The Glamorgan Archives Joint Committee met remotely on Friday 11 September 2026 to review the Glamorgan Archivist's report for June to August 2026, consider the Annual Report for 2025, and examine the 2026/27 Month 4 Monitoring Report.

Report of the Glamorgan Archivist (June - August 2026)

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the work of Glamorgan Archives for the period of June to August 2026. The report detailed achievements against the service's annual plan, focusing on enhancing digital services, including the website and the catalogue, which had surpassed 400,000 entries. Efforts to increase the availability of digital assets were ongoing, with over 22,000 born-digital assets uploaded to Preservica. The report also highlighted continued searchroom provision and a busy remote enquiries service.

Community engagement was a significant theme, with the Glamorgan's Blood exhibition travelling to Warwick University and visits from various groups, including the Our City Our Stories project, Wellbeing Group from Railway Gardens in Splott, Llandaff Cathedral volunteers, and the Cardiff and Vale Branch of Glamorgan Family History Society. The report noted talks on subjects such as Rainbow Wales: Queer Welsh Icons Past and Present and Unmarried Motherhood, Maternity Homes, and the 100 Year Legacy of the Adoption Act in South Wales. Media coverage for an Open Doors event had resulted in fully booked tours.

The report also outlined the development of knowledge and skills through volunteering, with 35 volunteers contributing 860 hours to various cataloguing and conservation projects. School engagement included visits from Year 5 learners from Ysgol Bryn Celyn in Cardiff, and the development of the education resource The Black Diamond and Beyond. Higher and further education engagement involved a visit from Cardiff University students.

The legal and evidential value of archives was addressed through continued links with the six constituent local authorities, including work on the Aberfan project with Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council and discussions with Rhondda Heritage Park regarding the Crowd Cymru project. Proactive collection of at-risk collections was also mentioned. The report detailed efforts to develop external funding applications, including a National Manuscripts Conservation Trust-funded project for William Burges plans for Cardiff Castle, and the Behind the Curtain project to catalogue theatre and performing arts collections.

Environmental sustainability was a focus, with remedial repairs to the building's lighting completed and planning underway for chiller replacement. Building, workforce, and budget management were also discussed, alongside the recruitment of a temporary Preservation Assistant.

Annual Report 2025

The committee was scheduled to review the text of the Annual Report for 2025. This report details the achievements of the service over the calendar year, including the passing of Assistant Conservator Michael Hodgson, and the continued demand for archival resources. The report noted staffing changes, with the arrival of Anna Watson, Katie Finn, and Imogen Mountjoy, and the departure of Jayne Miller.

Significant progress in digital preservation was highlighted, with additional funding from Welsh Government supporting training sessions and the purchase of hardware for digital preservation tasks. The service had begun ingesting new deposits directly into Preservica. The Distance User Survey indicated a high level of satisfaction with the remote enquiry service.

The report also detailed building repairs and improvements undertaken throughout 2025, and outlined statistics for visitor numbers, remote enquiries, website hits, and social media engagement. Outreach activities included the development of an educational resource on coal and docks, funded by Welsh Government's Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan, and collaboration with the National Library of Wales on collections related to the Aberfan Disaster. The vital contribution of volunteers was emphasised, with tasks including cataloguing, conservation, and participation in the Crowd Cymru digital volunteering project.

Conservation efforts included the completion of the second phase of a National Manuscripts Conservation Trust-funded project to conserve William Burges plans for Cardiff Castle, with a further application for Phase 3 submitted. The report also mentioned commissioned work for Carmarthenshire Archives and the National Trust. Collections development saw three successful Collections Weeks, with progress made on cataloguing various collections, including those of local authorities and HM Courts and Tribunals Service. Several funding applications were submitted, with the Archives participating in the A Century of Struggle project and the Behind the Curtain project. The report listed numerous new accessions received throughout the year, covering a wide range of subjects and organisations.

2026/27 Month 4 Monitoring Report

The committee was scheduled to review the 2026/27 Month 4 Monitoring Report, which provides details of actual expenditure and income as at 31 July 2026 against the approved budget. The report indicated projected gross expenditure of £1,127,580 for the year, with projected income below the original budget. This suggested a higher than anticipated drawdown from the Glamorgan Archives Reserve would be required to achieve a balanced budget.

Specific budget areas highlighted included an underspend in the employee budget, but an overspend in the premises-related budget, partly due to ongoing repair and maintenance work, including lighting repairs and potential replacement of front entrance doors. The supplies and services budget was also projected to overspend, attributed to hardware purchases and additional expenditure on company searches for Gladstone Library. The support services budget was projected to increase due to charges being posted later in the year.

The income budget was projected to be under target, although grant income remained as budgeted. Hire of specialist rooms was projected to generate income in line with the budget, from Registration Services temporarily using offices. Local Authority contributions were expected to be in line with budgeted contributions. The report noted that the projected drawdown from the reserve was £118,587, a significant increase from the budgeted £36,229, which would decrease the General Reserve to £224,497. This increased drawdown included £50,000 for lighting works. The report recommended that members note the projected full year outturn position.

The next meeting was scheduled for 11 December 2026.