The constitution, councillors' conduct, audit, performance and complaints.
What councils do
How the council itself is run: its constitution, staff, buildings, IT, complaints, and how councillors behave.
Who decides
The full Council agrees the constitution. A standards committee deals with councillors' conduct; the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales investigates complaints.
Having a say
Complain to the council first; if you're not satisfied, you can go to the Ombudsman. Council meetings are public, and many are broadcast.
In numbers
Welsh councils plan to spend £67 per person on this in 2026-27.
It ranges from -£4 in Monmouthshire to £167 in Blaenau Gwent.
Council tax collected: 95% across Wales (2025-26).
Business rates collected: 96% across Wales (2025-26).
Decided: The committee accepted the report. It noted the Quarter 2 financial and performance position, including the service improvements and positive outcomes for residents.
Decided: The committee accepted the report. It agreed the findings of the Audit Wales report, ensuring they are consistent with the committee's knowledge and understanding of the topic.
Decided: Cabinet accepted the report and approved the budget virement (a move of money between budget headings) set out in it, in line with the Council's Constitution. It noted the use of specific reserves (money set aside for particular purposes), including to support the in-year position and fund the overall overspend.
Decided: Cabinet accepted the report and approved its contents. The minute also lists the budget virements in the report and the application of reserves, including forecast use of reserves to support the in-year position and fund the forecast overspend, noting the effect on the Council's reserves.
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the Governance & Audit Committee were assured that the Management Response responded to the identified recommendations within the Audit Wales report. (Option 1)
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the Committee endorsed the attached responses and confirmed that the Governance and Audit Committee response reflected the Committee’s views. (Option 1)
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the proposed recommendations for changes to the conclusions or actions the Council intend to take be made for consideration by Council. (Option 2)
RESOLVED, subject to the foregoing, that the report be accepted and the information in the report which was given as assurance that appropriate oversight and monitoring was taking place and any shortfalls had appropriate controls in place to make the necessary improvements be accepted. (Option 1)