The Democratic Services Committee of Cardiff Council met on Tuesday, 1 September 2026, to discuss plans for the future induction of elected members, the provision of ICT equipment, and updates on scrutiny performance. The meeting also reviewed the committee's ongoing activities and future work programme.

Updated Draft Outline Member Induction Programme 2027

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the proposed Member Induction Programme for 2027. The report outlined plans to support both new and returning elected members following the local government elections. Key elements of the proposed programme included a Marketplace event to introduce new councillors to council services and officers, and additional information for political groups to mitigate the loss of institutional knowledge. Specific training modules were proposed, covering areas such as Corporate Parenting, Safeguarding, and the Members' Code of Conduct. The report also detailed proposed changes to existing training, including the division of Corporate Parenting into online and in-person sessions, and the addition of new modules on topics like Modern Slavery and Scrutiny skills. The committee was asked to provide feedback on the draft programme and its proposed format, with an updated version to be presented at a future meeting.

Member ICT Review

The committee received an update on the provision of ICT equipment and support for elected members, particularly in anticipation of the 2027 local government elections. The report detailed the performance of various ICT devices issued to members following the 2022 elections, highlighting issues encountered with tablet devices and the benefits of smaller laptops. It also discussed the ongoing maintenance and security of these devices, including mandatory training on Information Governance and Data Protection. The report proposed a refresh of ICT equipment for all elected members in 2027, including laptops, wireless headsets, and smartphones, with optional equipment for home office use. The committee was asked to consider the proposed options and confirm the provision of ICT facilities for independent and co-opted members.

Peer Performance Assessment (PPA) Action Plan Update

An update was provided on the progress of the Scrutiny Peer Performance Assessment (PPA) Action Plan, which was approved by the committee on 8 June 2026. The report indicated that progress had been made on most action plan items, including clarifying the definitions of scrutiny types and scheduling briefings on the core purpose of scrutiny. Cabinet members and the Senior Management Team had engaged in the development of scrutiny committee work programmes, and items of public interest were being identified through public surveys. The report acknowledged that the completion of some actions had been delayed to ensure effective collaboration, but the overall action plan was still on track to be achieved within the financial year.

Democratic Services Activities & Service Support

This item provided an overview of the performance of Cardiff Council's Democratic Services since the previous meeting. The report highlighted the completion of enhanced integration between the VP-AV conferencing system and the Public-i webcasting system, which now indexes speakers and links to their profiles. Webcasting statistics for the period of 1 June to 25 August 2026 were presented, showing a total of 3,537 views across various committee meetings. The report also detailed the progress of mandatory training for newly elected members, with high completion rates across all topics. Member development activities and scheduled member briefings were also outlined. An update on the Member Enquiries System (MES) indicated that further reconfiguration was required due to recent changes in senior management arrangements, leading to the deferral of the MES Review report.

Forward Work Programme

The committee reviewed a proposed Forward Work Programme for the Democratic Services Committee. The programme outlined key items for consideration at future meetings, including the finalisation of the Member Induction Programme for 2027, updates on the Members' Intranet and ICT equipment, and reviews of the Member Enquiries System. The report also included the proposed work programme for the upcoming meetings in November 2026, February 2027, and March 2027, with a focus on the Democratic Services Committee's annual report and the final approval of the Member Induction Programme. The committee was asked to consider the proposed programme and suggest any additional topics for inclusion.