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Community and town councils: the Exchange podcast

14 September 2026
  • For the new season of The Exchange, the Audit Wales podcast, we are shining a light on an often underappreciated layer of local government in Wales - community and town councils.

    • Community and town councils are the layer of local government that work at the most local scale, serving small geographical areas and individual towns. There are 735 community and town councils in Wales and around 8000 community councillors. 

      Our podcast series highlights that they have the potential to make a real and appreciable difference to their local areas, and that the effective councils are working hard to do so.

      On the other hand, the sector does face challenges. These can be financial and resource based but also the difficulties of governance in what can be very close knit communities.

      The series was produced in collaboration with One Voice Wales, who are the Community and Town Councils’ representative body. We are very grateful for their support.

      You can listen to the podcast by using your favourite platform, here are some links to help:


      Link to our Spotify page
      Link to our Apple Podcasts page
      Link to our Youtube Channel


    • The episodes

      Here are short descriptions of the podcast episodes.

       

      One Voice Wales: the strategic view on community and town councils

      A conversation with Lyn Cadwallader, and Paul Egan, Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive of One Voice Wales on the strategic picture facing community and town councils.

      Listen here

      The experience of being a community and town council clerk

      A conversation with Emma Smith, Carmarthen Town Clerk on her experiences as clerk and her role as Wales Advisor and Welsh Policy Liaison officer for the Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC).

      Listen here (Welsh)

      Youth representatives and helping the Blaenavon community

      Boyd Painter and Daniel Morse are youth representatives and non-voting members of Blaenavon Town Council, and are the first Youth Representatives appointed by any Community and Town Council in Wales. They describe their experiences and the ways that they are working to strengthen the community and modernise the council’s social media presence.

      Listen here

      Cae Crwn Community Garden and the ability to convene

      We meet Catrin Jones, town clerk, Councillor Angela Jones and David Cassells, founding volunteer at Cae Crwn Community Garden. They celebrate the success of Cae Crwn as a garden and a space, and the role of the Town Council as a convener of people and organisations for the benefit of the community.

      Listen here (Welsh)

      A taskforce and community focus: Cwmbran Community Council

      Cwmbran Community Council's taskforce has been helping vulnerable residents with gardening and interior decorating tasks since 2015. Council Leader, Leanne Lloyd-Tolman and Chair, Gareth Lloyd-Tolman discuss its success, and their commitment to helping the community and making civic events more inclusive.

      Listen here (Welsh)

      O Law i Law and giving the best start: Caernarfon Town Council

      O Law i Law is a charity shop that specialises in baby and children’s clothing, toys and equipment. Since opening its doors during the Covid-19 pandemic, the shop has become a community itself for customers and volunteers. A conversation with Cllr Ann Hopcyn, Cllr Anna Jane Evans and Ellen Owen, O Law i law Manager.

      Listen here (Welsh)

      Bailey Hill and anti-vaping: Mold Town Council

      Mold Town Council members regularly meet with school councils. In this episode we learn about a recent anti-vaping campaign from George and Ciara, the young people behind the project, as well as Cllrs Pete Dando and Chris Bithell who liaise with the schools. We also spoke to Jo Lane, Mold Town Clerk, who discussed how they have preserved and regenerated Bailey Hill park.

      Listen here

      Auditing Community and Town Councils

      Deryck Evans is Financial Audit Manager for Audit Wales, and leads the work of auditing all the Community and Town Councils. Deryck shares of his experience, with some good practice for effective Councils and some things he’d love to see as an auditor.

      Listen here