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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED - That the amended Forward Work Programme be approved. Reason for decision To amend the programme of meetings and work for the Committee for the remainder of the municipal year.
RESOLVED - (i) That the training activity during April 2025 – September 2025 be noted. (ii) That the Mandatory e-Learning completions since new Council was implemented in May 2022 be noted and the increase of module completions acknowledged. (iii) That the implementation of an Elected Member Personal Development Review (PDR) process be approved. (iv) That the Workforce Development Business Partner contact Group Leaders and arrange formal training on the conduction of a Member PDR meeting. (v) That following the formal training for Group Leaders, the PDR process be implemented from April 2026. Reasons for decisions (i) To ensure that members of the Democratic Services Committee are supported to monitor the effectiveness of the Elected Member Development Strategy and Annual plan. (ii) To streamline reporting and documentation in relation to member training and development.
RESOLVED - (i) That the proposals in the draft Annual Report of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru be noted and any representations or comments be sent to the Head of Democratic Services to incorporate in the Council’s consultation response. (ii) That the Head of Democratic Services be authorised to make a response on behalf of the Council to the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru. Reason for decisions To participate in the consultation process by providing a response to the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru by 18 November 2025.
RESOLVED - That the content of the report be noted and all Councillors be encouraged to familiarise themselves with the Personal Safety for Councillors guide attached to report COGC/89/25. Reason for decision To provide practical advice to increase personal safety amongst our Councillors.
Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Trevor Bates and Debbie Wallice.
RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 10 July 2025 be signed as a correct record.
Members were reminded of their responsibility, under Paragraph 11 of the Members’ Code of Conduct, to declare the existence and nature of any personal interest in respect of any of the business to be transacted at this meeting. Agenda Item 6 – Members’ Remuneration – Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru Councillors William Baldwin, Malcolm King OBE, Rondo Roberts, Jerry Wellens and Derek Wright – Personal and Prejudicial – Potential Beneficiary The Councillors remained in the meeting and claimed the exemption set out in paragraph 12(2)(b)(iv) of the Members' Code of Conduct taking part in the discussion and voting thereon.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED - That the amended Forward Work Programme be approved. Reason for decision To amend the programme of meetings and work for the Committee for the remainder of the municipal year.
The Head of Democratic Services submitted a report (COGC/90/25) asking Members to consider items for inclusion in a Forward Work Programme for the Committee during the current municipal year. She advised that there was due to be an item on today’s Agenda relating to Members’ Communication with ICT, but it was now proposed that it be deferred to the March Meeting. During the debate, it was suggested that mentoring training should be made available to Members as this would be beneficial in helping them to support newly elected Councillors. The Head of Democratic Services welcomed the suggestion and advised that she would liaise with her colleagues with a view to including it as part of the Member Development schedule. RESOLVED - That the amended Forward Work Programme be approved. Reason for decision To amend the programme of meetings and work for the Committee for the remainder of the municipal year.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED - (i) That the training activity during April 2025 – September 2025 be noted. (ii) That the Mandatory e-Learning completions since new Council was implemented in May 2022 be noted and the increase of module completions acknowledged. (iii) That the implementation of an Elected Member Personal Development Review (PDR) process be approved. (iv) That the Workforce Development Business Partner contact Group Leaders and arrange formal training on the conduction of a Member PDR meeting. (v) That following the formal training for Group Leaders, the PDR process be implemented from April 2026. Reasons for decisions (i) To ensure that members of the Democratic Services Committee are supported to monitor the effectiveness of the Elected Member Development Strategy and Annual plan. (ii) To streamline reporting and documentation in relation to member training and development.
The Chief Officer Governance & Customer submitted a report (CE/26/25) to provide an update on Member Development activity, to monitor and review progress in quarter 2 and to advise on the requirements for a Local Authority to provide a Personal Development Review (PDR) process for Elected Members. The Workforce Development Business Partner presented the report and gave an update in respect of attendance at Workshops and Member Development sessions. A debate ensued and the following points were raised: · There had been an increase in the number of e-learning mandatory module completions, and whilst this was encouraging, the figures were still low. It was noted that mandatory training videos had now been introduced, and it was hoped that this would support Members in being compliant with mandatory topics. · Officers advised that Members would be provided with a new training profile which would enable them to view what training subjects they had completed, and what was outstanding. · Officers confirmed they would investigate the possibility of including the number of mandatory e-learning completions on the Council’s website. · Update on the Welsh Government initiative that each Authority will provide a Personal Development Review (PDR) process for elected Members. Officers advised that the Council’s Corporate Training Team would provide training for Group Leaders to support them in conducting appraisals. · A further report on the implementation of the PDR process would be brought to this Committee in March 2026. RESOLVED - (i) That the training activity during April 2025 – September 2025 be noted. (ii) That the Mandatory e-Learning completions since new Council was implemented in May 2022 be noted and the increase of module completions acknowledged. (iii) That the implementation of an Elected Member Personal Development Review (PDR) process be approved. (iv) That the Workforce Development Business Partner contact Group Leaders and arrange formal training on the conduction of a Member PDR meeting. (v) That following the formal training for Group Leaders, the PDR process be implemented from April 2026. Reasons for decisions (i) To ensure that members of the Democratic Services Committee are supported to monitor the effectiveness of the Elected Member Development Strategy and Annual plan. (ii) To streamline reporting and documentation in relation to member training and development.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED - (i) That the proposals in the draft Annual Report of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru be noted and any representations or comments be sent to the Head of Democratic Services to incorporate in the Council’s consultation response. (ii) That the Head of Democratic Services be authorised to make a response on behalf of the Council to the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru. Reason for decisions To participate in the consultation process by providing a response to the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru by 18 November 2025.
(Members declarations of interest in relation to this item are set out in Minute 9 above) The Chief Officer Governance & Customer submitted a report (COGC/88/25) asking Members to consider the changes to the Members’ Remuneration Scheme proposed within the draft Annual Report of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru in order to inform a response to the consultation by no later than 18 November 2025. The Head of Democratic Services presented the report and responded to questions accordingly. The following points were raised during the debate: · The Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru (DBCC) were responsible for determining the remuneration of Members, a function that was previously carried out by the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales. · Members felt uncomfortable with the proposals to increase remuneration, particularly at a time when the cost of living was so high. · It was acknowledged that remuneration should be balanced to encourage younger generations to consider becoming a Councillor. · Clarification sought regarding the decision-making body. The Chair advised that the DBCC was independent of Local Authorities. · Suggestion that Members would benefit from having more input and prior engagement into proposed rises. · It was requested that a copy of the draft annual report be provided to all Councillors as soon as it was published. RESOLVED - (i) That the proposals in the draft Annual Report of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru be noted and any representations or comments be sent to the Head of Democratic Services to incorporate in the Council’s consultation response. (ii) That the Head of Democratic Services be authorised to make a response on behalf of the Council to the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru. Reason for decisions To participate in the consultation process by providing a response to the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru by 18 November 2025.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED - That the content of the report be noted and all Councillors be encouraged to familiarise themselves with the Personal Safety for Councillors guide attached to report COGC/89/25. Reason for decision To provide practical advice to increase personal safety amongst our Councillors.
The Chief Officer Governance & Customer submitted a report (COGC/89/25) setting out some useful guidance to help Councillors understand the steps they should take to keep themselves safe. RESOLVED - That the content of the report be noted and all Councillors be encouraged to familiarise themselves with the Personal Safety for Councillors guide attached to report COGC/89/25. Reason for decision To provide practical advice to increase personal safety amongst our Councillors.
The Chair informed the Committee that Natalie Roberts, Head of Democratic Services, would shortly be leaving the Authority. He congratulated her on her new appointment, adding that he would be sorry to see her leave. Members concurred with the comments of the Chair and conveyed their sincere thanks and best wishes to Natalie.
Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.
Declarations are read from the minutes once they are published.
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