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 – T H A T the draft Internal Audit Strategy (Appendix A) and draft
Annual Risk Based Audit Plan for 2025-26 (Appendix B) be approved.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the response to Cabinet’s resolutions following consideration for
referred comments from the Governance and Audit Committee (Annex B), be
noted.
(2) T H A T Quarter 4 position of corporate risks (April 2024-March 2025) outlined
in the Risk Summary report (Annex A), be noted.
(3) T H A T the comments of the Governance and Audit Committee be referred to
Cabinet for its consideration. The comments relating to the following:
• Concern regarding the risks associated with the delivery of major
regeneration projects such as Barry Marina.
• Issues regarding the Cardiff Region City Deal and the impact of the legal
settlement relating to Aberthaw power station.
• Contract over runs and over spends for some projects where the costs
had doubled from initial estimates.
Reason for decisions
(1-3) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED – T H A T the views of the Governance and Audit Committee in relation
to the policy be referred to Cabinet. The comments relating to the following:
• For further clarity to be added in relation to the regularity of complaints being
reported to the Strategic Leadership Team which would be on a quarterly
basis rather than six monthly.
• That narrative be included to outline within the policy how the Council would
learn from complaints received.
• For narrative to be included within the policy to outline what was a complaint
and how the Council would address identified areas for improvement.
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 Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Annual Audit
Summary 2024 report, be noted.
(2) T H A T a comments of the Governance and Audit Committee be referred to
Cabinet for its consideration. The comments relating to the following:
• Concern in regard to the delays around the finalisation of the accounts
for the Cardiff Region City Deal, which also impacted upon the
finalisations of the statement of accounts for the Vale of Glamorgan
Council.
No.
(3) T H A T the Chair of the Governance and Audit Committee writes to the
Auditor General for Wales to express the Committee’s concern of the delays in
finalisation the accounts for the Cardiff Region City Deal, which should be produced
in a more timely manner.
Reasons for decisions
(1&2) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
(3) To express concerns to the Auditor General of the delays in finalising
accounts for the Cardiff Region City Deal.
RESOLVED – T H A T the Regional Internal Audit Service Charter for 2025-26 as
attached at Appendix A be approved.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the findings from Audit Wales’ examination of the extent of the
Council’s application of the sustainable development principle in setting its well-being
objectives, be noted.
(2) T H A T report 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 –
(1) T H A T the contents of the report be noted.
(2) T H A T the report 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 –
(1) T H A T the contents of the report be noted.
(2) T H A T the report be referred to Cabinet for its oversight.
No.
Reason for decisions
(1&2) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the Annual Internal Audit Report for the 2024-25 financial year
including the Head of Internal Audit’s Annual Opinion on the adequacy and
effectiveness of the Council’s framework of governance, risk management and
internal control contents of the report and the progress made against the Internal
Audit Risk Based Plan 2024/25 be noted.
(2) T H A T the staff of the Audit Team be congratulated for their hard work and
for congratulations be sent to those staff members that have completed their
qualifications.
Reason for decisions
(1&2) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.