Dear colleagues,

The last two days have been overshadowed by the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

I sent a short update to you all last night which I hope was useful and in place of my usual weekly round-up I would like to give some further information on our plans for the next few days. 

As soon as the official announcement was made early yesterday evening, the Council’s Death of a Sovereign Protocol was invoked. The flags at the Civic Offices were lowered to half-mast, an official statement of condolence was issued by the Mayor, and books of condolence were opened at the Civic, Docks and Alps buildings, as well as online. 

We are now in the official period of mourning. All formal Council meetings have been cancelled for the next ten days along with all formal civic engagements. The Council’s external communications channels are being used only to share information on our response. The flags will remain at half-mast until the day of the funeral, with the exception of being raised for the Proclamation of the new King.

Today, a formal letter of condolence has been sent to the King by the Mayor and planning has begun for Proclamation Day in the Vale.

His Majesty The King will be proclaimed at the Accession Council in London tomorrow. Proclamations across the country will then follow on Sunday. There will be a Proclamation ceremony for Wales held in Cardiff Castle at midday and this will be followed by the official Proclamation for the Vale of Glamorgan, overseen by the Mayor, at the Civic Offices at 2pm. All staff are welcome to attend and full details will be shared on our website and social media channels as soon as they are confirmed.

I know many of you will have questions about what the mourning period will mean for our services and business continuity. In most cases we are still operating business as usual. Further guidance will be provided to staff early next week. 

The passing of the United Kingdom’s longest serving monarch is a significant moment in history. It will have affected people across the Vale in different ways and gives us all pause for thought on the meanings of duty and public service. I know this passing of The Queen will have affected many of you and my thoughts are with anyone feeling a sense of loss or anxiety at this time. 

Cofion and diolch yn fawr,

Rob.