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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED to note: a) the findings and recommendations arising from Audit Wales’s review of the Council’s decision-making arrangements; b) the Management Response which includes the proposed amendments to the Forward Work Programmes; conducting a review of decision-making arrangements upon the publication of the Welsh Government guidance; and the amendments to the Chair crib sheet; c) The proposed themes for the Members’ and Officers’ surveys.
RESOLVED to: 1. approve the Prospective Candidate Guide; and 2. to authorise the Corporate Lead Officer: Democratic Services to make amendments to the draft document as required following the Electoral Commission’s publication of updated guidance for candidate and agents for May 2027; to include quotations from current Councillors; and include details of training that is mandatory to all Members on the calendar page.
RESOLVED to note that the proposed solution and terms reflected the current and future needs of Members.
RESOLVED to: 1. approve the Draft Members’ Induction and Training Programme 2027; and 2. authorise the Corporate Lead Officer: Democratic Services to make minor amendments to the programme as required.
RESOLVED to recommend the proposed amendments to the Constitution to Council: • Part 5 Document S Dealing with complaints referred to the Ethics and Standards Committee and Hearing Procedures (Appendix 2) • Part 2 Article 9 -Ethics & Standards Committee Revised Terms of Reference (Appendix 4)
RESOLVED to note the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru Draft Annual Remuneration Report 2027-2028 and arrangements for a Members’ Panel to be held on 7 December 2027.
Councillor Gwyn James apologised for his inability to attend the meeting.
None.
None.
It was RESOLVED to confirm as true the minutes of the meeting held on 16 July 2026. Matters arising It was noted that reports upon the Task and Finish group to consider the size of committees, and Chair Announcements would be presented to Council on 22 October 2026.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to note: a) the findings and recommendations arising from Audit Wales’s review of the Council’s decision-making arrangements; b) the Management Response which includes the proposed amendments to the Forward Work Programmes; conducting a review of decision-making arrangements upon the publication of the Welsh Government guidance; and the amendments to the Chair crib sheet; c) The proposed themes for the Members’ and Officers’ surveys.
Lowri Edwards, Corporate Lead Officer: Democratic Services presented the report to the Committee noting that Audit Wales had conducted an audit of Decision-Making processes at Ceredigion County Council during the Spring of this year and found the Council’s decision-making arrangements were generally working well, with no failings identified. Three opportunities for improvement had been highlighted, relating to the recording and publication of delegated decisions; deciding what type of Officer delegated decisions needed to be published; and wider engagement with Members and officers to review decision-making arrangements. She noted that Governance Officers were addressing the first two, whilst the third was relevant to Democratic Services. A report was presented to the Governance and Audit Committee in September, which included the Management Response. It was also noted that the Overview and Scrutiny Self-evaluation held in March of this year had already identified action points which were already in place. Members noted that the Audit Wales report stated that the majority of Councils broadcast the meetings of all Committees and that we may need to review the funding required if this was implemented by Ceredigion County Council. Following discussion, it was RESOLVED to note: a) the findings and recommendations arising from Audit Wales’s review of the Council’s decision-making arrangements; b) the Management Response which includes the proposed amendments to the Forward Work Programmes; conducting a review of decision-making arrangements upon the publication of the Welsh Government guidance; and the amendments to the Chair crib sheet; c) The proposed themes for the Members’ and Officers’ surveys.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to: 1. approve the Prospective Candidate Guide; and 2. to authorise the Corporate Lead Officer: Democratic Services to make amendments to the draft document as required following the Electoral Commission’s publication of updated guidance for candidate and agents for May 2027; to include quotations from current Councillors; and include details of training that is mandatory to all Members on the calendar page.
Nia Jones, Corporate Manager Democratic Services presented the report to the Council noting that the guidance had been prepared, taking into consideration the feedback from the Ceredigion People’s Panel. It was noted that amendments would be made following the publication of the Electoral Commission’s guidance as well as any other amendments that would be required, and that Members would be invited to submit quotations which reflect their experiences. Members asked for clarification of the estimated 3 days per week for Council business, and it was confirmed that this is the basis for the Democratic and Boundary Commission’s calculation of remuneration, and that the WLGA exit interview also surveys the estimated time commitment by non-returning Members. Members also recommended that details regarding mandatory training for all Members for the first week in particular was included on the calendar page, and that feedback was sought from newly elected Members following the election upon the information provided. Following discussion, it was RESOLVED to: 1. approve the Prospective Candidate Guide; and 2. to authorise the Corporate Lead Officer: Democratic Services to make amendments to the draft document as required following the Electoral Commission’s publication of updated guidance for candidate and agents for May 2027; to include quotations from current Councillors; and include details of training that is mandatory to all Members on the calendar page.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to note that the proposed solution and terms reflected the current and future needs of Members.
Nia Jones, Corporate Manager: Democratic Services presented the report on behalf of the Customer Contact, ICT and Digital Service, outlining the proposed ICT equipment and support post elections 2027. It was noted that the proposal reflected the safest option in terms of cyber-security and ensuring that the Members’ data and information shared with Members was protected. Members asked if data could be transferred to new laptops for returning Members; whether i-pads issued following the 2017 election could be brought in to remove all data; and whether accessing outlook via a personal i-phone was secure. They also noted that the new proposal offered one screen whereas the 2022 offer noted that 2 screens would be required. It was confirmed that the new larger curved screens allow for several documents to be viewed side-by-side. Members asked whether the returning Members could keep the single screens if it was preferred, and it was noted that this would be verified with Customer Contact, ICT and Digital Services. Members also asked if ICT support could be provided in the form of an ICT café following the Council meetings in May 2027 and noted that carry cases should be provided to all Members that requested it. Following discussion, it was RESOLVED to note that the proposed solution and terms reflected the current and future needs of Members.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to: 1. approve the Draft Members’ Induction and Training Programme 2027; and 2. authorise the Corporate Lead Officer: Democratic Services to make minor amendments to the programme as required.
Nia Jones, Corporate Manager: Democratic Services presented the report to the Committee outlining the proposed training schedule following the election in 2027, the mandatory training elements, and the e-learning modules. It was noted that the schedule had been shared with Corporate Lead Officers, and that the final dates may be subject to minor amendments, and it was emphasised that all efforts should be made to attend the mandatory training events in order to reduce the need for repeated sessions which is demanding in terms of Officer time. It was RESOLVED to: 1. approve the Draft Members’ Induction and Training Programme 2027; and 2. authorise the Corporate Lead Officer: Democratic Services to make minor amendments to the programme as required.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to recommend the proposed amendments to the Constitution to Council: • Part 5 Document S Dealing with complaints referred to the Ethics and Standards Committee and Hearing Procedures (Appendix 2) • Part 2 Article 9 -Ethics & Standards Committee Revised Terms of Reference (Appendix 4)
Elin Prysor, Corporate Lead Officer and Monitoring Officer presented the report to the Committee outlining the proposed amendments to the Ethics and Standards’ Committee and Hearing Procedures and the Committee’s Terms of Reference. She noted that the Ethics and Standards Committee asked that the report be presented to the Democratic Services Committee for consideration. Members asked whether there was a timeline for dealing with complaints received by the Public Service Ombudsman for Wales, due to the stress that this places upon the Member in question. It was confirmed that there is no set timeframe, and that investigations can take between 12 – 18 months, subject to the complexity of the complaints, and number of witnesses to be interviewed. Members also requested clarification upon the reference in the report to a maximum suspension of 6 months. It was confirmed that if the Ombudsman refers the matter to the Ethics and Standards Committee, they have the option of doing nothing, public rebuke or suspend for a maximum of 6 months, however if the Public Service Ombudsman for Wales considers the breach to be of a more serious nature, it may be referred to the Adjudication Panel for Wales who have powers to disqualify a Member for up to 5 years. Following discussion, it was RESOLVED to recommend the proposed amendments to the Constitution to Council: • Part 5 Document S Dealing with complaints referred to the Ethics and Standards Committee and Hearing Procedures (Appendix 2) • Part 2 Article 9 -Ethics & Standards Committee Revised Terms of Reference (Appendix 4)
Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to note the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru Draft Annual Remuneration Report 2027-2028 and arrangements for a Members’ Panel to be held on 7 December 2027.
Lowri Edwards, Corporate Lead Officer: Democratic Services presented the report to the Committee noting that a Members’ Panel had been scheduled for 7 December 2026 to consider a response to the consultation. She noted the report proposed a 3% increase to Member allowances and that no provisions had been made by the Democracy and Boundary Commissions for resettlement payments following the 2027 local government elections. Members noted that page 11 referred to 38 seats from 2027 as opposed to 39. It was confirmed that Ceredigion County Council had notified the Democracy and Boundary Commission of this informally, however it could also be included in the formal consultation response. Members asked if the report would be presented to Council, and it was noted that the final version by the Democracy and Boundary Commission would be presented to Council in March 2027. Following discussion, it was RESOLVED to note the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru Draft Annual Remuneration Report 2027-2028 and arrangements for a Members’ Panel to be held on 7 December 2027.
None.
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