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 Audit Wales Governance and Audit Committee Briefing
Note at Appendix A to the 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 responses following consideration of the referred comments from
the Governance and Audit Committee (Annex A to the report), be noted.
(2) T H A T the Quarter 2 position of corporate risks (1st July to 30th September
2025) as outlined in the Risk Summary report (Annex B to the report), 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:
• To highlight the increased risks associated with major projects, cyber
security and climate change / nature emergency.
Reason for decisions
(1-3) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED – T H A T the contents of the report and the progress made against the
Internal Audit Risk Based Plan 2025-26 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 findings from Audit Wales’ review of the Temporary
Accommodation (Appendix A to the report), supporting local information detailed in
(Appendix B to the report) and the response to the review findings and Audit Wales’
recommendations (Appendix C to the report), be noted.
(2) T H A T the recommendations from the Audit Wales review be added to the
Regulatory Tracking report.
(3) T H A T the report be referred to Cabinet for its oversight and endorsement,
with Cabinet also be advised of the view of the Governance and Audit Committee in
relation to the following:
• For Cabinet to write to Welsh government to express concern that no
additional funding has been provided to local authorities in relation to
the new piece of legislation.
(4) T H A T the Chair of the Governance and Audit Committee also write to Welsh
Government to express concern that no additional funding has been provided to
local authorities in relation to the new piece of legislation.
Reason for decisions
(1-4) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED – T H A T the contents of the Decision Tracking record appended to
the 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 Council's progress to date in addressing existing
recommendations made by its external regulators as outlined in the appended
Strategic Insight Board Insight Trackers for the period Q2 2025/26, be noted.
(2) T H AT the views and recommendations of the Governance and Audit
Committee be referred to Cabinet (including endorsing the removal of completed
actions from the Strategic Insight Board Insight Tracker).
Reason for decisions
(1&2) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
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.
RESOLVED – T H A T the contents 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 interviews be undertaken under Part II of the agenda in relation to
the post of Head of Corporate Landlord and for Elected Members of the
Committee to make a final determination to appoint a suitable candidate.
December 9 Minutes and DN (JLT)
(2) T H A T residual appointment details be delegated, as appropriate, to the
Director of Corporate Resources, in consultation with the Head of Finance/Section
151 Officer, should a suitable applicant be confirmed by Elected Members of the
Committee.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To ensure an appointment to the post was conducted in accordance with
the Council's Constitution.
(2) To ensure that all Council functions were met within this area.