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).
AGREED –
(1) T H A T the work being undertaken to review the Voluntary Sector Compact,
the potential to shape the Committee’s future Work Programme and encourage more
Voluntary Sector representation on the Committee be noted.
(2) T H A T the approach outlined in the report for engaging with a range of
stakeholders to determine how the Council can work better with the Third Sector,
social enterprises and increase community resilience and develop an integrated
response to the four Audit Wales reports detailed in the report be endorsed.
(3) T H A T the approach outlined in the report to align the work of the Committee
more closely with the critical challenges in the Council’s Annual Delivery Plan, the
work of the Public Services Board and the Council’s transformation programme be
supported.
(4) T H A T the report be referred to Cabinet for their consideration with Cabinet
being made aware that the observations and suggestions of the Committee during
the meeting would be taken forward by the Director of Corporate Resources and
considered further when future discussions were being held.
(5) T H A T the report and appendices be circulated to all Elected Members of the
Vale of Glamorgan Council for information.
No.
Reasons for decision
(1) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
(2) In order to develop an integrated response and approach to the
recommendations in the four Audit Wales reports detailed within the report.
(3) Having regard to the challenges outlined within the presentation and the
report.
(4) In order that Cabinet are aware of the Committee’s endorsement of the
approached outlined in the report and for Cabinet’s consideration and that any
comments / suggestions would be taken forward as appropriate.
(5) To ensure all Members are aware of the direction being taken by the
Committee.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the Annual Report attached at Appendix 1 to the reference from
Standards Committee be noted.
(2) T H A T the recommendation included in the Annual Report and set out in
paragraph 4.3 of the report as below, insofar as it relates to the Vale of Glamorgan
Council and its Members, be agreed.
“The Standards Committee request that all Members of the Vale of
Glamorgan Council and Town and Community Councils be advised to ensure
that applications for dispensations are received at least seven clear days
before a meeting, and on the appropriate proforma, to enable the applications
to be dispatched with the agenda.”
(3) T H A T the Standards Committee Annual Report for 2022/2023 be forwarded
to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales and all Town and Community Councils
within the Vale of Glamorgan for consideration.
July 24 (JR/KB
No.
Reasons for decisions
(1) Having regard to the contents of the report.
(2) To enable applications for dispensation to be dispatched with the Standards
Committee agenda.
(3) For consideration.
RESOLVED – T H A T the proposed amendments / additions to the Council’s
Constitution as set out in paragraphs 2.2 , 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 and 2.9 of the report be
approved and that the Council’s Constitution be amended accordingly.
Reason for decision
To amend the Council’s Constitution to reflect changes previously approved by
Council, for clarification purposes and to reflect the advice received from Welsh
Government in relation to statutory provisions.
RESOLVED – T H A T the update provided to the Governance and Audit Committee
be noted.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED – T H A T the draft Annual Governance Statement for 2022/2023 be
agreed in principle subject to the document being revised following consideration by
the Governance and Audit Committee prior to it being recommended for adoption by
the Leader and Chief Executive.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
No.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the Quarter 4 position of corporate risks (April 2022 – March 2023) as
outlined in the risk Summary Report (Annex A) to the report be noted.
(2) T H A T the comments of the Governance and Audit Committee be referred to
Cabinet for endorsement at the meeting when Cabinet will consider a report on the
No.
Corporate Risk Register for Quarter 4, the comments of the Governance and Audit
Committee being:
• For consideration to be given to the removal of Brexit from the Risk
Register given that most impacts are incorporated under other themes
and Risks.
• For Cabinet and the Project Zero Board to give regard as to whether
Project Zero should be attributed a risk impact status of catastrophic,
given the seriousness of meeting challenges associated with
implementation. The Council should also not shy away from attributing
a catastrophic status.
• For further consideration to be given to the impact on the capacity on
Looked After Children residential care placements and new legislation
from Welsh Government, particularly in relation to private sector
providers and market fragility.
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 unaudited Vale of Glamorgan Council Statement of Accounts for
2022/23 be noted and the comments of the Committee be referred to the Head of
Finance as Section 151 Officer for subsequent discussion with the Council’s external
auditors, Audit Wales.
(2) T H A T the unaudited Shared Regulatory Services Joint Committee
Statement of Accounts for 2022/23 and the Shared Regulatory Services Governance
Statement be noted.
(3) T H A T the unaudited Vale, Valleys and Cardiff Regional Adoption Service
Statement of Accounts for 2022/23 be noted.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To allow for the initial review of the unaudited Vale of Glamorgan Council
Statement Accounts by those charged with governance.
(2&3) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED – T H A T the WLGA proposal to replace the existing Welsh Charter
for Member Support and Development with a Councillor Support Self-Assessment
Framework and the associated draft Principles as set out in Appendix 1 to the
report be recommended to Cabinet be endorsed.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the consultation paper from the WLGA and discussions at the
meeting.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the revised draft Multi-Locations Meetings (MLM) Policy attached
as an Appendix to the report be recommended to Cabinet for approval subject to
the following amendments :
(i) That all Scrutiny Committees be included within the revised draft
MLM Policy to be undertaken on a hybrid basis and broadcast live.
(ii) That paragraph 4.17.3.6 (c) on page 28 be amended to read ‘With
regard to observing Remote / Hybrid meetings online members of
the public will be able to view a meeting by accessing the link to the
meeting on the Council’s website. If a meeting is held on a hybrid
basis members of the public would be able to attend the meeting
physically. Members of the public who do not have access to the
internet to view remote meetings can request to attend a public
viewing in a suitable location in the Civic Offices by contacting
Democratic Services not later than one working day before the date
of the meeting, e.g. if the meeting is held on a Monday, Democratic
Services to be notified no later than the preceding Friday.”
(iii) That paragraph 14.17.3.20 (b) on page 35 be amended to read
‘Committee Members are to inform Democratic Services no later
than seven days after the meeting (including the day of the meeting),
in order that apologies can be recorded in the Decision Notice and
thereafter the minutes of the meeting’.
(2) T H A T following consideration and approval by Cabinet, the revised draft
MLM Policy be referred to Full Council for inclusion in the Council’s Constitution.
(3) T H A T the revised MLM Policy be reviewed periodically by the Democratic
Services Committee following any further Welsh Government guidance received,
changes in legislation, consultation with the public or consequential changes
agreed by Cabinet and thereafter referred to Full Council for inclusion in the
Council’s Constitution.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To seek Cabinet approval having regard to Legislation, Statutory Guidance,
and discussions at the Committee.
(2) For inclusion within the Council’s Constitution.
(3) In order for the MLM Policy to be kept under review having regard to any
legislative changes and Cabinet approval.
Minutes - KB
No.
RESOLVED – T H A T the report and the verbal updates provided at the meeting of
the discussions held at the Forum meeting on 30th June, 2023, be accepted.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the report and the updated provided at the meeting.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the report and the feedback received in respect of observation visits
undertaken by Independent Members of the Standards Committee to Town and
Community Council meetings be noted.
(2) T H A T the feedback in respect of the two observations presented at the
meeting be relayed to the Clerk and Chair of the relevant Community Councils by the
Principal Democratic and Scrutiny Services Officer.
(3) T H A T the details of the two remaining Town and Community Councils to be
observed be emailed to the Independent Members in order that visits can be
undertaken as soon as possible.
Reasons for decisions
(1&2) Having regard to the observations undertaken and the role of the Standards
Committee.
(3) To ensure that all Town and Community Councils had been observed as
agreed by the Standards Committee.