The Democratic Services Committee of Newport Council is scheduled to meet on 9 October 2025 to discuss its annual report, the annual report of the Head of Democratic Services, and the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru's draft annual remuneration report. The committee will also review its forward work programme.

Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru Draft Annual Remuneration Report

The committee is scheduled to discuss the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru Draft Annual Remuneration Report 2026-2027. The report sets out proposed determinations on pay, expenses and benefits for members of principal councils, community and town councils, fire and rescue authorities and national park authorities from 1 April 2026.

Beverley Smith, Chair of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru¹, notes in a foreword to the report that the commission is required to consider resettlement payments for councillors who lose their seats at an election.

The Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru etc. Act 2013 requires the Commission to consider resettlement payments for those elected members who lose their seats at an election, and brief colleagues in the Welsh Government on what we think would be an appropriate payment scheme.

The report also mentions that the commission will be reviewing the framework for how senior roles are remunerated in principal councils and corporate joint committees² to ensure that it remains fit for purpose, and will be looking at the measure used to decide the annual uprating of remuneration levels.

Some of the commission's proposed determinations include:

• The basic salary for elected members of principal councils is set at £21,044.
• The salary of a leader of the largest (Group A) council will be £78,917.
• The salary of a chair of a Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee will be set at £10,522.
• The optional financial loss compensation for Community and Town Council members is increased to up to £67.45 for each period not exceeding 4 hours, and up to £134.90 for each period exceeding 4 hours but not exceeding 24 hours.

Democratic Services Committee Annual Report 2024-2025

The committee is scheduled to consider its annual report for 2024-2025, for submission to the council. The report provides evidence that the committee has carried out its required function by reviewing the adequacy of staff to support members. The Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 requires each council to establish a Democratic Services Committee, and for that committee to make a report at least annually to the council.

The annual report covers the period from September 2024 to August 2025, during which time the committee met on three occasions and considered the following:

• Constitution: Amendments to the constitution concerning standing orders for council meetings, and contract standing orders.
• Member Training: Feedback gathered as part of a consultation with elected members on member training.
• Independent Remuneration Panel Wales: Draft and Final Annual Report: The committee received the draft and final Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (IRPW) Annual Report, noting that the report was the final report from the IRP before its duties transferred over to the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru.

The report also notes the committee's planned work for 2025/26, including considering the revision of the Participation Strategy 2022-26 concerning how the council engages with the public.

Head of Democratic Services Annual Report

The committee is scheduled to consider the annual report of the Head of Democratic Services. Under the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011, the Democratic Services Committee is required to keep under review the provision of staff, accommodation and other resources made available to the Head of Democratic Services.

The report provides an outline of the resources made available in support of these functions, so that the committee can fulfil its responsibilities under the Measure. The Democratic and Electoral Services Manager is the designated Head of Democratic Services.

The report notes that there were no changes to the existing provision of staff during the reporting period, and that the permanent structure of the Democratic Services team remained the same. It also notes that an internal audit of Democratic Services was conducted during the reporting period, and that the overall assurance rating of Democratic Services was 'Substantial'.

Forward Work Programme

The committee will be asked to review its forward work programme. The Revised Draft Forward Work Programme 2025-26 includes the Head of Democratic Services Annual Report, the Democratic Services Committee Annual Report, and the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru Draft Report and Consultation for October 2025. The Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru Final Report is scheduled to be discussed in February 2026.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

The committee will be asked to approve the Draft Minutes 18.06.2025.