.
