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 use of the Urgent Decision Procedure (Cabinet Minute
No. C113, 5th October, 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.
AGREEMENT TO ENTER INTO A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE DEVELOPER FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW COUNCIL APARTMENTS AT CADOXTON. BARRY (PART II) (REF)
RESOLVED – T H A T the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure (Cabinet Minute
No. C115, 5th October, 2023 (as set out in Section 15.14 of the Council’s
Constitution) be noted.
Minutes - JRF
Reason for decision
The reporting of the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure is a requirement of the
Council’s Constitution.
THE VALE OF GLAMORGAN COMMUNITY REVIEW – DRAFT PROPOSALS (REF)
RESOLVED – T H A T the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure (Cabinet Minute
No. C125, 19th October, 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.
AGENCY WORKER CONTRACT AWARDS (PART I) (REF)
RESOLVED – T H A T the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure (Cabinet Minute
No. C133, 19th October, 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.
AGENCY WORKER CONTRACT AWARDS (PART II) (REF)
RESOLVED – T H A T the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure (Cabinet Minute
No. C137, 19th October, 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 the report and the feedback received in respect of the observation
visit undertaken by the Independent Member of the Standards Committee of a
meeting of the Dinas Powys Community Council be noted.
(2) T H A T where matters following observation visits of Town and Community
Council meetings were highlighted by Independent Members as issues requiring
further attention or further visits and / or requests made by the Monitoring Officer /
Head of Legal and Democratic Services for visits to be undertaken that these be
arranged as and when required.
(3) T H A T the Committee noted that a lessons learned report following all Town
and Community Council Observations to date would 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 – T H A T subject to the words “or Group Member” being included in the
second sentence of point 2 of the threshold criteria at Appendix 2 to the report the
document be approved for use in compliance with the duty of a Standards
Committee to establish whether it is content that Political Group Leaders have
complied with the duties of the 2021 Act.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the duty under the Local Government Act 2000 and the Local
Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.
RESOLVED – T H A T the Final Draft Vale of Glamorgan Council Annual Self-
Assessment Report 2022/23 as considered by Cabinet on 2nd November (Minute No.
C143 refers) be approved.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
November 20 Special 6.05pm (KB)
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the changes to the relevant officer delegations as set out in
paragraphs 2.2 and 2.3 of the report be approved and that Section 26 of the
Constitution be amended accordingly.
(2) T H A T the proposed amendments to Section 4 of the Council’s
Constitution as set out in Appendices A to C of the report be approved and that
the Council’s Constitution be amended accordingly.
Reason for decisions
(1&2) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
Minutes - JR
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T it be recommended to Council that the Final Statement of Accounts
and Annual Governance Statement at Appendices A (revised Appendix) and B to the
report respectively be approved.
(2) T H A T delegated authority be granted to the S151 Officer in liaison with the
Chair of the Governance and Audit Committee to make any final adjustments to the
Final Statement of Accounts and Annual Governance Statement as necessary.
(3) T H A T the response to the Audit Wales Audit Enquiries at Appendix C to the
report be approved.
(4) T H A T the draft Audit Wales ISA260 and management actions agreed by the
Vale of Glamorgan be noted.
(5) T H A T the minor updates to Appendices A and D be noted.
(6) T H A T the Section 151 Officer liaises with officers and the Chair of the City
Deal Joint Committee with a view to representatives being in attendance at a future
meeting of the Governance and Audit Committee to present their accounts.
Reasons for decisions
(1) In order for Full Council to approve the Statement of Accounts and Annual
Governance Statements.
(2) The Audit of the Statement of Accounts and Annual Governance Statement is
essentially complete but there may be some minor amendments to be made before
they are approved by Council.
(3) Audit Wales has written to both offices and those charged with governance
with a set of queries to provide assurance on fraud, legal and related parties.
(4) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
(5) Having regard to further minor updates received.
(6) Having regard to the technical nature of the accounts that representatives of
the City Deal Joint Committee be present at a future meeting to advise Committee.
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 their oversight.
Reasons for decisions
(1) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
(2) To enable Cabinet’s oversight of the Audit Work Programme.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the assurances from the respective Directors regarding the action
be taken to address the Internal Audit recommendations made in 2021/22 which
had not yet been fully implemented be noted.
(2) T H A T the Director of Social Services and the Director of Corporate
Resources be advised to provide an update position in relation to Corporate
Safeguarding and cyber security at the meeting of the Governance and Audit
Committee scheduled for February 2024.
Reasons 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.
Minutes - GD
No.
(2) T H A T Cabinet be advised of the views of the Governance and Audit
Committee, those being:
• Accessibility – that it be clarified that there was an opposing view that the
document was easily accessible as it was felt that the document may be
difficult to read for some members of the public as there was some
complexities around the way that certain opinions were expressed in the
report, particularly in relation to a rise in Council Tax and a decrease in
services.
• Brexit – for further detail to be included regarding the impact of Brexit or for
Cabinet to consider removing this reference.
• Hybrid meetings – for the self-assessment document to reflect that the
Council has not implemented a hybrid meeting solution and that this was
now an urgent matter to resolve. The second reference in the assessment
was felt to be more accurate than the first.
• Public engagement and communication – for commentary to outline to the
public how the Council spends its money and the priority areas that the
money was allocated to as part of communicating the Assessment and in
particular the Council’s budget. To also clearly highlight that the majority of
the Council’s budget (around 75%) was allocated to education and social
services which meant that along with those departments, all other service
areas were under extreme budget pressures.
• Agency staff – for a detailed in-depth review to be undertaken to
understand the how’s and why’s of the areas that the Council spends on
agency staff. For this to be undertaken as part of the development of the
Council’s budget proposals for 2024/25.
Reasons for decisions
(1&2) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the progress to date in addressing existing recommendations and
improvement proposals made by the Council’s external regulators be noted.
(2) T H A T Cabinet be asked to consider the recommendation of the
Governance and Audit Committee for the inclusion of a Priority Status Tracker.
Reasons for decisions
(1) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
(2) In order to allow Cabinet to consider a recommendation from the
Governance and Audit Committee for the inclusion of a Priority Status
Tracker.