diff --git a/actions/core/logger.js b/actions/core/logger.js
index 13d35389..15c820b8 100644
--- a/actions/core/logger.js
+++ b/actions/core/logger.js
@@ -104,3 +104,18 @@ export const conLog = (err) => {
     console.log(errStr);
     return errStr;
 };
+
+export const logInfo = (event, data = {}) => {
+    try {
+        console.info(
+            JSON.stringify({
+                level: "info",
+                event,
+                data: redactSensitive(data),
+                ts: new Date().toISOString()
+            })
+        );
+    } catch (_error) {
+        console.info(`[info] ${event}`);
+    }
+};
diff --git a/components/header.js b/components/header.js
index 090dacd9..caa69f4a 100644
--- a/components/header.js
+++ b/components/header.js
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@ import _ from "lodash";
 import useTranslation from "next-translate/useTranslation";
 import Link from "next/link";
 import { useRouter } from "next/router";
-import { destroyCookie, setCookie } from "nookies";
+import { setCookie } from "nookies";
 import { connect } from "react-redux";
 import Banner from "../components/banner";
 import { setLogout } from "../store/accountDetails/action";
 
-import { signOut } from "next-auth/react";
+import { logoutClient } from "../lib/auth/logoutClient";
 
 const Header = (props) => {
     let { t, lang } = useTranslation();
@@ -85,14 +85,7 @@ const Header = (props) => {
 
     const handleLogout = () => {
         console.info("////////////\n" + "logout" + "\n////////////");
-        (window.localStorage.clear(),
-            destroyCookie(null, "next-auth.csrf-token", { path: "/" }),
-            destroyCookie(null, "next-auth.callback-url", { path: "/" }),
-            destroyCookie(null, "pedw_locale", { path: "/" }),
-            destroyCookie(null, "pinsUser", { path: "/" }),
-            signOut({
-                callbackUrl: locale == "cy" ? "/cy/allgofnodi" : "/logout"
-            }));
+        logoutClient(locale);
     };
 
     //const switchLocale = locale === "en" ? "cy" : "en";
diff --git a/components/myportal/servicebanner.js b/components/myportal/servicebanner.js
index 6f6768e1..3c6d2403 100644
--- a/components/myportal/servicebanner.js
+++ b/components/myportal/servicebanner.js
@@ -1,41 +1,22 @@
 import useTranslation from "next-translate/useTranslation";
 import router from "next/router";
 import Link from "next/link";
-import { destroyCookie } from "nookies";
-import { signOut } from "next-auth/react";
+import { logoutClient } from "../../lib/auth/logoutClient";
 
 const ServiceBanner = (props) => {
     props = props.props;
     let { t, lang } = useTranslation();
 
-    const signInButton = () => {
-        router.push(
-            `${
-                router.locale == "cy" ? "/awd/mewngofnodi" : "/auth/signin"
-            }?callbackUrl=${encodeURIComponent(
-                window.location.href
-            )}&error=EmailSignin`
-        );
-    };
-
     const handleLogout = (locale) => {
         console.info("////////////\n" + "logout" + "\n////////////");
-        window.localStorage.clear(),
-            destroyCookie(null, "next-auth.csrf-token"),
-            { path: "/" },
-            destroyCookie(null, "next-auth.callback-url", { path: "/" }),
-            destroyCookie(null, "pedw_locale", { path: "/" }),
-            destroyCookie(null, "pinsUser", { path: "/" }),
-            signOut({
-                callbackUrl: locale == "cy" ? "/cy/allgofnodi" : "/logout",
-            });
+        logoutClient(locale);
     };
 
     const portalLogoLink = [
         "/myportal/[appealtypes]",
         "/newappeal",
         "/newappeal/[appealtypes]",
-        "/myportal/representation",
+        "/myportal/representation"
     ];
     return (
         <div className="servicebanner myportal govuk-!-margin-bottom-4">
diff --git a/components/timeout/index.js b/components/timeout/index.js
index 76f56ab3..30a47d67 100644
--- a/components/timeout/index.js
+++ b/components/timeout/index.js
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
-import { signOut } from "next-auth/react";
 import useTranslation from "next-translate/useTranslation";
 import { useRouter } from "next/router";
-import { destroyCookie } from "nookies";
 import { useState, useEffect } from "react";
 import { useIdleTimer } from "react-idle-timer";
-import TimeoutModal from "./timeoutmodal";
+import { logoutClient } from "../../lib/auth/logoutClient";
 
 const TimeOut = (props) => {
     let { t } = useTranslation();
@@ -21,14 +19,7 @@ const TimeOut = (props) => {
     const onIdle = () => {
         setState("Idle");
         console.info("////////////\n" + "logout" + "\n////////////");
-        window.localStorage.clear(),
-            destroyCookie(null, "next-auth.csrf-token", { path: "/" }),
-            destroyCookie(null, "next-auth.callback-url", { path: "/" }),
-            destroyCookie(null, "pedw_locale", { path: "/" }),
-            destroyCookie(null, "pinsUser", { path: "/" }),
-            signOut({
-                callbackUrl: locale == "cy" ? "/cy/allgofnodi" : "/logout",
-            });
+        logoutClient(locale);
         setOpen(false);
     };
 
@@ -48,7 +39,7 @@ const TimeOut = (props) => {
         onPrompt,
         timeout,
         promptBeforeIdle,
-        throttle: 500,
+        throttle: 500
     });
 
     useEffect(() => {
@@ -89,14 +80,14 @@ const TimeOut = (props) => {
             <div
                 className={open ? "modal fade show" : "modal fade"}
                 style={{
-                    display: open ? "flex" : "none",
+                    display: open ? "flex" : "none"
                 }}
             >
                 <div className="modal-dialog">
                     <div className="modal-content">
                         <h3>
                             {t("common:login-modal-message", {
-                                remaining: remaining,
+                                remaining: remaining
                             })}
                         </h3>
                         <button
diff --git a/lib/auth/logoutClient.js b/lib/auth/logoutClient.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1798ee8f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/auth/logoutClient.js
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+import { destroyCookie } from "nookies";
+import { signOut } from "next-auth/react";
+
+const AUTH_COOKIE_NAMES = [
+    "next-auth.csrf-token",
+    "next-auth.callback-url",
+    "__Secure-next-auth.callback-url",
+    "pedw_locale",
+    "pinsUser"
+];
+
+export const clearClientSessionArtifacts = () => {
+    if (typeof window !== "undefined") {
+        window.localStorage.clear();
+    }
+
+    AUTH_COOKIE_NAMES.forEach((cookieName) => {
+        destroyCookie(null, cookieName, { path: "/" });
+    });
+};
+
+export const logoutClient = async (locale) => {
+    clearClientSessionArtifacts();
+    await signOut({
+        callbackUrl: locale === "cy" ? "/cy/allgofnodi" : "/logout"
+    });
+};
diff --git a/lib/forms/readFormXml.js b/lib/forms/readFormXml.js
index 5278f7f2..0edeb717 100644
--- a/lib/forms/readFormXml.js
+++ b/lib/forms/readFormXml.js
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 import fs from "fs";
 import path from "path";
 
+const xmlCache = new Map();
+
 /**
  * Reads /data/formsxml/{appealtypes}.xml and normalises it.
  * Returns { xmlStr } or throws on missing file.
@@ -9,6 +11,10 @@ import path from "path";
 export function readFormXml(appealtypes) {
     if (!appealtypes) throw new Error("readFormXml: appealtypes is required");
 
+    if (xmlCache.has(appealtypes)) {
+        return xmlCache.get(appealtypes);
+    }
+
     const configDirectory = path.resolve(process.cwd(), "data/formsxml");
     const filePath = path.join(configDirectory, `${appealtypes}.xml`);
 
@@ -20,5 +26,8 @@ export function readFormXml(appealtypes) {
     xmlStr = xmlStr.replace(/> <"/g, "><");
     xmlStr = xmlStr.toString();
 
-    return { xmlStr, filePath };
+    const result = { xmlStr, filePath };
+    xmlCache.set(appealtypes, result);
+
+    return result;
 }
diff --git a/lib/newappeal/loadNewAppealPage.js b/lib/newappeal/loadNewAppealPage.js
index eeb48242..83fc9e13 100644
--- a/lib/newappeal/loadNewAppealPage.js
+++ b/lib/newappeal/loadNewAppealPage.js
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import {
 } from "../../actions/services/referenceDataService";
 import { getProgressFromBlob } from "../../actions/services/documentService";
 import { getPersonalAccount } from "../../actions/services/accountService";
-import { getIP } from "../../actions/core/logger";
+import { getIP, logInfo, consoleLogger } from "../../actions/core/logger";
 import { readFormXml } from "../forms/readFormXml";
 import { requireQueryParams } from "../routing/requireQueryParams";
 
@@ -29,6 +29,10 @@ export async function loadNewAppealPage(ctx) {
 
     const session = await getSession(ctx);
     if (!session) {
+        logInfo("auth.guard.redirect", {
+            route: "/newappeal/[appealtypes]",
+            reason: "missing_session"
+        });
         return {
             redirect: {
                 destination: "/auth/signin",
@@ -52,7 +56,18 @@ export async function loadNewAppealPage(ctx) {
     const blobProgress = await getProgressFromBlob(loggedInUserIdent, query.id);
     const accountDetails = await getPersonalAccount(loggedInUser);
 
-    const { xmlStr } = readFormXml(query.appealtypes);
+    let xmlStr = "";
+    try {
+        ({ xmlStr } = readFormXml(query.appealtypes));
+    } catch (error) {
+        consoleLogger(error);
+        return {
+            redirect: {
+                destination: "/error?reason=formxml",
+                permanent: false
+            }
+        };
+    }
 
     return {
         session,
diff --git a/memory-bank/change-log.md b/memory-bank/change-log.md
index 7cca28ff..4e9e3bb7 100644
--- a/memory-bank/change-log.md
+++ b/memory-bank/change-log.md
@@ -16,6 +16,46 @@ Validation:
 Follow-ups:
 ```
 
+### CL-2026-05-13-PH1: reliability & stabilisation pass (auth/session + new-appeal loader hardening)
+
+date: 2026-05-13  
+author: Cline  
+scope: `actions/core/logger.js`, `lib/auth/logoutClient.js`, `pages/api/auth/[...nextauth].js`, `pages/myportal/index.js`, `components/{header.js,myportal/servicebanner.js,timeout/index.js}`, `lib/forms/readFormXml.js`, `lib/newappeal/loadNewAppealPage.js`  
+type: change  
+rationale: Phase 1 stabilisation work to improve session/auth observability, reduce logout-flow drift, add defensive SSR handling, and apply low-risk XML read performance caching while preserving live behaviour.  
+impact: Refactor/stabilisation only; no intended business-rule or route-contract changes; improved auth diagnostics and safer failure handling in new-appeal SSR loader path.  
+status: completed
+
+Summary:
+
+- Added structured `logInfo(...)` helper in `actions/core/logger.js` (with existing redaction path reuse).
+- Added shared logout client helper `lib/auth/logoutClient.js` and wired logout calls in:
+    - `components/header.js`
+    - `components/myportal/servicebanner.js`
+    - `components/timeout/index.js`
+- Fixed service-banner regression from refactor artifact (`handleLogout` undefined) and removed orphaned sign-in/logout call path.
+- Updated `pages/api/auth/[...nextauth].js`:
+    - added auth callback/session/verification logging events
+    - added readable verification URL console lines for emailAPI flow
+    - made debug/cookie secure config environment-aware (`NODE_ENV`)
+- Added auth guard redirect logging in `pages/myportal/index.js` for missing-session redirects.
+- Hardened `lib/newappeal/loadNewAppealPage.js` with:
+    - missing-session logging before redirect
+    - XML read try/catch + safe redirect fallback (`/error?reason=formxml`)
+- Added process-level XML cache in `lib/forms/readFormXml.js` to avoid repeated reads for same appeal type.
+
+Validation:
+
+- Manual code-path verification performed for modified files.
+- Syntax issues introduced during patching were corrected in `pages/api/auth/[...nextauth].js` and `components/myportal/servicebanner.js`.
+- Targeted `next lint --file ...` execution could not be completed in current environment due to existing local Node/Next CLI compatibility issue (`SyntaxError: Unexpected token ?` in Next bundled commander), unrelated to these functional edits.
+
+Follow-ups:
+
+- Branching guardrail alignment: split this stabilisation work into explicit refactor slices on short-lived branches created from `refactor` (one concern per slice), then merge back to `refactor`.
+- Re-run required validation gates (`npm run lint` in compatible environment + protected journey regression + EN/CY parity checks) before promotion.
+- Add/record PR minimum details (scope, files, risk notes, validation evidence, rollback plan) per branch rules.
+
 ---
 
 ### CL-22541: breadcrumb/back-link route-state helper extraction (`va/adv/ads/key`)
diff --git a/pages/myportal/index.js b/pages/myportal/index.js
index 4f61761b..7c68978c 100644
--- a/pages/myportal/index.js
+++ b/pages/myportal/index.js
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { connect } from "react-redux";
 import pLimit from "p-limit";
 
 import { getIP } from "../../actions/core/logger";
+import { logInfo } from "../../actions/core/logger";
 import {
     getPersonalAccount,
     getPortalLogin
@@ -184,6 +185,10 @@ export const getServerSideProps = wrapper.getServerSideProps(
         const thisSession = await getSession(ctx);
 
         if (!thisSession) {
+            logInfo("auth.guard.redirect", {
+                route: "/myportal",
+                reason: "missing_session"
+            });
             return {
                 redirect: { destination: "/auth/signin", permanent: false }
             };