The Glamorgan Archives Joint Committee met on Friday, 13 March 2026, to discuss the Glamorgan Archivist's report for the period December 2025 to February 2026, the Annual Plan for 2026-2027, and funding for remedial repairs at Glamorgan Archives. The committee also reviewed the 2025-26 monitoring report and considered the 2026-27 budget proposals and the Medium Term Financial Plan.

Report of the Glamorgan Archivist (December 2025 - February 2026)

The report from the Glamorgan Archivist detailed the activities and achievements of the archives during the period. Key areas of focus included digital preservation, community engagement, and educational outreach. The archives continued to work on digitising collections, including Ordnance Survey maps and records relating to the Aberfan disaster. Community engagement efforts involved working with various groups, such as the Innovate Trust's Secret Garden Project and Menter Caerdydd, to promote the archives' collections and services. The archives also continued to develop educational resources for schools, with a new resource on 'Coal and the Docks' being developed.

The report highlighted the importance of volunteers, who contributed to cataloguing efforts and blog posts. It also noted the ongoing work on collections management, including a stocktake of collections and the cataloguing of local authority material. The archives also continued to seek external funding for various projects, including digitisation and conservation work.

The report also touched upon the management of the building, noting that quotes for replacement lighting had been higher than expected. The passing of Assistant Conservator Mike Hodgson was also noted with sadness.

Annual Plan 2026-2027

The committee was presented with the Annual Plan for 2026-2027, which aligns with the newly approved Strategic Plan 2026-2031. The plan outlines objectives and activities across six key outcomes: enhancing digital services, increasing awareness of the archives, developing knowledge and skills through engagement, upholding the legal and evidential value of archives, gathering and sharing collections to professional standards, and managing resources effectively.

Specific activities planned include the redevelopment of the Glamorgan Archives website, the enhancement of catalogue information with a focus on inclusivity, and the continued digitisation of assets. Community engagement initiatives, such as developing a community engagement project and expanding the talks programme, are also detailed. The plan also emphasises the importance of volunteering opportunities, both in-person and online, and the development of educational resources for schools.

Furthermore, the plan addresses the proactive collection of at-risk collections, the continuation of cataloguing backlog material, and the reinterpretation of collection descriptions to be more inclusive. Resource management includes planning for the expansion of the Glamorgan Archives building, enhancing the environmental sustainability of the site, and effective management of the building, workforce, and budget.

Funding for Remedial Repairs at Glamorgan Archives

A report was presented requesting additional funding from reserves for remedial lighting repairs at the Glamorgan Archives building. While funding for other workstreams, such as chiller replacement, boiler replacement with heat pumps, and solar array improvements, had been delayed and would be resubmitted to Welsh Government, the lighting repairs could not wait. The existing lighting was deteriorating, leading to areas with no lights and failures in emergency lighting tests. Remedial repairs are necessary to ensure the building operates safely and in compliance with Health and Safety regulations. It was requested that up to £40,000 be drawn from reserves to cover these essential repairs.

2025-26 Monitoring Report

Members were provided with details of actual expenditure and income as at 31 October 2025 for the 2025-26 financial year. The report indicated that the net expenditure was balanced against the approved budget. The projected expenditure was offset by higher-than-expected income, primarily from grants. Specific budget areas showed overspends in employees and premises costs, partly due to pay awards and planned repairs. Supplies and services also showed an overspend, largely grant-funded. The report also detailed income generated from grants, New Burdens funding, and the hire of specialist rooms. Discussions also took place regarding national non-domestic rates (NNDR) and potential collective challenges to the Welsh Government regarding these charges.

2026-27 Budget Proposals and Medium Term Financial Plan

The committee reviewed the proposed revenue budget for 2026-27, which was described as a standstill budget compared to the previous year, with a slight decrease compared to 2024-25. A portion of the budget was planned to be drawn down from reserves. The proposals detailed expected changes in employment and premises costs, with no changes to the transport budget. Local authority contributions for the year were outlined, with Cardiff contributing the largest amount.

A draft Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) for the next four years was also presented, outlining key assumptions such as pay awards, utility costs, and frozen local authority contributions for the initial year, followed by increases. The plan projected drawdowns from reserves and a gradual decrease in the reserve balance over the period. The MTFP was noted as providing guidance rather than being a binding document.

Proposed Fees and Charges 2026-27

The proposed scale of fees and charges for 2026-27 was presented, with most fees remaining largely the same as the previous year. Exceptions included postage fees, which are dependent on Royal Mail charges, and increased charges for research for media use. A new charge for using the archive as a filming location was introduced, and the shelf storage charge in strongrooms was increased.