Y cyfansoddiad, ymddygiad cynghorwyr, archwilio, perfformiad a chwynion.
Beth mae cynghorau'n ei wneud
Sut mae'r cyngor ei hun yn cael ei redeg: ei gyfansoddiad, staff, adeiladau, TG, cwynion, a sut mae cynghorwyr yn ymddwyn.
Pwy sy'n penderfynu
Mae'r Cyngor llawn yn cytuno ar y cyfansoddiad. Mae pwyllgor safonau'n delio ag ymddygiad cynghorwyr; mae Ombwdsmon Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus Cymru yn ymchwilio i gwynion.
Dweud eich dweud
Cwynwch i'r cyngor yn gyntaf; os nad ydych yn fodlon, gallwch fynd at yr Ombwdsmon. Mae cyfarfodydd y cyngor yn gyhoeddus, ac mae llawer yn cael eu darlledu.
Mewn rhifau
Mae cynghorau Cymru yn bwriadu gwario £67 y pen ar hyn yn 2026-27.
Mae'n amrywio o -£4 yn Sir Fynwy i £167 yn Blaenau Gwent.
Treth gyngor a gasglwyd: 95% ar draws Cymru (2025-26).
Treth gyngor heb ei thalu ar ddiwedd y flwyddyn: £119 miliwn ar draws Cymru (2025-26).
Treth gyngor sy'n dal yn ddyledus o flynyddoedd cynt: £199.3 miliwn ar draws Cymru (2025-26).
Treth gyngor a ddilëwyd: £9 miliwn ar draws Cymru (2025-26).
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the contents of the reference from Cabinet of 18th July, 2024 and the
Annual Corporate Safeguarding Report 2023/24 be noted.
(2) T H A T the comments of the Governance and Audit Committee in relation to
the Annual Corporate Safeguarding Report 2023/2024 be referred to Cabinet.
Reasons for decisions
(1) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
(2) To advise Cabinet of the views of the Governance and Audit Committee.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the draft Governance and Audit Committee Annual Report 2023/24
be noted.
(2) T H A T individual Members of the Governance and Audit Committee be given
two weeks in which to respond in writing to the Head of the Regional Internal Audit
Service.
Reason for decisions
(1&2) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED – T H A T the verbal report provided by the Chair of the Committee at
the meeting be noted.
Reason for decision
To apprise members of the Standards Committee of the Standards Committee
Forum meeting held on 24th June, 2024.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T Councillor Driscoll failed to comply with paragraph 4 (d) of the
Members’ Code of Conduct which states that “You must not do anything which
compromises, or which is likely to compromise, the impartiality of those who work
for, or on behalf of, the authority “insofar as;
- The actions related to the use of Councillor Driscoll’s Council email address
on three occasions for personal interests.
(2) T H A T Councillor Driscoll failed to comply with paragraph 6 (1)(a) of the
Members’ Code of Conduct which states that “You must not conduct yourself in a
manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing your Council into disrepute”
insofar as
- Councillor Driscoll’s failure to update the Council about the occupancy of 50C
Holton Road which had the potential to impact on the mutual relationship of
trust that existed between the Council its elected Members, and the public.
(3) T H A T Councillor Driscoll failed to comply with paragraph 15 (1)(b) of the
Members’ Code of Conduct “Subject to sub-paragraph (4), you must in 28 days of
your election or appointment to office (if that is later), register your personal interests,
where they fall within a category mentioned in paragraph 10 (2)(a),in your authority’s
Democratic – Decision Notices – Standards Committee
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register of members’ interests by providing written notification to your authority’s
monitoring officer” insofar as
- failure to register an interest in relation to Unit 5 Biglis House which had the
potential to impact on the mutual relationship of trust that existed between the
Council its elected Members, and the public.
(4) T H A T, having regard to the resolutions above and the aggravating factors
relating to a previous Standards Committee decision, which led to Councillor Driscoll
being suspended for one month on that occasion, which included a failure to make a
declaration, Councillor Driscoll be suspended from being a Member of the Vale of
Glamorgan Council for a period of three months.
(5) T H A T Councillor Driscoll be advised of his right to appeal against the
Committee’s determination within a period of 21 days of receiving notification, by
giving notice in writing to:
The Registrar
Adjudication Panel for Wales
Government Buildings
Spa Road East
Llandrindod Wells
Powys
LE1 5HA
and that the notice of appeal must specify:
- the grounds for appeal, and
- whether or not the person giving notice of the appeal consents to the appeal
being conducted by way of written representations.
(6) T H A T, subject to an appeal (if any) the findings of the Standards Committee
as detailed in Resolutions (1) – (4) above be publicised in accordance with the
requirements of the Local Government Investigations (Functions of Monitoring
Officers and Standards Committees) (Wales) Regulations 2001, as amended.
Reasons for decisions
(1-4) Having regard to all the evidence submitted to the meeting of the decisions of
the Committee the mitigating factors presented by Mr. Joseph Broadway on
Councillor Driscoll’s behalf and the mitigating and aggravating factors presented by
the Ombudsman’s representative, Mr. Gwydion Hughes, at the meeting, and in the
interests of promoting and maintaining Ethical Standards in Public Life.
(5-6) To comply with the Local Government Investigations (Functions of Monitoring
Officers and Standards Committees) (Wales) Regulations 2001, as amended.
At the end of the hearing the Chair thanked everyone for their input and for the
professional manner in which they presented their cases with those present being
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advised that the suspension would commence immediately after Councillor Driscoll
had notified the department that he would not be submitting an appeal. If Councillor
Driscoll did make an appeal, then the suspension would commence on the day after
the expiry of the time allowed to lodge a notice of appeal to an appeals tribunal under
the Regulations (i.e. within 21 days of receiving notification of the Standards
Committee’s determination).
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24-07-29 10am (KB)
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T interviews be undertaken under Part II of the agenda in relation to
the post of Operational Manager (Statutory Head of) Democratic Services and for
Elected Members of the Committee to make a final determination to appoint a
suitable candidate.
(2) T H A T residual appointment details be delegated, as appropriate, to the
Chief Executive, in consultation with the Director of Corporate Resources, should
a suitable applicant be confirmed by Elected Members of the Committee.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To ensure an appointment to the post was conducted in accordance with
the Council's Constitution.
(2) To ensure that all Council functions were met within this area.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the unaudited Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Statement of Accounts
for 2023/24 be noted and any comments of Members of the Committee be
referred to the Head of Finance as Section 151 Officer before 31 st July, 2024.
(2) T H A T the unaudited Joint Committee Shared Regulatory Services
Statement of Accounts for 2023/24 and the Shared Regulatory Services Annual
Governance Statement be noted as any comments of Members of the Committee
be referred to the Head of Finance as Treasurer of the Joint Committee before
31st July, 2024.
(3) T H A T the unaudited Vale, Valleys and Cardiff Regional Adoption Service
annual return for 2023/24 be noted and any comments of individual Members of
the Committee be referred to the Head of Finance as Treasurer of the Joint
Committee before 31st July, 2024.
(4) T H A T the contents of the Audit Plan 2024 be noted.
Reasons for decisions
(1-3) To allow for comments of individual Members of the Governance and Audit
Committee to be considered by the Head of Finance.
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(4) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED – T H A T the contents of the Vale of Glamorgan Council Annual
Audit Summary 2023 be noted and it be highlighted that Audit recommendations
around the governance of the Planning Department were due to be referred back
to Cabinet and the Governance and Audit Committee.
Minutes - GD
No.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the Quarter 4 position of the Corporate Risk Register as outlined in
Annex A to the report be noted.
(2) T H A T the proposed new Corporate Risk Register and Risk Management
Policy be endorsed.
(3) T H A T Cabinet be advised of the views of the Governance and Audit
Committee. The views being:
• That procurement should be included as a stand-alone risk.
• Cabinet be asked to reconsider the status of Project Zero and whether it
warranted a catastrophic status.
• For the Social Care risk to be assessed as to whether one overall risk is
appropriate.
• For further consideration around the definition of risk regarding cause and
effect as related to paragraph 2.1 of the new Policy.
Reason for decisions
(1-3) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the Council’s progress to date in addressing existing
recommendations and improvement proposals made by the Council’s external
regulators as outlined in the appended End of Year Strategic Insight Board Insight
Tracker, be noted.
Minutes - GD
No.
(2) T H A T the comments of the Governance and Audit Committee be referred
to Cabinet including its endorsement of the removal of completed actions from the
Strategic Insight Board (SIB) Insight Tracker.
Reasons for decisions
(1) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
(2) To ensure that the Council’s SIB Insight Tracker reflected the most up to
date position on the Council’s regulatory recommendations.
RESOLVED – T H A T the draft Annual Governance Statement for 2023/24 be
recommended for adoption by the Leader and the Chief Executive, subject to
consideration being given to the inclusion of further commentary in relation to the
Oracle Financial System and in regards to Corporate Complaints.
Minutes - GD
No.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED – T H A T the progress report on action taken to address issues
identified in limited assurance reports issued by Internal Audit be noted.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED – T H A T the contents of the report be noted.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.