The Glamorgan Archives Joint Committee met remotely on Friday 12 June 2026 to review the archives' quarterly report and consider the financial outturn for the 2025/26 period. The meeting also included a discussion on the draft Audit Wales Minor Bodies Return.

Quarterly Report for March to May 2026

The committee was scheduled to receive the quarterly report from the Glamorgan Archivist, Laura Cotton, detailing the work undertaken between 1 March and 31 May 2026. This report, which forms part of the new Strategic Plan 2026-2031, was expected to cover achievements against the archives' annual plan. Key areas of focus included:

• Outcome A: Enhanced digital services and access: This encompassed updates on the Glamorgan Archives website, including the launch of the online exhibition 'Hughesovka: An Industrial City with Welsh Roots', and the continued development of digital preservation through the Preservica system and the all-Wales consortium. The report was also expected to highlight progress on the Crowd Cymru project, which had received the 2026 Archives and Records Association Volunteering Award.
• Outcome B: Increased awareness of the archives: The report was set to detail efforts to engage communities with their cultural heritage, including visits from various groups such as the June Givanni PanAfrican Cinema Archive interns and the Cardiff Inner Wheel Group. It was also to outline the expansion of the talks programme, featuring events on topics like Welsh place names and the history of protest, and the creation of introductory materials such as the 'Our Favourite Objects' community zine.
• Outcome C: Development of knowledge and skills: This section was anticipated to cover the broad range of volunteering opportunities offered, both in-person and online, with volunteers contributing to projects such as transcribing ship lists and cataloguing local authority records. The report was also to detail engagement with schools, particularly those outside of Cardiff, through educational resources like 'The Black Diamond and Beyond: Hidden Hands and Healing Lands', and initiatives to engage higher and further education students in research.
• Outcome D: Legal and evidential value of archives: The report was expected to highlight the broadening links with services in the six constituent local authorities, including collaborations with Cardiff Council's Legal department and Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council on their 'Herstory' map. It was also to cover the ongoing efforts to proactively collect collections at risk, such as those from local businesses.
• Outcome E: Gathering and sharing relevant and representative collections: This was to include updates on external funding applications for projects such as the repair of William Burges's plans for Cardiff Castle and the cataloguing of theatre collections. The report was also to detail the focus on staff time for incomplete work on collections and advice provided to other archives and churches regarding storage and potential deposits.
• Outcome F: Effective resource management: This section was to cover plans for the expansion of the existing Glamorgan Archives building, efforts to ensure the environmental sustainability of the site, and the effective management of the building, workforce, and budget. It was also to note staff changes and ongoing repairs and maintenance.

2025/26 Final Outturn Position & Draft Audit Wales Minor Bodies Return

The committee was also scheduled to review the 2025/26 final outturn position and the draft Audit Wales Minor Bodies Return. This report, presented by the Treasurer, Christopher Lee, was to provide an overview of the financial performance for the year ended 31 March 2026.

Key financial aspects to be discussed included:

• Expenditure and Income: A summary of actual expenditure and income against the approved budget for 2025/26 was to be presented. The report indicated that the net expenditure was expected to match the approved budget of £900,000, with projected expenditure of £1,603,484 offset by higher income.
• Budgetary Variances: The report was to detail variances in specific budget areas, such as employee costs, premises costs, and supplies and services. Significant overspends in areas like conservation work and consultancy fees were noted as being largely grant-funded.
• Income Performance: The report was to highlight strong grant income performance, including significant contributions from the Welsh Government and New Burdens funding from The National Archives.
• Reserve Movements: The financial position was expected to result in a contribution to reserves rather than a drawdown, increasing the General Reserve balance.
• Audit Wales Minor Bodies Return: The draft annual return for the year ended 31 March 2026 was to be presented for information, with the committee chair to be authorised to sign it. This return is a statutory document required by the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004.

The meeting was also scheduled to confirm the date of the next meeting, which was set for 11 September 2026.