The Democratic Services Committee of Cardiff Council met on Monday 8 June 2026 to discuss a range of important issues, including the implementation of recommendations from a Peer Performance Assessment, the development of a new Member Induction Programme, and ongoing democratic engagement activities. The committee noted the contents of a report and approved an action plan to address scrutiny recommendations and provided feedback on the draft induction programme for elected members.

Addressing the Scrutiny Recommendations from the Peer Performance Assessment (PPA)

The committee received an update on the outcomes of the Peer Performance Assessment (PPA) workshops held in March 2026, facilitated by the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS). Members were presented with proposals from CfGS to address the PPA recommendations and were asked to approve a proposed Action Plan.

The Head of Democratic Services, Gary Jones, introduced the item. Committee members offered mixed feedback on the workshops, but were pleased with the draft plan, noting that Cardiff had been identified as an exemplar of good practice by CfGS and had been asked to support other local authorities in England. The committee congratulated Scrutiny Services on their effective delivery and hard work.

Concerns were raised about the Leader of the Council's responsibility for ensuring Cabinet Members engage with Scrutiny. Officers confirmed that while officers are the initial drivers, a meeting with Scrutiny Chairs and the Leader was planned to establish future working arrangements. The Chief Executive is also keen to ensure the PPA recommendations are implemented during the current administration and is actively monitoring the Action Plan's progress.

The committee agreed to note the contents of the report and its appendices, and to approve the PPA Scrutiny Action Plan and its progress monitoring arrangements.

Draft Outline Member Induction Programme 2027

This agenda item focused on gathering direction for the Council's Elected Member Induction Programme, which will be implemented following the Local Government Elections in 2027. Gary Jones, Head of Democratic Services, presented the draft outline and sought feedback on the necessity of planned training, potential additions, or removals.

Members provided positive feedback on the Marketplace event and the Induction Workshop, appreciating their structure and the option for flexible attendance times. They also highlighted the value of early interaction between new councillors and officers.

A key concern raised was the potential loss of institutional knowledge due to the 2027 elections. The committee proposed additional officer support for new councillors and groups who may lack internal expertise.

Feedback on the 21st Century Councillor training was less favourable, with some members viewing it as a repackaging of existing training and unnecessary, particularly the external support component. It was suggested that this could be managed through cross-party coordination via the Whips or direct engagement with Democratic Services.

Members proposed several changes and additions to the planned training:

• Bespoke training on Standing Orders and the running of Council meetings.
• Enhanced training on the Managing Case Work/Members Enquiries System, including ICT access, and clarifying councillors' remits and signposting for citizens.
• Inclusion of Social Housing and Section 106 within the Planning training to illustrate their interconnectedness.
• Clarification on devolved versus non-devolved areas to provide clearer guidance for new councillors on casework.
• Removal of the training on Recovery following the Pandemic.

The committee agreed that publishing the required training pre-election would be beneficial for potential candidates, informing them of key dates and expectations. Officers will incorporate this feedback into an updated version of the plan, which will be presented at the next meeting.

The committee agreed to note the views on the Draft Outline Member Induction Programme 2027 (Appendix A) and reflect these in an updated version, approve the proposed development of the Induction programme, and receive an updated version at its next meeting.

Democratic Engagement

The committee received an update on the progress of public engagement activities undertaken by the Democratic Services Team and plans for future opportunities. Gary Jones, Head of Democratic Services, introduced the report.

Members congratulated officers on their work and inquired about the current 'X' (formerly Twitter) handle for the democratic services account, suggesting that the underscore in the handle might hinder visibility and reach. Officers agreed to keep this under review.

The committee agreed to note the information presented and approve the promotion of future Democratic Engagement activities to all Elected Members, and encourage all Elected Members to participate in these activities and promote engagement opportunities and social media channels within their communities.

Democratic Services – Activities & Service Support

This report provided an update on the performance and services of the Council's Democratic Services since the last meeting on 12 January 2026. Gary Jones, Head of Democratic Services, introduced the item. He apologised for the lack of updated information on the Members Enquiry System (MES), explaining that further work was required due to recent changes in senior management arrangements and team structures, necessitating updates to the HALO system. This will be completed in time for the September meeting and will include member feedback.

The committee noted the information presented.

Forward Work Programme

The committee reviewed proposed topics for inclusion in the Democratic Services Committee's Forward Work Programme. Gary Jones, Head of Democratic Services, introduced the report. Members had no questions or comments.

The committee agreed to note the proposed Work Programme appended as Appendix A to the report and to approve its Work Programme.

The next meeting of the Democratic Services Committee was scheduled for Tuesday, 1 September 2026, at 4:00 PM.