Cardiff Council

 

Democracy in Action - June 25th 2009 Cardiff Council


A coalition of Labour and Conservative councillors tabled a motion for the full Council on 25th June. Their motion proposed:

  1. This Council recognises that our city centre park complex, namely Bute Park, Sophia Gardens, Pontcanna Fields and Llandaff Fields are invaluable to our city and are recognised by everyone as treasured open spaces.


  3. By its actions in seeking to dispose of and destroy areas of open space across Cardiff, the Liberal Democrat and Plaid Cymru controlled Council administration has shown that facilities and amenities are not safe in its hands.


  5. Council therefore calls on the Executive to:

  6. 1. immediately cease all developments in Bute Park, Sophia Gardens, Pontcanna Fields and Llandaff Fields subject to 2 below.

  7. 2. undertake a wide-ranging consultation on the future use of these parks and to then bring forward a clear strategy for their future use & development.

  8. 3. immediately restore Pontcanna Fields to use for the benefit of the citizens of Cardiff.

  9. Proposed by:  Councillor Ralph Cook

  10. Seconded by: Councillor Craig Williams


This was pretty much a 'moratorium' motion in line with what BPA has been seeking. This was subsequently amended during the meeting by the proposers to replicate the wording used in a draft report by the scrutiny committee on the economic impact of parks. (See here for scrutiny committee draft report details.)


  1. Consider a pause in the development work taking place in Bute Park in order to foster dialogue between the opposing sides of the argument about Bute Park. As identified in the key findings, competing claims on space can lead to problems in parks about priorities and use. It appears clear to the Task and Finish group that competing ideas on this important piece of civic space have developed and become entrenched, and that open dialogue is the only way for this situation to be remedied. Despite the desire for dialogue to occur, this should be not at the expense of jeopardising any funding that Council Officers and Members have worked hard to secure.


However, the LibDem/Plaid controlling group had tabled an 'amendment'  that effectively wiped out the original motion. (There was argument as to whether this should be allowed, but Cardiff Council's Constitution allows a strong majority grouping and a weak (very on this occasion) Chair to do practically anything they like. With only a few hours notice before this amendment was published and there was no chance at all to lobby against it.


  1. Amendment 2 to Motion 3


  3. Delete all and replace: This Council recognises that our city centre park complex, namely Bute Park, Sophia Gardens, Pontcanna Fields and Llandaff Fields are invaluable to our city and are recognised by everyone as treasured open spaces. This Council notes: 1. The decision of the Labour administration on 5th February 2004 that approved the Parks Partnership Programme and the application for funding under the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Public Parks Initiative for the Bute Park Restoration Project.

  4. 2. The approval by the Executive on 5th July 2007 of the Council’s Parks and Green Spaces Strategy 2007-2012.

  5. 3. The unanimous decision of the Full Council on 27th September 2007 that agreed the provision of a new vehicular and pedestrian access bridge for Bute Park off North Road.

  6. 4. The subsequent capital allocations for the Bute Park Restoration Project and the new vehicular and pedestrian access bridge for Bute Park in the Council’s Capital Budgets for 2008/09 and 2009/10. This Council welcomes the award by the Heritage Lottery Fund of a grant of £3.1 million towards a total budget spend of £5.6 million for the Bute Park Restoration Project that will see: • Restoration and repair of the Animal Wall • Re-flooding of the Mill Leat on the western side of the castle • Restoration and conservation of the Blackfriars Friary site • Restoration and conservation of the West Lodge • Development of new visitor facilities at the West Lodge • Development of a new training / education centre at the Castle Nursery • Reinstatement of the Victorian Summerhouse based on the original Burgess design • Restoration of elements of the Victorian garden layout of Andrew Pettigrew • Appointment of Bute Park based Apprentices in addition to existing horticultural apprentices • Appointment of Bute Park based gardeners • Provision of opportunities for work experience / work placement in conjunction with schools, colleges and universities • Provision of new seating, litter bins, signage and interpretation throughout the park This Council notes the Statement on Continuing Community Involvement included within the Bute Park 10 Year Maintenance and Management Plan. This Council welcomes the intention of the Executive to open up the North Gate of Cardiff Castle thus creating an additional pedestrian access to Bute Park and allowing a natural pedestrian link from St Mary Street and High Street, through Cardiff Castle and on into Bute Park. This Council welcomes the desire to reduce the conflict between pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles within Bute Park, to better control the movement of vehicles within Bute Park and to significantly reduce the number of vehicle miles travelled within Bute Park. This Council notes that following last year’s highly successful National Eisteddfod, the construction work involved in restoring the site is now complete and, subject to aftercare and establishment of the area, the four reconstructed cricket tables will be available for play during next season. This Council notes that Glamorgan County Cricket Club have progressed its own arrangements to facilitate media coverage for the forthcoming Ashes Test at the Swalec Stadium. This Council calls on the Executive to: 1. Develop proposals to encourage community involvement in the restoration programme and the aftercare of Bute Park.

  7. 2. Not progress the proposed reconfiguration of the car park at Sophia Gardens.

  8. 3. Continue to progress the objectives of the Council’s Parks and Green Spaces Strategy 2007-2012.

  9. 4. Bring forward a report, within this financial year, outlining the progress of the Parks and Green Spaces Strategy 2007-2012 for scrutiny by the Economy and Culture Scrutiny Committee.

  10. 5. Explore opportunities for ensuring the conservation of Bute Park’s unique horticultural and heritage features through protective covenants.

  11. Proposed by Councillor Nigel Howells

  12. Seconded by Councillor Neil McEvoy


During the debate Councillor Gwenllian Lansdown (Plaid)  (who had chaired the Scrutiny Committee and used her Chair's casting vote to ensure that the 'pause' paragraph remained in the report in spite of LibDem opposition said she was unable to support the original motion because of the second paragraph - "not safe in their hands". The proposer of the motion then asked for permission to remove the offending sentence (allowed under the Constitution if the meeting agrees) but the block vote of LibDems refused to allow this.


After voting down the tabled motion the meeting then went on to carry the 'amendment' proposed by the LibDems/Plaid controlling group.


You can view the whole section of the meeting online here. (The council's own recording has very poor sound, in this version the sound has been enhanced to improve audibility - but it's not very pleasant - but then neither is most of the content!)