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).
Business rates collected: 96% across Wales (2025-26).
RESOLVED – T H A T the contents of the report and the progress made against the
2026-27 Internal Audit Risk Based Plan be noted.
Reason for decision
To keep Governance and Audit Committee informed, to consider the progress and
determine whether further assurance or corrective action is required.
Vale of Glamorgan, Governance and Audit Committee,
RESOLVED – T H A T the Governance and Audit Committee Annual Report 2025-
26 be approved, and referred to Full Council for endorsement.
Reason for decision
To ensure effective monitoring of the Governance and Audit Committee in relation to
its agreed terms of reference and in line with the Local Government and Elections
(Wales) Act 2021.
Vale of Glamorgan, Governance and Audit Committee,
RESOLVED – T H A T the item be deferred to the next meeting of the Governance
and Audit Committee scheduled for Monday, 12th October, 2026.
Reason for decision
To allow the Governance and Audit Committee to fully consider any outstanding
queries associated with the Statement of Accounts.
Vale of Glamorgan, Governance and Audit Committee,
RESOLVED – T H A T Cabinet be advised of the recommendations of the
Governance and Audit Committee, those being:
• Consideration to be given as to how the self-assessment adds value for the
public, including how findings and outcomes are communicated.
• For a review into how and when the Governance and Audit Committee is
involved in future self-assessment exercises, with consideration given to
earlier involvement.
• The Council to continue to strengthen the use of independent evidence/
validation to support the accuracy of the self-assessment.
• Consideration of whether performance issues currently attributed to C1V/
Contact Centre performance should also be reflected against the Directorates
contributing to that performance.
• Provide further information on current homelessness performance, including
wider issues raised by Members.
• Consider how the Council addresses misinformation/disinformation,
particularly where this affects public perception of Council performance.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
Vale of Glamorgan, Governance and Audit Committee,
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the Quarter 1 position of corporate risks outlined in the Risk Summary
Report (Annex A) be noted.
(2) T H A T the Strategic Leadership Team’s consideration of the responses to
the Governance and Audit Committee’s comments for Quarter 4 2025/26 be noted.
(3) T H A T the following comments be referred to Cabinet for endorsement:
• Consideration to be given about the involvement of the Governance
and Audit Committee in the future review of Directorate-level risks,
potentially before the annual review is finalised.
• In due course to review the Climate Change risk, taking account of
forthcoming government information/guidance and giving specific
consideration to climate adaptation alongside mitigation.
• To provide the Governance and Audit Committee with a future update
showing how the Corporate Risk Register has changed over time.
• To add further information on how risk appetite is being applied within
the organisation and used to inform priorities and resource decisions.
• Provide an update on the Committee's previous request concerning
reputational risk and whether that should feature on the Corporate Risk
Register.
Reasons for decisions
(1&2) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
(3) To advise Cabinet of the comments of the Governance and Audit Committee.
Vale of Glamorgan, Governance and Audit Committee,
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the contents of the report be noted.
(2) T H A T it be noted that the Committee Chair has the ability to call responsible
officers to the December meeting where significant outstanding recommendations
have not been implemented.
(3) T H AT a clear written history/update for longstanding recommendations be
provided, particularly high-priority recommendations outstanding for more than a
year, to assist continuity for Committee members following the 2027 election.
Reasons for decisions
(1) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
(2) To note the ability of the Chair to request officer attendance at Committee to
provide reassurance.
(3) To assist continuity and understanding for Committee members following the
elections in May 2027.
Vale of Glamorgan, Governance and Audit Committee,
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the contents of the report be noted.
(2) T H A T the Vice-Chair discuss with the Chair what further steps are available
following the refusal by the South East Wales Corporate Joint Committee to provide
the unredacted independent review relating to the Aberthaw Power Station
procurement / tendering matter.
(3) T H A T member training and development, particularly training appropriate to
the Governance and Audit Committee's responsibilities be actioned, by the Head of
Democratic Services in conjunction with the Head of the Regional Internal Audit
Service.
Reasons for decisions
(1) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
(2 ) To query and the clarify the decision by the South East Wales Corporate Joint
Committee.
(3) To progress member training and development.
Vale of Glamorgan, Governance and Audit Committee,
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the contents of the report be noted.
(2) T H A T Cabinet be advised to endorse the removal of completed actions from
the Insight Tracker.
(3) T H A T Cabinet endorse the following recommendations by the Governance
and Audit Committee:
• For the Council to explore giving Governance and Audit Committee
members earlier access to the Power BI dashboard, enabling them to
see updated information before the formal quarterly report is
presented.
• For the Council to continue monitoring the distinction between
completion of actions and delivery of the intended outcomes, with
outcomes subsequently reflected through the annual self-assessment
process.
Reasons for decisions
(1) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
(2&3) To ensure the Council responds appropriately and implements areas of
improvement as identified by Audit Wales.
Vale of Glamorgan, Governance and Audit Committee,
Decided: Council approved the audited Statement of Accounts 2025/26 for Cardiff Council and Cardiff Harbour Authority, the Annual Governance Statement 2025/26 and the Cardiff Port Health Authority Annual Return 2025/26. It noted the Audit Wales audit reports and the final Letters of Representation (signed statements from the council to the auditor). It also noted who will sign each document after the meeting. The vote was 69 for, none against and 2 abstentions (Cllrs Elsmore and Topham).
Vale of Glamorgan, Shared Regulatory Services Joint Committee,