The Democratic Services Committee of Cardiff Council met on Monday 08 June 2026 to discuss a range of important matters concerning the council's governance and member support. Key topics included addressing recommendations from a Peer Performance Assessment of scrutiny functions, outlining a new induction programme for elected members, and reviewing ongoing democratic engagement activities. The committee also received updates on the day-to-day activities of the Democratic Services department and considered its forward work programme.

Addressing Scrutiny Recommendations from the Peer Performance Assessment (PPA)

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the outcomes of a Peer Performance Assessment (PPA) concerning the council's scrutiny functions. The report, developed by the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS), highlighted areas of strength within Cardiff's scrutiny process, such as a capable officer team and engaged members. However, it also identified key areas for development, including the need to rebalance scrutiny towards earlier, strategic engagement rather than late-stage pre-decision reviews. The report recommended developing a shared organisational understanding of scrutiny's purpose, strengthening strategic alignment with corporate priorities, and improving communication and feedback mechanisms. It also emphasised embedding more inclusive and participative scrutiny practices. The committee was asked to consider a proposed Action Plan designed to address these recommendations, with a target completion date of March 2027.

Draft Outline Member Induction Programme 2027

The committee was presented with a draft outline for the Elected Member Induction Programme, scheduled to be implemented following the Local Government Elections in 2027. This programme aims to support new and returning elected members in effectively undertaking their roles and integrating into the council. The proposed induction is structured into three phases: Administration (first 7 days), The Essentials (weeks 1-4), and Core Functions (weeks 4-26). It covers a wide range of topics, from administrative necessities and understanding the council's constitution to specific training for committee roles, ward casework, and personal development. The report detailed existing mandatory modules, including the Members' Code of Conduct, Equalities and Diversity, Safeguarding, Corporate Parenting, and Information Governance & Data Protection. The committee was invited to provide feedback on the draft programme, including any topics to be added or removed, and to consider which sessions should be mandatory.

Democratic Engagement

An update was provided on the progress of public engagement activities undertaken by the Democratic Services Team, alongside plans for future engagement. The report highlighted the development of an Electoral Engagement Strategy, which aims to make electoral participation more accessible and inclusive. Specific initiatives discussed included the Democracy Ambassadors Programme (DAP), which engages primary and secondary schools in democratic education, and targeted workshops for young people Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET). The Mock COP event, co-ordinated with external partners, was also noted as a success. The Community Ambassadors Programme (CAP), designed to provide trusted democratic information to minority ethnic communities, was launched in March 2026 and aims to mirror the success of the DAP. The Gypsy and Traveller Engagement (GATE) project, funded by the Welsh Government, was also detailed, focusing on strengthening democratic education within these communities. The report also covered the continued engagement with adults with learning disabilities and community networks, as well as the launch of Democracy Cardiff social media channels to improve access to democratic information.

Democratic Services Activities & Service Support

This report provided an overview of the performance of the Democratic Services Team since the previous meeting. A key development highlighted was the procurement and implementation of a new webcasting system, Public-I, which aimed to improve user experience and integrate more closely with the conferencing system. Statistics on webcasting were presented, detailing the number of meetings webcast, total viewing time, and the breakdown of live versus archive views across various committees, including Council, Cabinet, Planning Committee, and Scrutiny Committees. The report also confirmed that newly elected members following by-elections had completed all mandatory training within the required timeframe. Details of recent member development activities were also provided, including sessions on Equalities for Recruitment, Social Housing, the PPA Scrutiny Workshop, and Engaging Young People. The committee was also asked to identify any proposals for improvements to the Member Enquiries System (MES).

Forward Work Programme

The committee considered a proposed Forward Work Programme for the upcoming municipal year. This programme outlined the planned business items for future meetings, reflecting the committee's terms of reference and the need to prepare for the 2027 Local Government Election. The proposed meetings were scheduled to ensure sufficient time for the development and finalisation of the Member Induction Programme. Key items for future meetings included updates on the Peer Performance Assessment Action Plan, reviews of Member ICT and the Member Enquiries System, and the Democratic Services Committee's Annual Report. The committee was asked to review the draft programme, suggest any additions, and approve its content.