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 recruitment and selection arrangements as described
for the position in the body of the report be approved for
a. advertising the positions;
b. progressing the necessary arrangements for long-listing and any necessary
assessment of candidates in advance of shortlisting;
c. drawing up a final short-list for interviews, the interviews of which would be
undertaken by future meetings of this Committee, and to;
d. agree costings and resource requirements relating to the processes
required to pursue the recruitment and selection processes.
Reasons for decision
(1) To ensure the appointments were progressed in accordance with the
requirements of the Council's Constitution.
(2) To allow matters to be progressed in advance of the final stage of
recruitment.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T Mrs. Janet Evans be appointed as an Independent Member to the
Standards Committee, the term of office to be for six years respectively to
commence from 6th October, 2025, subject to the submission of two appropriate
references.
(2) T H A T delegated authority be granted to the Monitoring Officer / Head of
Legal and Democratic Services in conjunction with the Chair of the Standards
Committee to consider and (if deemed appropriate) approve the references received.
October 03 Minutes and DN (AR)
Reasons for decisions
(1) To fill the vacancy of Independent Member on the Standards Committee
subject to references being received.
(2) Should the references be not accepted, that a further interview process be
undertaken.
October 03 Minutes and DN (AR)
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the new additions to the Council’s Constitution as detailed in
paragraph 2.2 of the report be approved and the Constitution be updated
accordingly.
(2) T H A T the amendments related to Scrutiny in the Council’s Constitution as
detailed in paragraph 2.3 of the report be approved and the Constitution be
amended accordingly.
(3) T H A T the amendments related to changes in the officer delegations and
contract procedure rules in the Council’s Constitution as detailed in paragraphs 2.4
to 2.5 of the report be approved and the Constitution be amended accordingly.
(4) T H A T the amendments related to changes in the structuring of Members’
Allowance Scheme in the Council’s Constitution as detailed in paragraph 2.6 of the
report be approved and the Constitution be amended accordingly.
(5) T H A T the minor amendments (Appendix A to the report) made within the
Constitution (as supported by the Monitoring Officer’s ability to make minor
amendments – outlined within 2.6.2 in the Council’s Constitution) be noted.
Reason for decisions
(1-5) To update the Constitution to reflect amendments as outlined within the report
RESOLVED – T H A T Council received the Scrutiny Committees Annual Report for
2024/25.
Reason for decision
To receive the Scrutiny Committees Annual Report as required by the Council’s
Constitution.
RESOLVED – T H A T the Treasury Management Annual Report for the period
2024/25 be approved
Reason for decision
To update Council surrounding the Council’s approach to Treasury Management.
RESOLVED – T H A T the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure (Cabinet Minute
No. C62, 17th July, 2025 (as set out in Section 15.14.2(ii) 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.
CONTRACT FOR THE PROVISION OF A SUPPORTED DAY CARE SERVICE FOR OLDER PEOPLE AND PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA IN THE WESTERN VALE (PART II) (REF)
RESOLVED – T H A T the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure (Cabinet Minute
No. C69, 17th July, 2025 (as set out in Section 15.14.2(ii) 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.
PROCUREMENT POLICY AND STRATEGY REVIEW (REF)
RESOLVED – T H A T the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure (Cabinet Minute
No. C84, 4th September, 2025 (as set out in Section 15.14.2(ii) 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.
FINAL DRAFT VALE OF GLAMORGAN COUNCIL ANNUAL SELF
ASSESSMENT 2024/25 (REF) –
RESOLVED – T H A T the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure (Cabinet Minute
No. C86, 4th September, 2025 (as set out in Section 15.14.2(ii) 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.
QUARTER 1 TREASURY MANAGEMENT MONITORING 2025/26 (REF)
RESOLVED – T H A T the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure (Cabinet Minute
No. C89, 4th September, 2025 (as set out in Section 15.14.2(ii) 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 Annual Report be noted.
(2) T H A T a copy of the finalised report, following presentation to Full Council,
be forwarded to each Vale of Glamorgan Town and Community Council Clerks and
the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.
Reason for decisions
(1&2) To update Council and wider stakeholders surrounding the work of Standards
Committee.
RESOLVED – T H A T Section 18.12.1 (c) in the Constitution be amended to require
Social Value to be a tender requirement at £0.250m for works and above Threshold
for Services.
Reason for decision
The current thresholds were too low and a greater focus on social value was
required.
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 are highlighted by
Independent Members as issues requiring further attention or further visits and / or
requests are made by the Monitoring Officer / Head of Legal and Democratic
Services for visits to be undertaken, these be arranged as and when required.
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.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the proposed revisions to the Early Retirement and Redundancy
Committee’s Terms of Reference be referred back to Officers in order to:
September 18 Minutes and DN (MS)
• Provide more information regarding allowing staff to flexibly retire for
two years whilst receiving a salary and their state pension;
• Provide guidance for those Officers who would have the proposed
delegated authority to consider such applications, which considered
both the request from the individual and the needs of the relevant
Department, including any training and succession matters;
• Strengthen the wording within the Policy considering succession
planning.
(2) T H A T, once updated, the proposed revisions to the Early Retirement and
Redundancy Committee’s Terms of Reference be brought to the October meeting of
the Early Retirement and Redundancy Committee prior to progression through
amendments to the Constitution at the Full Council meeting on 1st December, 2025.
Reason for decisions
(1&2) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.