The Democratic Services Committee of Cardiff Council met on Monday 8 June 2026 to discuss a range of important matters concerning the council's democratic processes and member support. Key topics included addressing recommendations from a Peer Performance Assessment, planning for a new Member Induction Programme, and reviewing democratic engagement activities.

Addressing Scrutiny Recommendations from the Peer Performance Assessment (PPA)

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the outcomes of the Peer Performance Assessment (PPA) and the proposed action plan to address its recommendations. The report, facilitated by the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS), highlighted the strengths of Cardiff's scrutiny function while identifying areas for evolution. The recommendations focused on rebalancing scrutiny towards earlier, strategic engagement, developing a shared understanding of its purpose, strengthening strategic alignment with corporate priorities, improving organisational culture and communication, and embedding more inclusive and participative scrutiny practices. The committee was asked to consider and agree any necessary changes to the proposed action plan, with a target completion date of March 2027.

Draft Outline Member Induction Programme 2027

The committee was presented with a draft outline for the Member Induction Programme, scheduled for 2027 following the local government elections. This programme is designed to support new and returning elected members in their roles, covering administrative necessities, essential knowledge, and core functions. The proposed programme is structured into three phases: Administration (first 7 days), The Essentials (weeks 1-4), and The Core Functions (weeks 4-26). It also outlines mandatory training modules such as 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 topics should be mandatory.

Democratic Engagement

The report on Democratic Engagement detailed the progress made in public engagement activities and future plans. This included an update on the Electoral Services Engagement Strategy, which aims to make electoral participation more accessible and inclusive. Significant efforts have been made to engage young people through the Democracy Ambassadors Programme (DAP) and workshops for those Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET). The Community Ambassadors Programme (CAP) was also highlighted, which aims to provide clearer, trusted democratic information to minority ethnic communities. Furthermore, the Gypsy and Traveller Engagement (GATE) project, funded by the Welsh Government, was discussed, focusing on strengthening democratic education and participation within these communities. The launch of Democracy Cardiff social media channels was also presented as a commitment to the Council's Participation Strategy, aiming to improve access to democratic information.

Democratic Services Activities & Service Support

This report provided an update on the performance of the Democratic Services Team since the previous meeting. Key developments included the procurement and implementation of a new webcasting system, Public-I, which aims to improve user experience and integrate more closely with the conferencing system. Statistics on webcasting for various committees, including Council, Cabinet, and Scrutiny Committees, were presented, showing total views and live versus archive viewing figures. The report also detailed the completion of mandatory training for newly elected members following by-elections and outlined member development activities undertaken, such as workshops on Equalities for Recruitment and Social Housing. An update on the Member Enquiries System (MES) was also provided, noting the need for updates to reflect recent changes in senior management and cabinet portfolios.

Forward Work Programme

The committee reviewed the proposed Forward Work Programme for the Democratic Services Committee. This programme outlines the planned business items for upcoming meetings, with an increased number of meetings scheduled to ensure all relevant elected member information is updated in preparation for the 2027 Local Government Election. The proposed items include updates on the Peer Performance Assessment Action Plan, the Member Induction Programme, and Democratic Services activities. The committee was asked to consider the draft work programme and suggest any necessary changes or additional topics for future consideration.