We have set out a clear ambition for Cardiff, to build a Stronger, Fairer and Greener capital city.
This Corporate Plan sets out how that ambition is translated into action. It provides the framework through which the Council aligns its resources to realise our ambitions, ensuring that our priorities are backed by disciplined and effective delivery.
Four years on from setting out that ambition, we can reflect with confidence on the progress made. Despite the lasting impacts of the pandemic, the cost-of-living challenges, rising and increasingly complex demand for services, and sustained financial pressures across local government, Cardiff has continued to move forward.
We have continued to raise standards in education, delivering 25 major school projects - from brand new schools to major expansions and specialist provision - strengthening Cardiff's position as one of Wales' top performing areas for education. We are progressing one of the most ambitious council house-building programmes in the country, with 1,800 homes already delivered and a long-term commitment to deliver 4,000 by 2035, increasing affordable supply at scale. In addition, our Money Advice Team has helped residents secure more than £68 million in additional benefit support, while thousands of people have been supported into work.
We have als improved public transport connectivity and moved into delivery of the Cardiff Crossrail project. Investment in Cardiff Bay continues, with the new Indoor Arena forming part of a wider regeneration programme, alongside sustained investment in district centres, Hubs, libraries and parks. And through One Planet Cardiff, we have translated climate ambition into practical delivery, having completed the city's first heat network.
An independent assessment by a top team of experts has recognised this progress. The recent Panel Performance Assessment concluded that Cardiff is a well-run council, exercising its functions effectively, with aligned and effective political and corporate leadership, strong governance arrangements and robust performance management. This recognition reflects the commitment of our workforce, partners and elected members, and the focus we maintain on delivering the city's priorities.
While this progress is significant, we remain clear-eyed about the challenges ahead. Demand for services continues to grow and become more complex. Schools face significant pressures, including rising demand for Additional Learning Needs support whilst demographic trends place a strain on budgets. Children's and Adult Services are responding to higher levels of need, while ongoing housing pressures continue to drive demand and cost across the system. The financial context remains extremely challenging.
This Plan sets out how we will continue to meet those challenges.
We will maintain an unrelenting focus on early intervention and prevention, strengthening support around children and families, and enabling more older people to live independently and well within their communities. We will continue driving inclusive economic growth, ensuring that opportunity reaches every part of our city and that prosperity is widely shared. We will invest in strong, safe and welcoming communities, supported by well-connected neighbourhoods and public spaces. And we will accelerate the transition to a greener, more resilient capital, embedding sustainability at the heart of how Cardiff develops and operates.
At the same time, we will continue modernising the Council - deploying new technology, making prudent decisions to ensure we have the right environment from which to deliver effective services, whilst continuing to invest in our workforce.
As always, this Plan is about balancing ambition with deliverability. We remain ambitious about the outcomes we want to achieve, clear about the resources available to us and focused on delivery.
I am proud of the progress we continue to make together. This Plan ensures that our ambition continues to be matched by credible, accountable action, building a Stronger, Fairer and Greener capital for this generation and the next.
Download the full Corporate Plan (PDF, 2 MB)
Download the executive summary of the Corporate Plan (PDF, 1 MB)
The corporate plan lists our wellbeing objectives:
Cardiff is a great place to grow up
Cardiff is already a great place to grow up for many children and young people, with sustained improvement in educational standards and a strong commitment to children's rights and inclusion. However, long-standing pressures across education have been intensified by the lasting impact of the pandemic, the rising cost of living and the growing demand for support. Schools continue to face significant challenges, including increasing emotional health and wellbeing needs, reduced attendance for some learners, and growing pressure on school budgets. Demand for Additional Learning Needs (ALN) support is also rising, with needs becoming more complex and demand continuing to outpace capacity, placing further pressure on specialist provision, home-to-school transport and wider support services. In response, the Council will continue to invest in high-quality education and school improvement, enhancing ALN capacity and maintaining a focus on wellbeing, inclusion and early intervention so that every child is supported to achieve their potential.
For vulnerable children and their families, timely and effective support remains essential to ensuring children grow up safe, supported and able to achieve positive outcomes. Children's Services continues to respond to high and increasingly complex levels of demand, alongside growing pressures around placement sufficiency and workforce capacity. The Council will continue to focus on early help and prevention, strengthening safeguarding arrangements and working with partners to provide the right support at the right time. This will include continuing to shift the balance of care, improving placement sufficiency and supporting more children to remain safely within their families and communities wherever possible. Delivery of this objective will be supported through the Council's wider change and transformation programme, including work to strengthen preventative, joined-up services for children and young people and ensure support remains sustainable as demand and complexity continue to grow.
Our priorities for delivering a stronger, fairer, greener Cardiff in 2026 to 2027:
- Being a Child Friendly City: Advancing the rights of children and young people
- Learning Entitlement: Providing high-quality education and learning opportunities for all children and young people
- Wellbeing, Equity and Inclusion: Ensuring all children and young people are ready and able to learn, and enjoy positive health and wellbeing
- Delivering Sustainable Communities for Learning
- Shifting the balance of care:
- Place
- People
- Practice
- Protecting the wellbeing of vulnerable children, young people and families
Cardiff is a great place to grow older
As Cardiff's population continues to age, supporting older people to live healthy, independent and fulfilling lives becomes increasingly important. Cardiff is committed to being an Age-Friendly City, where older residents can remain active, connected and supported within their communities. The Council will continue to focus on enabling older people to live independently at home for as long as possible, supported by community-based, preventative services that help people maintain their wellbeing and avoid more intensive support where possible. This approach reflects the Council's commitment to supporting ageing well, reducing reliance on more intensive services and promoting independence and quality of life as people age.
At the same time, demographic change and rising levels of need are increasing demand for adult social care and placing growing pressure on services and the wider care system. Many people will experience multiple or complex needs as they grow older, requiring co-ordinated support. Delivering sustainable care and support will continue to rely on strong partnership working across health, social care, housing and the voluntary sector, ensuring people receive the right support at the right time, supporting safe and timely discharge from hospital, and helping to prevent avoidable admissions. Support for unpaid carers will remain a priority, recognising the vital role they play in supporting people with more complex needs to live well and remain independent. These transformation priorities will be delivered through integrated, preventative and partnership-based approaches that support sustainable care and improved outcomes for adults and their families.
Our priorities for delivering a stronger, fairer, greener Cardiff in 2026 to 2027:
- Supporting older people to stay active and connected in an Age-Friendly City
- Supporting older people to live independently at home through strengths-based preventative services
- Working in partnership to deliver high-quality sustainable care and support
- Supporting unpaid carers and valuing their role
- Ensuring our services meet the needs of the most vulnerable
Supporting people out of poverty
While Cardiff has experienced strong economic growth over past decades, persistent inequality remains, with some of the most deprived communities in Wales found within the city. The cost of living continues to place significant pressure on households, making it harder for many people to meet essential living costs and deepening existing disparities. The Council will continue to provide targeted support for those most affected, helping residents to improve their financial resilience and access the advice and support they need at the earliest opportunity.
A key focus will remain on supporting people into work and improving access to training, skills and employment opportunities, particularly for groups who face additional barriers to employment. Preventing homelessness will continue to be a priority, with a focus on early intervention, increasing access to suitable accommodation and ensuring that rough sleeping is rare, brief and not repeated. The Council will also continue to promote fair pay and good employment through its Living Wage ambitions, working with employers and partners to support inclusive growth. These priorities will be delivered through integrated, place-based working with partners, focusing on prevention, reducing inequality and improving long-term outcomes for communities across the city.
Our priorities for delivering a stronger, fairer, greener Cardiff in 2026 to 2027:
- Supporting those most impacted by the cost-of-living crisis
- Supporting people into work
- Continuing our Living Wage City ambition
- Preventing homelessness whenever possible and ending rough sleeping
Safe, confident and empowered communities
Safe, confident and empowered communities are essential to Cardiff's wellbeing and to ensuring residents can live healthy, fulfilling lives. The Council will continue to work with partners to keep Cardiff one of the safest cities in the UK, with a focus on preventing harm, tackling violence and anti-social behaviour, and protecting people who are vulnerable. This includes ensuring that residents feel safe and supported in their homes, neighbourhoods and public spaces.
The Council will also continue to strengthen community wellbeing and resilience, recognising that safety and opportunity are closely linked to secure housing, access to support and the quality of local places. Ongoing pressures in the housing system remain a major challenge for the city and continue to drive demand and cost pressures across services. Alongside action to address inequality and promote inclusion, the Council will maintain a strong focus on neighbourhoods and community infrastructure, including Hubs and libraries, and on safeguarding Cardiff's parks and green spaces so they remain accessible and welcoming. Again. these priorities will be delivered through integrated, place-based working that brings services and partners together locally, ensuring support is joined-up, responsive and sustainable.
Our priorities for delivering a stronger, fairer, greener Cardiff in 2026 to 2027:
- Leading the response to the Housing Emergency
- Investing in communities
- Ensuring children and adults are protected from risk of harm and abuse
- Creating safe and inclusive communities
- Supporting grass-roots and community sport across the city
- Delivering high-quality parks and public spaces
A capital city that works for Wales
Cardiff is central to Wales' economic growth and prosperity, driving job creation, investment and innovation. As the capital city, Cardiff's success is a pre-requisite for a prosperous Wales and a competitive Cardiff Capital Region. The Council will continue to support inclusive and sustainable growth, creating the conditions for businesses to invest and grow and for residents to access high-quality employment opportunities, while ensuring the benefits of growth are felt across the city.
Cardiff's development and regeneration agenda will continue to strengthen the city's competitiveness and enhance its international profile, supported by major infrastructure, transport and placemaking activity. National economic pressures and ongoing funding uncertainty continue to create challenges for investment and delivery, and the Council will continue to work with partners and all levels of government to secure support and maintain momentum for transformative economic projects. Alongside action to improve productivity and reduce barriers to employment, the Council will also continue to champion Cardiff's cultural offer and major events programme as a key driver of the city's identity, economy and visitor appeal.
Delivery of this objective will be supported through the development of a renewed long-term economic vision for Cardiff, working with partners and anchor institutions to strengthen alignment across city development priorities. This will ensure that investment, regeneration and infrastructure activity are co-ordinated and focused on maximising their contribution to inclusive growth, productivity and improved outcomes for all communities.
Our priorities for delivering a stronger, fairer, greener Cardiff in 2026 to 2027:
- Leading the economic development in Wales
- Leading the economic development in Cardiff
- Supporting the cultural sector and major events programme
One Planet Cardiff
Cardiff continues to respond to the climate and nature emergencies, recognising the increasing impacts of extreme weather, flooding risk and the need to protect and restore the natural environment. These challenges require long-term change in how the city grows and how public services support transport, energy, waste and the built environment. The Council will continue to lead the city's transition to a greener and more sustainable future, embedding carbon reduction and environmental sustainability into decision-making and everyday operations. This includes supporting greener travel choices, improving air quality, and ensuring that development and investment across the city reflects long-term sustainability and wellbeing.
Achieving net zero and building climate resilience will require sustained partnership working and significant investment at both local and national levels. The Council will continue to progress key programmes that reduce emissions and strengthen resilience, including action on transport and energy, flood risk management, improving recycling performance and maintaining a clean and well-managed city environment. These priorities will be delivered through transformational, cross-service working that aligns environmental and economic objectives and supports long-term sustainability and resilience.
Our priorities for delivering a stronger, fairer, greener Cardiff in 2026/27:
- Responding to the Climate Emergency
- Transforming Cardiff's public transport and active travel systems
- Putting sustainability and wellbeing at the heart of the city's growth
- Enhancing Cardiff's flood defences
- Building resilience into our highway network
- Making Cardiff a world-leading recycling city
- Working as one team to keep our streets clean
Modernising and integrating our public services
Cardiff Council continues to face rising and increasingly complex demand for services, alongside significant financial pressures and a challenging medium-term outlook. These pressures require a continued focus on ensuring that the Council can deliver vital services effectively while adapting to changing needs and expectations. In response, the Council has developed a new change and transformation programme focused on ensuring services remain resilient, sustainable and able to meet residents' needs. This programme is focused on areas of high and rising demand, significant financial pressure or where service reform is required to ensure sustainable delivery.
A key focus will be on ensuring the Council's workplaces, technology and culture support staff to deliver high-quality services. This includes modernising the Council's core office and wider estate to reflect changing organisational requirements, accelerating digital transformation to support delivery, and expanding access to services through more efficient and customer-focused approaches.
The Council will also continue to prioritise workforce resilience, recognising the importance of recruitment, retention, wellbeing and skills in maintaining strong services and responding to future challenges. Alongside this, strengthening governance and financial planning will remain essential to ensuring resources are used effectively and that major programmes and projects are delivered successfully. Through these changes, the Council will strengthen how it works across the organisation and with partners, ensuring public services are joined-up, responsive and able to deliver value for money while maintaining a strong focus on outcomes for residents.
Our priorities for delivering a stronger, fairer, greener Cardiff in 2026 to 2027:
- Working with city partners to deliver a Stronger, Fairer, Greener Cardiff
- Delivering leaner and greener Council buildings
- Improving the Council's digital offer and enhancing the use of data
- Supporting a highly-skilled and productive workforce with the wellbeing of staff at its core
- Using the power of the public purse effectively and responsibly to support the Council's ambitions
- Ensuring the Council represents and responds to the diversity of Cardiff's communities
