The Standards Committee of Swansea Council met on Friday 10 April 2026, approving the minutes from a previous meeting and the Standards Committee Annual Report 2025-2026. The committee also agreed to a series of proposals aimed at improving the awareness and training of Community and Town Councillors regarding the Code of Conduct.

Standards Committee Annual Report 2025-2026

The Head of Democratic Services, Huw Evans, presented the Standards Committee Annual Report 2025-2026. This report detailed how the committee's functions had been discharged over the preceding year. During the discussion, the committee requested that Mr. Evans invite the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW) to a future meeting. The purpose of this invitation would be to discuss the investigation process, including reasons for discontinuing cases and further details on the PSOW's two-stage test for complaints. The committee resolved to approve the annual report and forward it to the Council for information.

Community / Town Councillor - Code of Conduct Questionnaire Responses

A report was presented by Huw Evans outlining the responses received from a questionnaire sent to Community and Town Councillors. The questionnaire sought to gauge their awareness and training needs concerning the Code of Conduct. The committee noted the findings from these responses and approved a set of proposals designed to enhance councillor understanding and adherence to the Code of Conduct.

These proposals include:

• The Monitoring Officer providing annual training on the Members Code of Conduct.
• The Monitoring Officer considering the provision of short training sessions, potentially in the form of pre-recorded videos, focusing on key areas of the Code of Conduct, such as Personal and Prejudicial Interests.
• Reminding Community and Town Councils of the excellent online resources available from the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW) relating to the Code of Conduct, accessible via https://www.ombudsman.wales/publications/.
• Reminding Community and Town Councils to review the practical case studies and scenarios periodically issued by the PSOW.
• Reminding Community and Town Councils that One Voice Wales offers monthly training modules covering all aspects of a Community/Town Councillor's role, available at https://www.onevoicewales.wales/.
• Reminding Community and Town Councils of the One Voice Wales Civility & Respect Pledge, details of which can be found at https://www.onevoicewales.wales/blog/launch-of-one-voice-wales-civility-and-respect-pledge/.

The committee also resolved that the report be updated and sent to all Community and Town Council Clerks for distribution to their respective councillors. Furthermore, the findings of the report and details of the toolkit will be presented at a future meeting of the Community Town Council Forum, with an invitation extended to members of the Standards Committee.

Minutes of Previous Meeting

The committee resolved to approve and sign the minutes of the Standards Committee meeting held on 10 April 2026 as a correct record, subject to minor typographical corrections. These corrections were made to paragraphs 5 and 7 of Minute 25, concerning Community / Town Councillor Engagement.

Standards Committees Chairs Forum - Wales

Councillor Janet Pardue-Wood, Chair of the Standards Committee, provided a verbal update on the National Standards Committee Chairs Forum held on 29 June 2026. The update covered several key areas, including reforms to the Adjudication Panel for Wales (APW) Tribunal, quarterly complaint statistics, the Ombudsman's triage processes, training and development for Standards Committee Chairs, recent cases of interest, and Local Resolution Protocol Workshops, which included two papers reflecting on stakeholder feedback. The committee noted this update.

Breach of Code of Conduct - Complaints made to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW)

A report was presented for information by Huw Evans, updating the Standards Committee on decisions made by the PSOW regarding allegations of breaches of the Code of Conduct by Local Authority and Community / Town Councillors. The report had been revised to include additional information previously requested by the committee. It was also requested that the reporting period be included in future reports of this nature.