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).
Council tax unpaid at the end of the year: £119 million across Wales (2025-26).
Council tax still owed from earlier years: £199.3 million across Wales (2025-26).
Council tax written off: £9 million across Wales (2025-26).
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T Senior Management Appointment Committee approve the
recruitment and selection arrangements at this meeting of the Committee as
described for the position in the body of this report.
(2) T H A T delegated authority be granted to the Director of Corporate
Resources, in consultation with the Leader/Cabinet Member for Performance and
Resources, Head of Finance/S151 Officer and Head of Human Resources and
Organisational Development to progress:
a. advertising the positions;
b. progressing the necessary arrangements for long-listing and any
necessary assessment of candidates in advance of shortlisting;
c. drawing up a final short-list for interviews, the interviews of which will be
undertaken by future meetings of this Committee; and
d. agree costings and resource requirements relating to the processes
required to pursue the recruitment and processes.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To ensure the appointments are progressed in accordance with the
requirements of the Council's Constitution
(2) To allow matters to be progressed in advance of the final stage of
recruitment.
September 18 Minutes and DN (JLT)
RESOLVED – T H A T the contents of the Decision and Action Tracking report be
noted.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the Draft Governance and Audit Committee Annual Report 2024/25
be noted.
(2) T H A T Draft Governance and Audit Committee Annual Report 2024/25 be
referred to full Council for their consideration.
Reasons for decisions
(1) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
(2) To allow Council to consider the Draft Governance and Audit Committee
Annual Report 2024/25.
RESOLVED – T H A T the content of the report and the information provided in
respect of the status of the high and medium priority recommendations made by the
Regional Internal Audit Service be noted.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the contents of the Final Draft Vale of Glamorgan Annual Self-
Assessment report / reference be noted.
(2) T H A T the report be referred to Cabinet for their consideration with the
following recommendation that the Engagement and Insight Assessment of the Vale
of Glamorgan within the Final Draft Annual Self-Assessment report 2024/25 be
amended from ‘Good’ to ‘Fair’.
Reasons for decisions
(1) Having regard to the contents of the report, reference and discussions at the
meeting.
(2) To enable the Governance and Audit Committee to consider the Final Draft
Vale of Glamorgan Annual Self-Assessment findings in line with its statutory role,
under Part 6 (section 114) of the Local Government & Elections (Wales) Act 2021.
To also ensure that Cabinet considers the proposed change of rating for the
Engagement and Insight assessment to better reflect the Council’s performance and
where it wants to be as a Council in terms of delivering to its residents.
RESOLVED – T H A T the contents of the report and the progress made against
the 2025-26 Internal Audit Risk Based Plan be noted.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T SLT’s consideration of the responses to the Governance and Audit
Committee’s comments (Annex B to the report) be noted.
(2) T H A T the Quarter 1 position of corporate risks (April 2025-June 2025)
outlined in the Risk Summary report (Annex A to the report) be noted.
(3) T H A T the following comments from the Committee be referred to Cabinet
for their consideration and/or endorsement in terms of corporate risk:
• Further clarification and consideration was required on the position of
the delivery of major regeneration projects such as Barry Marina and its
centrality to these in light of ABP withdrawing from the delivery of a
marina as part of the Vale’s Levelling Up Programme and the
acquisition of land (the Mole) earlier in the process and amend the
other parts of the scheme including the park and Ocean Water Sports
training facilities to compensate for the loss;
• Further clarification and consideration was required on issues regarding
the Cardiff Region City Deal and the impact of the legal settlement
relating to Aberthaw Power Station;
• That the national report on temporary accommodation, housing and
homelessness be shared with Cabinet and the Governance and Audit
Committee in due course, with the Council’s response to its
recommendations, as well as outlining the potential legislative and
financial impact / responsibilities of these for the Council;
• The importance of adequately monitoring contract over runs and
overspends for some projects where the costs had doubled from initial
estimates, particularly in the context of those undertaken under
Delegated Powers.
Reasons for decisions
(1&2) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
(3) To ensure Cabinet receives the comments of the Governance and Audit
Committee when considering corporate risk.
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.