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 – T H A T the report and quarterly newsletter be noted, it being
accepted that the comments of the Standards Committee relating to the reasons why
some Key Performance Indicator targets, as referenced on page 124 of the report,
had not been met, be raised by the Chair at the next meeting of the National
Standards Committee Forum.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the report and the feedback received in respect of observation visits
undertaken by Independent Members of the Standards Committee to Town and
Community Council meetings be noted
(2) T H A T, where matters following observation visits of Town and Community
Council meetings are highlighted by Independent Members as issues requiring
further attention or further visits and / or requests are made by the Monitoring Officer/
Head of Legal and Democratic Services for visits to be undertaken, these be
arranged as and when required.
(3) T H A T a lessons learned report following all Town and Community Council
Observation visits undertaken to date be presented to the January 2024 meeting of
the Standards Committee for its consideration.
Reasons for decisions
(1&2) Having regard to the observations undertaken and the role of the Standards
Committee.
(3) To maintain a watching brief having regard to the role of the Standards
Committee and the Monitoring Officer.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the provisions as set out in paragraphs 2.6 to 2.10 of the report be
noted.
(2) T H A T the Group Leader amended proforma attached at Appendix B to the
report be agreed.
(3) T H A T delegated authority be granted to the Monitoring Officer in
consultation with the Chair of the Standards Committee to prepare a document, to be
shared with Standards Committee Members and Group Leaders, having regard to
paragraph 2.6 of the report, discussions at the meeting and the threshold which the
Standards Committee would use to establish whether it was content that political
group leaders had complied with the duties of the 2021 Act.
Reasons for decisions
(1) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
September 28 (KB)
(2&3) Having regard to the amendments reflected in the WG Statutory and Non-
Statutory Guidance published in June 2023 and the discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED – T H A T the Scrutiny Committees’ Annual Report for the Municipal
Year 2022/23 be received.
Reason for decision
To receive the Scrutiny Committees’ Annual Report as required under the Council’s
Constitution.
RESOLVED – T H A T the use of the Chief Executive’s Emergency Powers as
contained within the report be noted.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the Council’s Constitution.
RESOLVED – T H A T the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure (Cabinet Minute
No. C96, 7th September, 2023 (as set out in Section 15.14 of the Council’s
Constitution) be noted.
Reason for decision
The reporting of the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure is a requirement of the
Council’s Constitution.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T interviews be conducted on 19th September, 2023 in relation to the
post of Head of Digital and for Members to make a final determination to appoint a
suitable candidate.
(2) T H A T residual appointment details be delegated, as appropriate, to the
Director of Corporate Resources, in consultation with the Leader and Chief
Executive, once a suitable applicant has been confirmed by Elected Members of
the Committee.
No.
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 the area.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T following final interviews on Tuesday 19th September, 2023 that
N.J. be appointed to the post of Head of Digital.
(2) T H A T residual appointment details be delegated, as appropriate, to the
Director of Corporate Resources, in consultation with the Leader and Chief
Executive, once a suitable applicant had been confirmed by Members.
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 the area.
RESOLVED – T H A T Members of the Governance and Audit Committee be
allowed four weeks in which to submit comments regarding the Annual Report for
2022/23 and for the final report to be presented to the Governance and Audit
Committee in December.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED – T H A T the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards External Peer
Assessment of the Regional Internal Audit Service be acknowledged and endorsed.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the status of the High and Medium recommendations contained
within the report be agreed.
(2) T H A T the relevant Directors / Heads of Service responsible for safeguarding
and cyber security be invited to attend the next meeting of the Governance and Audit
Committee in order to advise of the reasons for the delays in completed actions and
to outline what actions were in place in order to complete recommendations.
Reason for decisions
(1&2) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED – T H A T the comments made by Members of the Governance and
Audit Committee be referred to Cabinet. The comments being:
• The report was easily accessible given the level and detail of information
provided;
• For extra context to be added around the use of agency staff and the
percentage of overall Council salaries that agency contracts make. Also to
add in some information regarding the Council’s policies around the use of
staff employed via agencies;
• Who were the targeted audiences as it would be difficult for the ordinary
person to engage with the report;
• Consideration be given to the balanced opinions provided in the report,
particularly as Council Tax was rising and the level of services were
decreasing;
• Brexit was mentioned under the Critical Challenges section but there was very
little detail about what that meant;
• Was more balanced commentary needed around Project Zero given that at its
previous meeting of the Governance and Audit Committee, the Committee
had asked for the risk to be attributed a “catastrophic” status;
• It was important to highlight the risks associated with Project Zero as the
Council had committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030;
• The report mentioned that the Council had introduced new technology to
facilitate hybrid Council and Committee meetings, but given recent progress
was that a true reflection;
• There was reference to staff absence days increasing, so more context
behind that was required as well as data to show as a comparison to other
Local Authorities;
• With regard to areas that had missed targets for consideration to be given as
to how these were presented and to also include further commentary under
the Regulatory Improvements section.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T consideration be given to the Governance and Audit Committee
seeing the Statement of Accounts for the Cardiff Region City Deal, the Central South
Consortium and also the other joint services, namely the Shared Regulatory
Services and the Joint Adoption Service.
(2) T H A T the report and appendices be referred to Cabinet for its oversight.
Reason for decisions
(1&2) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED – T H A T the contents of the report and the progress made against the
2023-24 Internal Audit Annual Risk Based Plan be noted.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.