Loading
At its meeting on 6 November 2025 the Council adopted two notices of motion: one on social cohesion and misinformation about asylum and migration, and one asking the council's Pension Fund and the Wales Pension Partnership not to invest in companies linked to the conflict in Gaza. It agreed to reduce the Governance & Audit Committee from 12 members to 9 from 4 December 2025, and approved changes to the membership of several council bodies. The Section 151 Officer gave a verbal update on the mid-term budget, and no decision was recorded on it.
The Chief Legal Officer gave advice regarding the potential personal and prejudicial interests that Councillors and / Officers may have on the agenda. The Head of Democratic Services reminded Councillors and Officers that the “Disclosures of Personal and Prejudicial Interests” sheet should only be completed if the Councillor / Officer actually had an interest to declare. Nil returns were not required. Councillors and Officers were also informed that any declarable interest must be made orally and in writing on the sheet. In accordance with the provisions of the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea the following interests were declared: 1) Councillors M Baker, T J Hennegan & T M White declared a personal interest in Minute 58 “Mid Term Budget Statement 2025/26”. 2) Councillors P N Bentu, P Downing, J W Jones, M W Locke & W G Thomas declared a personal interest in Minute 63 “Notice of Motion – Swansea Council's Local Government Pension Scheme Pension Fund.”
Resolved that the following Minutes be approved and signed as a correct record: 1) Ordinary Meeting of Council held on 2 October 2025.
The Chief Legal Officer submitted an information report setting out the written responses to questions asked at the last Ordinary Meeting of Council.
a) Condolences - Dave Daycock, Former Head of Legal & Monitoring Officer The Presiding Member referred with sadness to the recent death of Dave Daycock. Dave was a former Head of Legal & Monitoring Officer with the Council. b) Condolences - Raymond Williams, Father of Councillor Andrew Williams The Presiding Member referred with sadness to the recent death of Raymond Williams, father of Councillor Andrew Williams. c) Condolences - Former Lord Mayor & Former Councillor John Newbury The Presiding Member referred with sadness to the the recent death of former Lord Mayor & former Councillor John Newbury. John was Lord Mayor 2014-2015. He served the community of Dunvant for approximately 27 years: Swansea City Council 07.05.1987-31.03.1996 City & County of Swansea 06.05.1999-04.05.2017 All present stood as a mark of sympathy and request. d) Remembrance Day & Current Conflicts The Presiding Member thanked those present for wearing Poppies at Council evening in the week leading to Remembrance Day.
a) Ospreys & WRU The Joint Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor D H Hopkins outlined concern over the Welsh Rugby Union’s decision to cut the number of professional regions to three. He stated that the Ospreys were the only true region, and their contribution to our communities, local rugby, and the wider game is invaluable. It is vital that the Ospreys remain at the heart of Welsh rugby. The Political Group Leaders supported the statement. b) Inclement Weather & Flooding The Joint Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor D H Hopkins and the Cabinet Member for Environment & Infrastructure referred to the recent inclement weather and paid tribute to the Council Staff and those within the communities that worked tirelessly to support others.
Two members of the public asked questions relating to Minute 62 “Notice of Motion - Social Cohesion”. The Cabinet Member for Education & Learning stated that a written response would be provided.
The Section 151 Officer gave a verbal update on the Mid Term Budget Statement 2025-2026.
The Presiding Member, Head of Democratic Services & Monitoring Officer jointly submitted a report seeking the consideration of reducing the membership of the Governance & Audit Committee to 9 Members (6 Councillors & 3 Statutory Co-opted Lay Members). Resolved that with effect from 4 December 2025, the membership of the Governance & Audit Committee be reduced to 9 Members (6 Councillors & 3 Statutory Co-opted Lay Members).
Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings
The Cabinet Member for Delivery submitted a report that sought approval of the nominations / amendments to various Council Bodies. Resolved that the membership of the Council Bodies listed below be amended: i) Appointments Committee Delete Councillor M B Lewis. Add Councillor W G Lewis. ii) Climate Change & Nature Recovery Strategic Development Committee Delete Councillor R A Fogerty. Add Councillor M Jones. iii) Governance & Audit Committee Delete Councillor M B Lewis. Add Labour Vacancy. iv) Petitions Committee Delete Councillor M B Lewis. Add Councillor W G Lewis. v) Scrutiny Programme Committee Delete Labour Vacancy. Add Councillor J E Pritchard. vi) Standards Committee Delete Councillor M B Lewis. Add Councillor W G Lewis. vii) Standards Committee Vacancy Panel Delete Councillor M B Lewis. Add Councillor W G Lewis. viii) South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee (CJC) Delete Councillor M B Lewis & Councillor W G Lewis. Add Councillor M Baker & Councillor D H Jenkins.
1) Part A ‘Supplementary Questions’ Ten (10) Part A ‘Supplementary Questions’ were submitted. The relevant Cabinet Member(s) responded by way of written answers contained in the Council Summons. Those supplementary questions required a written response are outlined below: Question 4. Councillor S J Rice asked the following supplementary questions: i) Can you give a commitment that you’re not going to look for anymore borrowing in the lead up to the Senedd elections? ii) Can you give an assurance relating to the level of additional costs for some of the projects that have already been announced but haven’t been completed that won’t lead to any high-cost borrowing or any impact on the long-term financial sustainability of borrowing within the Council iii) Can you please assure that there won’t be a parade of new announcements of new borrowing or new projects in the lead up to the next 6-months? The Leader of the Council stated that a written response would be provided. 2) Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’ Nine (9) Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’ were submitted.
Proposed by Councillor P M Black and Seconded by Councillor A Anthony. “This Council notes with concern the rising levels of misinformation and misconceptions relating to asylum and migration in our communities. We recognise the fear this creates not just among refugees and asylum seekers but also among ethnic minorities who are born in UK or who have come here to work, filling essential jobs in health, social care and other roles. We also recognise the fear this creates in the wider community, in people struggling with the cost of living and other pressures of modern life who are being led to believe, incorrectly, that asylum seekers and other immigrants are a threat to their housing, income, health care and other aspects of their daily life. This Council recognises our role in fostering socially cohesive communities where everyone, regardless of background, is able to live safely, free from discrimination and abuse, contributing to their community and in mutually beneficial relationship with their neighbours. This Council is committed to addressing misinformation and promoting understanding, while fostering the engagement of all voices in our community in informed, constructive and compassionate dialogue. This Council resolves: (1) To recognise the risk to our communities and to our council if we allow misinformation, and the fear, suspicion, intolerance and discrimination that it generates, to persist unchallenged. (2) To correct misinformation on asylum and migration wherever it occurs. (3) To work with partners to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone in our communities, regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation or other protected characteristics. (4) To reaffirm our commitment to Swansea as a City of Sanctuary and Wales's only human rights city. (5) To ensure, as an anti-racist council, that racism is confronted wherever it occurs, in the school, in the workplace and on the street, with particular consideration to protecting the wellbeing of our own staff. (6) To reaffirm our role as councillors in tackling misinformation and building stronger, cohesive communities, and encourage councillors to undertake equality diversity, and inclusion training.” In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 30 “Voting” a recorded vote was requested. The voting on the amendment was recorded as follows: For (57 Councillors) Councillor(s) Councillor(s) Councillor(s) C Anderson H J Gwilliam E T Kirchner A Anthony J A Hale H Lawson M Baker T J Hennegan W G Lewis S Bennett V A Holland P Lloyd P N Bentu C A Holley M W Locke P M Black P R Hood-Williams N L Matthews J P Curtice B Hopkins P M Matthews A Davis D H Hopkins P N May P Downing Y V Jardine J D McGettrick C R Doyle A J Jeffery A J O’Connor M Durke D H Jenkins D Phillips C R Evans J W Jones S J Rice C M J Evans L R Jones R V Smith V M Evans M H Jones A H Stevens A S Fitzgerald M Jones W G Thomas R A Fogarty S M Jones M S Tribe N Furlong S A Joy L V Walton L S Gibbard S E Keeton T M White F M Gordon E J King A Williams Against (2 Councillor(s)) Councillor(s) Councillor(s) Councillor(s) M Bailey F D O’Brien - Abstain (0 Councillors) Councillor(s) Councillor(s) Councillor(s) -- - - Withdrawn from meeting due to declarable interest (0 Councillors) Councillor Councillor Councillor - - - Resolved that the Notice of Motion outlined above be adopted.
Councillors J A Hale and C M J Evans reminded Councillors that the vote was on the amended Motion circulated prior to the meeting. The Head of Democratic Servies outlined the amendment, which was the addition of the words “the City of Swansea Pension Fund or the Wales Pension Partnership” to the first resolution. Proposed by Councillor J A Hale and Seconded by Councillor C M J Evans. “The conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in significant loss of life, is horrifying. Despite temporary ceasefires hostilities continue and conditions on the ground continue to deteriorate. This Council believes that: • The City of Swansea Pension Fund and the Wales Pension Partnership (WPP) should not partake in investments which fund war, human rights violations, or the potential breaking of international law. • Although the City of Swansea Pension Fund Committee makes decisions independently of the political structures of Swansea and other constituent Councils, Full Council is within its rights to express a view on the matter. This Council resolves to: • Express in the strongest terms its view that it does not wish the City of Swansea Pension Fund or the Wales Pension Partnership to be associated with companies complicit in the conflict in Gaza and potential war crimes, or in the West Bank or elsewhere in the world. • Write to the WPP to make these views clear and urge them to consider divesting from such companies on the basis of the WPP's fiduciary responsibilities; Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risk; and their Responsible Investment Strategy. • Ask the City of Swansea Pension Committee and WPP to regularly review and report on the Responsible Investment Policy.” In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 30 “Voting” a recorded vote was requested. The voting on the amendment was recorded as follows: For (54 Councillors) Councillor(s) Councillor(s) Councillor(s) C Anderson J A Hale E J King A Anthony T J Hennegan E T Kirchner M Baker V A Holland H Lawson S Bennett C A Holley W G Lewis P N Bentu P R Hood-Williams P Lloyd P M Black B Hopkins N L Matthews J P Curtice D H Hopkins P M Matthews A Davis L James P N May P Downing Y V Jardine J D McGettrick C R Doyle A J Jeffery A J O’Connor M Durke D H Jenkins D Phillips C R Evans J W Jones S J Rice C M J Evans L R Jones R V Smith R A Fogarty M H Jones A H Stevens N Furlong M Jones W G Thomas L S Gibbard S M Jones M S Tribe F M Gordon S A Joy L V Walton H J Gwilliam S E Keeton T M White Against (1 Councillor(s)) Councillor(s) Councillor(s) Councillor(s) F D O’Brien - - Abstain (0 Councillors) Councillor(s) Councillor(s) Councillor(s) -- - - Withdrawn from meeting due to declarable interest (0 Councillors) Councillor Councillor Councillor - - - Resolved that the Notice of Motion outlined above be adopted.
Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.
Declarations are read from the minutes once they are published.
Lists the council's current councillors only. Co-opted members, officers and former councillors aren't shown.