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 Vale of Glamorgan Annual Performance Calendar 2023/24 and
the proposed approach to engaging with Members in-year to shape and refine the
Annual Performance Calendar of activities and to support Members in their scrutiny
role be noted.
(2) T H A T Cabinet be advised of views of Members of the Governance and
Audit Committee, these being:
• For consideration to be given to extending the public engagement
activity scheduled for August 2023 as many people will be on holiday
and because of the school summer term.
• That the Council ensures that members of the public feel that their
views have been heard and responses provided to indicate how those
views have been taken into account.
Reason for decisions
(1&2) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
No.
Vale of Glamorgan, Governance and Audit Committee,
RESOLVED – T H A T the Internal Audit Strategy (Appendix A to the report) and the
Annual Risk Based Audit Plan for 2023/24 (Appendix B to the report) be approved.
Reasons 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 Annual Internal Audit Report for the Financial Year 2022/23
including the Head of Internal Audit’s Annual Opinion on the adequacy and
effectiveness of the Council’s framework of governance, risk management and
internal control be approved.
(2) T H A T in relation to Stanwell School, the Local Authority should consider
issuing a warning notice to the school under the School Standards and Organisation
(Wales) Act 2013.
(3) T H A T in relation to Stanwell School, the internal audit report should be
formally shared by the Council with all Governors on the Governing Body and that
the Director of Learning and Skills and Head of Internal Audit should meet urgently
with all Governors and the Senior Management Team of the school (in separate
meetings) to present the internal audit report.
(4) T H A T in relation to Stanwell School, the Governance and Audit Committee
receives an update on the progress made against the action plan at its meeting on
18th September, 2023 and that the Headteacher and a representative of the
Governing Body from the school are in attendance to provide relevant updates and
answer questions from Committee Members.
No.
(5) T H A T in relation to Stanwell School, the Internal Audit Service work with
Stanwell School to incorporate management responses to any recommendations
that do not have a management comment currently, where appropriate.
(6) T H AT in relation to Stanwell School, the internal audit of the control
environment at the school that is planned for the Autumn be prioritised and
scheduled as early as possible and that Governance and Audit Committee receives
an update following that work being undertaken.
(7) T H A T in relation to Stanwell School, all arrangements around delivering the
contract, including the procurement process, for the new wellbeing building be
further reviewed to highlight any specific procedural weaknesses and identify any
appropriate follow up actions. The interim findings of this review to be brought to the
Governance and Audit Committee meeting on 17th July, 2023.
(8) T H A T the Internal audit reporting in respect of Stanwell School contained in
Annex 5 of Agenda Item 9 of the Governance and Audit Committee of 12th June,
2023 and the recommendations made be drawn to Cabinet’s attention. Any
subsequent report and recommendations be referred to Cabinet as and when they
arise.
(9) T H A T the Council (Learning and Skills Directorate) undertake further work
in regard to school policies across the Vale of Glamorgan relating to unofficial funds.
Reasons for decisions
(1) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
(2) To ensure that the LEA considers all possible responses given the
seriousness of the situation at Stanwell School and the need to see urgent progress.
(3) To ensure that there is complete transparency, openness and a full
understanding of the serious financial situation that has developed at Stanwell
School.
(4) To ensure continued progress given the seriousness of the situation.
(5) To ensure full regard is given to the audit process
(6) Given the seriousness of the audit findings and the need for an urgent follow
up.
(7) Given the seriousness of the situation around the management of the contract
at Stanwell School, this further, more detailed work is urgent.
(8) For the attention of Cabinet.
(9) To conduct a review of policies within schools regarding unofficial funds.
No.
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 report be referred to Cabinet for their oversight.
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 draft response at Appendix 1 to the report in respect of the Welsh
Government Consultation on the recommendations of the Independent Review of the
Ethical Standards Framework (Richard Penn Report), with the additional
amendments as below, be agreed:
No.
Question 5 – What avenues would be open to the Adjudication Panel for
Wales if a summons was not adhered to and the implications.
Question 7 – That the following words be added to the end of the response
“…albeit it is noted that the general rule is that hearings are to be held in
public.”
10a – That the words “… even where there are very serious safeguarding
concerns” be added to the second sentence of the second paragraph of the
response i.e. the sentence to read as “ No such similar provision exists in
relation to members even where there are very serious safeguarding
concerns”. That an extra paragraph be included relating to when a Councillor
was charged with a specified category of an offence and particularly offences
which carried a custodial sentence an interim suspension would be
appropriate.
Question 13 – The response be amended to No and the response paragraph
deleted with a new sentence inserted as “ It is important to ensure that
potential candidates from a wide range of backgrounds are attracted to the
role and all channels including newspapers, websites or existing networks are
utilised”.
Question 16 – The additional response be added as agreed for Question 5
above.
(2) T H A T it be recommended to Cabinet that the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s
threshold for Gifts be amended in line with paragraph 1.5 of the report as follows:
Gifts, material benefits or advantages – £25.00 or totalling £100.00 over a year from
a single source.
(3) T H A T delegated authority be granted to the Monitoring Officer / Head of
Legal and Democratic Services in consultation with the Chair of the Standards
Committee, to make the amendments to the response as agreed by the Standards
Committee at the meeting.
(4) T H A T the report be referred to Corporate Performance and Resources
Scrutiny Committee for consideration.
Reasons for decisions
(1) In order to respond to Welsh Government consultation in respect of the
recommendations of the Richard Penn Report.
(2) To recommend for approval in line with agreement of All Wales Monitoring
Officer Group an All Wales Standards Committee Forum in the interest of
harmonisation across all Welsh Local Authorities.
(3) Having regard to the comments made at the meeting.
No.
(4) For pre Cabinet scrutiny and having regard to the deadline for submission of a
response on 23rd June, 2023.
RESOLVED – T H A T the draft Terms of Reference attached at Appendix 1 to the
report be approved.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions 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 where observations of Town and Community Council meetings are
advised by Independent Members to have been managed effectively with no material
issues identified, observations of such meetings be undertaken on a biennial basis
as opposed to on an annual basis.
(3) T H A T where matters following observation visits of Town and Community
Council meetings 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.
(4) T H A T where poor practice continued, consideration be given for meetings to
be arranged for the Chair and Clerk to either attend a meeting of the Standards
Committee or a meeting with the Chair of the Standards Committee and Monitoring
Officer / Head of Legal and Democratic Services.
Reasons for decisions
(1&2) Having regard to the observations undertaken and the role of the Standards
Committee.
No.
(3) To maintain a watching brief having regard to the role of the Standards
Committee and the Monitoring Officer / Head of Legal and Democratic Services.
(4) In the interests of promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the draft Annual Report attached at Appendix 1 to the report be
approved and forwarded to Full Council.
No.
(2) T H A T delegated authority be granted to the Monitoring Officer / Head of
Legal and Democratic Services and the Chair of the Standards Committee to include
the additional comments made at the meeting in order to finalise the Annual Report
before submission to Full Council.
(3) T H A T a copy of the finalised draft be forwarded to each Member of the
Standards Committee by email for their approval prior to submission to Full Council.
Reasons for decisions
(1) In compliance with the requirements of Section 63 of the Local Government
and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.
(2) In order to insert additional comments into the Annual Report as discussed at
the meeting.
(3) In order to seek final approval from Members of the Standards Committee
before submission to Full Council.
RESOLVED – That the following matters be dealt with as indicated:
(1)
Case 1
The Sub Committee were asked to consider a complaint received from a member of the public that a hackney carriage driver requested payment of the fare in advance of the journey and also refused to use the taxi meter.
The Sub Committee received representations from the driver. The driver stated that he had no recollection of the incident. He accepted that a photograph provided by the complainant was a photograph of his vehicle but he denied that was the driver involved in the incident. The driver confirmed that he was aware of the licensing conditions relating to use of the taxi meter.
The complainant addressed the Sub Committee. Members were advised that he approached the taxi and requested to be taken to Ely. The driver requested £20 in advance of the journey. The complainant agreed to this conditionally as long as the taxi meter was used. At that point the driver refused to use the meter. The complainant stated that he reminded the driver that he was obliged to use the meter for this journey and the driver stated that it was a busy night therefore he was refusing to use the meter. When the complainant stated that he would report the matter to the licensing authority the driver became agitated. The complainant then photographed the rear of the vehicle and proceeded to look for another taxi. He eventually booked an Uber vehicle, the fare was £13.50.
Responding to a question from the Sub Committee, the complainant stated that he could not be certain that the driver before him was the driver of the vehicle on the night in question. However, he was certain that the vehicle in the photograph was the vehicle involved. The Sub Committee was invited to view the digital date stamp of the photograph which confirmed that the photograph was taken at 0525 hours on the morning of 5 February 2023. The complaint also stated that he emailed the Licensing Authority with details of the incident immediately upon returning home.
The driver confirmed that he was the sole driver of the vehicle and nobody else used the vehicle.
RESOLVED – That the driver receives a written warning for refusal to use the taxi meter. The Sub Committee accepted that the photograph provided by the complainant was valid and the driver was the driver of the vehicle at the time.
(2)
Application 2
The Sub Committee were asked to consider a report received from Uber regarding the conduct of a hackney carriage / private hire driver licensed by the authority. The report indicated that the driver has had his Uber account permanently deactivated due to a series of complaints of a similar nature from customers on the platform. The complaints related to a number of inappropriate comments, advances and personal intimate questions made by the driver whilst transporting customers.
The driver addressed the Sub Committee. The driver stated that he was not made aware of all the incidents in question by Uber and that Uber had handled the complaints ‘unprofessionally’. It was alleged that Uber had questioned him about one of the incidents when he had passengers in his vehicle. Uber also corresponded with him but the correspondence addressed to the wrong name despite repeated attempts to correct this.
Members were advised that Uber had asked non-specific open-ended questions that the driver felt unable to answer. It was confirmed that he had received an email from Uber stating that he had broken their Code of Practice and he was no longer able to work for them.
The driver was asked to respond to each of the incidents set out in the report. The driver stated that he couldn’t remember the first incident from five years ago as it was not brought to his attention at the time. The second incident was discussed with Uber but there were passengers in his vehicle and he was unable to hear what was being said by Uber. He had no recollection of the third or the fourth incident. The fifth incident was discussed but he felt unable to answer the open-ended questioning put to him.
Members were advised that since the termination of his Uber account the driver had attempted to communicate with them but this was proving difficult. It was also alleged that Uber had acted illegally in reporting the matter to the Licensing Authority. The driver stated that he had been a licensed driver for 19 years and he had an excellent rating on the Uber platform.
RESOLVED – that the driver complete the SQA for Professional Drivers within 3 months. The Sub Committee has concerns about the driver’s pattern of behaviour across multiple incidents that amounted to unprofessional conduct.
(3)
Application 3
The Sub Committee were asked to consider an application for a hackney carriage / private hire licence. The applicant had a conviction under Section 5 for using threatening words and behaviour. The applicant was asked to outline the incident which led to the conviction.
Members were advised that the driver was involved with a collision with another driver. Both parties had pulled into a lay-by to exchange details. A third party individual approached and attempted to interject into the conversation. An argument ensued during which the applicant called the third party a racist.
Police attended the scene. Details were exchanged and the applicant left. Subsequently the driver was asked to attend a police station and he was charged. The allegations were denied and the matter proceeded to court. The applicant stated that in court the Duty Solicitor told him not to worry. He was unable to satisfactorily follow the proceedings due to a problem with his hearing aid. He was found guilty.
The driver stated that he has been a licensed driver in Newport for 9 years without incident.
RESOLVED – That the application for a hackney carriage / private hire drivers licence be approved.
RESOLVED
The Council AGREED to:
a. approve the allocation of seats on Committees for the municipal year 2022/23 as set out in Appendix A;
b. receive nominations from Party Groups in respect of the seats allocated to each Group.
c. appoint Members to each Committee in accordance with the nominations received from Party Groups as detailed on the amendment sheet; and
d. request the Monitoring Officer to make appointments in respect of any remaining vacancies in accordance with any further nominations or changes received from the relevant political groups following this meeting, and to report to the next Council meeting the details of all appointments to committees for information; and
e. To approve the recommendation of the Governance and Audit Committee and appoint the recommended candidate, Mr Chris Burns, as an Independent Member of the Governance and Audit Committee for an initial 5 year term of office, with the possibility of reappointment for one further 5 year term.