34,873 items
Decided: The committee agreed to accept the report, support the new criteria for selecting Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs) in Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen, and recommend that Cabinet adopt them. The committee chose option 1.
AGREED to accept the decisions as a true record of proceedings.
RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the 19th January as an accurate reflection of the meeting.
RESOLVED to: · Note the overall support available to Elected Members, as set out within the report. · Note the statutory opinion of the Head of Democratic Services, in respect of the sufficiency of resources, as set out within the report.
RESOLVED to: · Review and comment on the development and performance of the Members’ Portal to date. · Advise whether any Member of the Democratic Services Committee wishes to be part of the ongoing development work with the Council Business Unit and DIO team in relation to future Portal developments.
RESOLVED to: · Approve the revised Elected Member ICT, Internet & Email Acceptable Use Policy (Draft Version 4) contained in Appendix A, subject to the minor amendments discussed at the meeting. · Agree that any future minor amendments to the policy, which include non substantive updates such as typographical corrections, formatting adjustments, or clarifications that do not change the intent or application of the policy, may be approved by the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Committee, with Members notified accordingly.
RESOLVED to: · To consider the update provided in respect of the provision of training; · To provide comment on the content and delivery of the 2025 – 2026 Member Development Programme; · To note that the recently conducted Members Annual Survey 2025 and the forthcoming Member Personal Development Reviews are utilised as conduits to gain further information in respect of Members training needs. · That the 2026 – 2027 Member Development Programme should trial all day training events to try and maximise Members attendance · To agree that following the completion of the 2026 Personal Development Review process, the Draft 2026 – 2027 Member Development Programme is presented to the Democratic Services Committee for consideration and approval.
RESOLVED to: · Consider the contents of the working Group report as attached at Appendix 1 of the report, following the creation of a bespoke Elected Members Social Media Policy and supporting guidance which is contained as Appendix A and B respectively. · Agree the recommendations of the working group; · Endorse the findings and recommendations to the following before the policy is presented back to Committee for formal adoption: o Council’s Standards Committee o Legal Department o Information Management
RESOLVED: It is recommended that members agree: - That an annual survey be conducted with all elected members between May and June 2026. - The content of the annual survey based on the draft attached at appendix 1. - That the survey be conducted on a 1:1 basis by Democratic Services staff
RESOLVED: That the Democratic Services Committee note and endorse the Draft Annual Report 2025/26 attached at Appendix 1. That the final report be approved following the conclusion of the committee’s business on 20th April in consultation with the Chair, with the final report to be circulated by email to Members and for Members to commend to Council.
RESOLVED: That the Internal Audit Strategy and Annual Plan for 2026/2027 be approved.
RESOLVED: That the Internal Audit Charter 2026/2027 be approved.
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Governance and Audit Committee held on 9 February 2026 be approved and signed as a correct record.
RESOLVED: That the Audit and Governance Committee Forward Work Programme be approved.
Decided: The committee agreed that the Chairperson, on behalf of the committee, writes to the Cabinet Member setting out the committee's observations on the way forward.
Decided: The committee agreed that the Chairperson, on behalf of the committee, writes to the Cabinet Member setting out the committee's observations on the way forward.
AGREED: that the draft Community & Adult Services Scrutiny pages of the Scrutiny Annual Report 2025/26 attached at Appendix A be approved with the suggestion above added.
Decided: The committee agreed to explore with the Council's Communications Team whether the council website could signpost people to support services.
Decided: Mind and the Health Board agreed to follow up outside the meeting how third-sector groups such as Mind can refer people into Community Mental Health Services. Leaflets are to be placed in members' mail trays.
Decided: The Chair confirmed that this was the final meeting of the cycle. A meeting would be scheduled to consider the 2026/27 Forward Work Programme.
Decided: Members agreed to include the item in the Forward Work Programme for the next cycle to keep monitoring progress. Officers agreed to provide data on staff who have completed the Level 1 Welsh course.
Decided: Members noted the progress made and the added value through questions and challenge. Members agreed that any available additional learning needs (ALN) data be requested from Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council for the ALN workshop in the next cycle. It was agreed that data on post-16 employment opportunities for Welsh speakers be shared with the Committee.
Resolved: That the report be noted
RESOLVED To accept the report, noting the observations received during the discussion.
RESOLVED To accept the report, noting the observations received during the discussion.
RESOLVED that the decisions be accepted as a true record of proceedings.
RESOLVED, subject to the foregoing, that the Action Sheet be noted.
RESOLVED that the decisions be accepted as a true record of proceedings.
RESOLVED that the presentation slides be accepted and the contents contained within be noted.
RESOLVED, subject to the foregoing, that the report be accepted and the following points be noted:- • the levels of audit coverage in each service area, • the plan outturn for the financial year, and • the performance of the Internal Audit Service for the financial year 2025-2026.