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 the content of the report be noted and recruitment to the post of Head
of Strategy, Community Learning and Resources be progressed on an interim basis
until 1st August 2027.
(2) T H A T Matthew Curtis be appointed to the interim post of Head of Strategy,
Community Learning and Resources.
February 2 Minutes and DN (AR/JLT)
(3) T H A T delegated authority be granted to the Chief Executive, in consultation
with the Director of Learning and Skills, for any residual appointment matters.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To allow recruitment to the post.
(2) In accordance with the Council's Constitution.
(3) To ensure that all Council functions are met within the Directorate area.
February 2 Minutes and DN (AR/JLT)
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T interviews for the post of Head of Strategy, Community Learning and
Resources be conducted to determine whether a suitable candidate should be
appointed.
(2) T H A T delegated authority be granted to the Chief Executive, in consultation
with the Director of Learning and Skills, for any residual appointment matters should
a suitable candidate be confirmed by the Committee.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To ensure an appointment to the post is conducted in accordance with the
Council’s Constitution.
(2) To ensure the Council’s strategic and operational responsibilities within this
service area continue to be met.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the further progress being undertaken by the Local Government
Association, Welsh Local Government Association and other UK associations on the
programme of work be noted.
(2) T H A T the Vale of Glamorgan Council Leader’s invitation to a further meeting
to discuss the programme amongst Independent Members of the Committee be
accepted.
Reason for decisions
(1) Having regard to the contents of the report for the Committee’s information.
(2) To provide both the Independent Members and Town and Community Council
Representative of the Standards Committee with the opportunity to discuss the
programme in more detail.
RESOLVED – T H A T the report be deferred to the March 2026 Standards
Committee meeting.
Reason for decision
To ensure that the outstanding procedural matter identified during the governance
review was addressed appropriately and transparently, pending a consultation
response being received from the relevant parties involved.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the reports and the feedback received in respect of observation visits
undertaken by Independent Members of the Standards Committee be noted.
(2) T H A T where matters following observation visits were highlighted by
Independent Members as issues requiring further attention or further visits and / or
requests were made by the Monitoring Officer / Head of Legal and Democratic
Services for visits to be undertaken, those be arranged as and when required.
(3) T H A T a proposal for observations to be held within the 2026 – 27 Municipal
Year be presented to Committee at its next meeting scheduled for 26th March, 2026.
Reasons for decisions
(1) Having regard to the observations undertaken and the role of the Standards
Committee.
(2) To maintain a watching brief having regard to the role of the Standards
Committee and the Monitoring Officer.
(3) To complete the two year observation cycle, as previously agreed by the
Committee, having regard to the outcomes of the 2025 Boundary Commission for
January 29 Minutes and DN (AR)
Wales Community Review.