Ditch Arena ‘vanity project’ to plug £30m funding gap

Buses pass Cardiff City Hall

Cardiff Council recently published its budget proposals for 2024-25. Cardiff Civic Society have written to Council leader, Huw Thomas with our response

Dear Councillor Thomas,

Cardiff Civic Society would like to comment on the budget consultation.

The Society has received numerous emails from concerned members of the public stating that the format of the consultation failed to allow them to properly raise their concerns.    The format of the consultation fails to allow people to say where they think reductions in costs could be made.  This would be a helpful format for next year’s consultation.

Cardiff Civic Society has noted that the savings that could potentially be made via the suggestions in the consultation are very small, and in no way address the shortfall of £30m.   Cardiff Civic Society suggests that the costs associated with the Arena, essentially a vanity project, would plug any shortfall for years to come.

 Other issues brought to CCS’s attention include:

*Parks.  Concerns over cuts to park services, including a loss of rangers, and the threats to Bute Park Nursery.   Public parks are hugely important to the health and well-being of the population, and protecting, maintaining and enhancing them and the wildlife that depends on them must be a priority.  The council has declared a Nature Emergency, a dire situation driven by habitat loss. Funds could be saved by allowing areas of scrub (vital habitat for birds and invertebrates) to thrive, reducing mowing and reducing use of pesticides (Cardiff Council spent more than £59,000 on pesticides in the first part of 2023 alone).

Reducing lighting in parks and the decision not to instal more is welcomed.  Lighting disrupts wildlife, and there is no concrete evidence that lighting enhances safety.

 *Street cleansing.  Visitors to Cardiff, while loving the place, the people and the parks, invariably comment on the filthy streets.  Reducing street cleansing will not enhance our city’s reputation.

*Library opening hours.  As last year’s campaign amply illustrated, the public is passionate about keeping libraries open, and maintaining opening hours.  Closing libraries on a Saturday is a retrograde step, as this is the only day that parents and children can access their libraries.  Denying library access to children cannot possibly be in line with Cardiff’s aims as a Child-Friendly City, nor can it fall in line with the aims of the Well-Being of Future Generations Act.

 Surely reducing library opening hours is a stain on the reputation of a Labour-led administration. 

 Furthermore, full-time staff should not be replaced by volunteers.

 *Waste collection.  Concerns were raised about charging for bulky waste.  While the advantage of doing so is clear, and many people will happily pay, those who cannot afford the fees may feel they have to resort to fly tipping – which, ultimately, will cost the council more. In some areas of the city, fly tipping is already out of control, and is way beyond what Keep Wales Tidy groups can cope with.

 *Cardiff Riding School.  The campaign in 2013 resulted in the school remaining in local authority hands.  It is a well-run and much-loved establishment. Handing over the riding school to a third party would result in a huge hike in lesson costs, meaning that the school will no longer be available to such a broad cross-section of people. The school also facilities an excellent Riding for the Disabled programme.  Horse riding is a sport very much favoured by girls and young women, and this needs all the support it can get, especially as male dominated sports tend to be prioritised.

 *Transport. Increasing parking fees in line with other core cities is acceptable. Currently, resident parking fees are well below those in other core cities - e.g. Bristol. Cardiff Civic Society would support a banded system where larger cars are charged more.  However, this must run in tandem with increased bus routes and more reliable buses if people are to be persuaded to leave their cars at home, or dispense with their cars altogether.

 *Cardiff Story Museum.  Again, as the 2023 campaign illustrated, this museum is much-loved, and needs to remain in its current, central location. Many individuals have offered their expertise to help make the museum sustainable.  Cardiff Council should be seeking out this expertise rather than considering off-loading the facility.

 Yours sincerely,

 
Nerys Lloyd-Pierce
Chair, Cardiff Civic Society