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Summary when the minutes are published, usually a few weeks after the meeting.
The Policy Review and Performance Scrutiny Committee met on 7 October 2026 to consider three items: corporate performance and benchmarking, the Oracle Fusion programme, and the month 4 budget for 2026/27. On each item the committee agreed that the Chairperson would write to the Cabinet Member for Finance, Modernisation & Performance, Councillor Leo Thomson, setting out the committee's observations and recommendations. One councillor declared a personal interest in the Oracle Fusion item.
The committee examined progress on the Digital Strategy 2025/30 and the Council's preparations for the 2027/28 budget. On the digital strategy, members agreed to note the report and make observations to the Cabinet Member. On the budget, members noted the report and made requests and recommendations for the Cabinet Member.
The Committee checked two draft plans before Cabinet considers them: the Annual Well-being Report 2025/26 and the Annual Property Plan 2026/27. It also reviewed the Council's relationship with Stonewall, which runs the Proud Employer Scheme, and asked for further work on the effects of the Supreme Court judgment. The Committee approved the draft Scrutiny Annual Report 2025/26 for Full Council.
The committee scrutinised the 2025/26 budget outturn before Cabinet considers it on 18 June 2026. It agreed that the Chair will write to the Cabinet Member with its observations and recommendations. It also noted its committee business papers and the way forward for its 2026/27 work programme, with a final programme due back in September 2026.
The Policy Review and Performance Scrutiny Committee reviewed progress on the Central Transport Services programme, including fleet management, and on the Workforce Strategy 2023-27. On both items the Committee agreed that the Chairperson will write to the Cabinet Member with its observations and recommendations. The Committee also agreed to cancel its 6 May 2026 meeting, the eve of the Senedd elections.
The committee scrutinised Cabinet's proposals for a new Core Office building and a lease with the Wales Millennium Centre, before Cabinet decides.
The committee scrutinised the draft Corporate Plan 2026-29 and the 2026/27 budget before Cabinet decides on them. Members asked for measures of success (KPIs) to be added where objectives had none, and raised concerns about school budgets and education in North Cardiff. The committee welcomed the proposed savings, asked for assurance that Adult Services savings were realistic, and expressed concern that no specific budget had been set aside for possible costs of the Supreme Court ruling on the Equality Act 2010.
The committee scrutinised three items: the 2026/27 budget consultation, the council's information governance service, and a replacement framework for maintaining non-domestic buildings. On each item the committee agreed that the Chairperson would write to the Cabinet Member with its observations and recommendations.
The committee scrutinised the Council's mid-year performance report for 2025/26 before it goes to Cabinet. Members questioned demand, housing repairs, waste, the economy and other issues, and the committee agreed that the Chairperson will write to the Cabinet Member with its observations. Members also noted correspondence, and a visit to the City Hall works is proposed for early in the new year.
Scrutiny means councillors who are not in the Cabinet questioning the council's work. On each item, the Committee agreed that the Chairperson will write to the Cabinet Member with its observations and recommendations, and the minutes record no other decision.
It reviewed the annual progress of the Cardiff Public Service Board, was briefed on the council's Change Programme of service review and change, and was briefed before a decision on replacing the council's financial system. For each of these items, the Committee agreed that the Chairperson will write to the Cabinet Member with its observations and recommendations. The minutes do not record what those recommendations are.
The committee scrutinised three reports before they go to Cabinet: the external Panel Performance Assessment and the Annual Well-being Report 2024/25, the Budget 2026/27 and Month 4 monitoring report, and the Annual Property Plan 2025/26. It also discussed its work programme. For items 4, 5 and 6, the committee agreed that the Chairperson will write to the Cabinet Member with its observations and recommendations.
The committee met on 2 July 2025 and examined a draft Digital Strategy before Cabinet considers it in September. Members raised concerns about the Council app, repeated sign-in requests and cost savings, and agreed that the Chairperson will write to the Cabinet Member with the committee's views. The committee also agreed that its draft Scrutiny Annual Report 2024/2025 go to full Council on 17 July 2025 for approval.
On 11 June 2025 the committee scrutinised the Chief Executive's proposed changes to senior management and the council's 2024/25 budget outturn. It agreed that the Chairperson will write to the Cabinet Member with its observations on both items, and it agreed how it will draft its work programme for the coming year. Final senior management proposals go to Cabinet on 18 September 2025.
On both items the committee agreed that the Chairperson would write to the Cabinet Member with its observations and recommendations.
The Committee received an update on the Council's procurement service. This covered ARDAL, the four-council collaborative procurement service, the Socially Responsible Procurement Strategy 2022-2027, and new UK procurement law. Members asked questions and agreed that the Chairperson will write to the Cabinet Member with the Committee's observations. The Committee also approved its pages for the joint Scrutiny Annual Report 2024/25.
On 12 March 2025 the Policy Review and Performance Scrutiny Committee considered how Cardiff Council manages charities and trusts where it acts as trustee, and heard from the Charity Commission and an outside consultant. It also reviewed progress on the Council's Participation Strategy 2023-27. The Committee agreed that the Chairperson will write to the Cabinet Member with its observations and recommendations on both items.
The Committee agreed that its Chairperson would write to the Cabinet Member with its observations and recommendations on both items.
The committee scrutinised the Council's mid-year performance assessment for 2024/25 before it goes to Cabinet, and then received an update on the new Corporate Property Strategy for 2025-30. On both items the committee agreed that the Chair will write to the Cabinet Member with its observations and recommendations.
On each item the Committee agreed that its Chairperson will write with the Committee's views, and no formal decision on the policy or the report was recorded.
The committee carried out pre-decision scrutiny of the Core Office Full Business Case, the plan for the council's new main office building. Members questioned carbon impacts, costs, the procurement process, workspace design and regeneration. The committee agreed that the Chairperson will write to the Cabinet Member with its observations and recommendations.
The committee scrutinised the Council's month 4 budget monitoring for 2024/25 before a Cabinet report on it is considered next week. The month 4 revenue overspend was £8.865m, and the committee agreed that the Chairperson will write to the Cabinet Member with its observations and recommendations.
Pre-decision scrutiny means councillors examine a report before the decision-maker considers it. The committee also discussed its work programme for 2024/25, and agreed that the Chair would write to the Cabinet Member with its observations on both reports.
The Committee agreed that the Chairperson write to the Cabinet Member on the property and budget items, supported moving Wolf's Castle, Llanishen, into the Housing Revenue Account, and agreed how it will set its work programme.