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At its meeting on 16 April 2026, Swansea Cabinet approved reading and numeracy self-evaluation frameworks, a corporate approach to workforce planning, a future proofing strategy for council services, and a Culture Strategy for 2026-2031. It also approved five local authority governor nominations, a Regional Transport Fund grant package worth £6.8 million for 2026/27, and a council tax contribution for foster carers. Cabinet noted the Welsh Public Library Standards annual report and adopted a temporary food and drink business rates relief scheme.
In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, the following interests were declared: 1) Councillor R V Smith declared a Personal & Prejudicial Interest in Minute 185 “Local Authority Governor Appointments” and stated that he had dispensation from the Standards Committee to stay, speak but not vote on matters relating to the Appointment of Local Authority Governors. 2) Councillor L S Gibbard declared a Personal & Prejudicial Interest in Minute 185 “Local Authority Governor Appointments” and withdrew from the meeting prior to its consideration. 3) Councillor R A Fogarty declared a Personal Interest in Minute 189 “Culture Strategy 2026-2031”. 4) Councillor R V Smith declared a Personal Interest in Minute 192 “Business Strategy – Temporary Rate Relief Scheme (Wales) 2026-2027”.
Resolved that the Minutes of the meeting(s) listed below be approved and signed as a correct record: 1) Cabinet held on 19 March 2026. 2) Cabinet held on 26 March 2026.
The Leader of Council made no announcements.
No questions were asked.
No questions were asked.
The Chair of the Education & Skills Service Transformation Committee (STC) submitted a report that presented the final drafts of the Reading and Numeracy Self‑Evaluation Frameworks and associated Role Profiles. These documents had been refined and agreed by the Education & Skills STC following engagement with a representative group of Swansea practitioners from both primary and secondary schools. Resolved that the updated frameworks and role profiles to support stronger self-evaluation of literacy and numeracy across Swansea schools be approved.
The Local Authority Governors Appointment Group submitted a report which sought approval of the nominations submitted to fill Local Authority (LA) Governor vacancies on School Governing Bodies. Resolved that: 1) The following nominations recommended by the Director of Education in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Education & Learning be approved: Brynmill Primary School Ashima Anand Clwyd Primary School Cari Beuse Dunvant Primary School Cllr Louise Gibbard Bobbie Jones Olchfa Comprehensive School Cllr Nicola Furlong
The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services (Performance) submitted a report that sought approval for the Strategic Workforce Planning Framework and Toolkit. The Framework sets out a consistent, corporate approach to workforce planning across all Council departments, ensuring that services are equipped with the right people, skills and capabilities to meet current and future organisational needs. Resolved that: 1) The Strategic Workforce Planning Framework and Toolkit be approved as the Council’s corporate approach to workforce planning across all Directorates and Service Areas. 2) The implementation of the Framework from April 2026 be endorsed, requiring all services to align their workforce planning activity with the processes, tools and templates set out in the Framework. 3) Workforce planning becomes an integral component of the annual Service Planning and Budget Planning cycle, with progress monitored through Corporate Management Team and reported through existing governance arrangements. 4) The role of HR, OD & Wellbeing in providing corporate oversight, guidance and assurance be supported, including the provision of workforce data, tools, training, and quality assurance to ensure consistency and compliance across the organisation. 5) The Framework be reviewed annually to ensure alignment with Council priorities, financial planning, and any changes in legislation, workforce demands or organisational strategy.
The Cabinet Member for Delivery submitted a report that sought endorsement of the Future Proofing Strategy and Framework 2026–2030 (the Strategy), which sets out a clear, proportionate and practical corporate approach to future proofing services and making delivery model choices. Resolved that: 1) The Future Proofing Strategy and Framework 2026–2030 be endorsed. 2) The Strategy be approved under the Scheme of Delegation. 3) It be noted that implementation will be taken forward through existing governance and reporting arrangements, with annual review through service planning and the performance and assurance cycle.
Councillor C A Holley provided pre-decision feedback in relation to the Culture Strategy 2026-2031.
Call In Procedure - Subject to Pre-Decision Scrutiny: This decision is exempt from the Authority’s Call In Procedure as “the decision has been subject to Pre-Decision Scrutiny and there is no material change in relevant information / evidence”. The Cabinet Member for Culture, Human Rights & Equalities submitted a report that sought approval for Swansea’s Culture Strategy 2026–2031 which sets out the city’s vision, strategic aims, objectives and delivery plan. Resolved that: 1) The consultation findings, resultant proposed priorities and delivery plan be noted. 2) The new Culture Strategy 2026-2031 be approved and adopted as a key corporate document setting the parameters for future planning for culture in its widest form. 3) The Action Plan be agreed including establishing a long-term delivery and governance model in the first instance, as set out, with internal and external stakeholders. 4) Authority be delegated to the Head of Cultural Services, Parks and Cleansing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member to agree the membership of the Governance model including delivery groups; tasked with advising further amends and improvements to the Action Plan and Evaluation methodology for activity acknowledged as residing within the remit of that Governance model.
The Cabinet Member for Environment & Infrastructure submitted a report that sought approval of the capital and revenue grant funding awarded from the Regional Transport Fund (RTF), approving expenditure on the associated projects in 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29. It also sought to comply with Financial Procedure Rule 7 “Capital Programming”. Resolved that: 1) The receipt of the grant funding and delegates authority to the Director of Finance in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure and the Director of Place to accept the grant funding awarded for all RTF schemes be approved. 2) The addition of the funded schemes to the Council’s capital programme in line with FPR7 be approved. 3) The addition of the revenue grant funding to the Council’s revenue budget for Road Safety be approved.
The Cabinet Member for Culture, Human Rights & Equalities submitted a report that provided an update on the feedback from the Welsh Government on Swansea Council Libraries performance in relation to the Welsh Public Library Standards (WPLS) 2024-25. Resolved that the outcome and feedback of the Welsh Government’s annual inspection of Swansea Library Service against the Welsh Public Library Standards be noted.
Call In Procedure - Urgency: This decision is exempt from the Authority’s Call In Procedure as “either the Head of Paid Service, the Section 151 Officer or the Monitoring Officer certifies that any delay likely to be caused by the Call In Procedure could seriously prejudice the Council or the Public Interest including failure to comply with Statutory requirements”. The Director of Finance & Section 151 Officer submitted a report that sought approval for the adoption of a temporary Food and Drink Hospitality Rates Relief Scheme relating to Business Rates, which has been introduced by Welsh Government for the financial year 2026/27. Resolved that: 1) The details of the Scheme as set out in the report be noted. 2) The rate relief scheme outlined in the report for 2026/27 be adopted.
The Cabinet Member for Care Services submitted a report that outlined the rationale for a 50% contribution in council tax for Foster Wales Swansea carers and the process by which this will be carried out for foster carers who live in and outside of Swansea Council County borders. The 50% contribution in council tax was approved as part of the 2026/27 budget presented to Council in March 2026. Resolved that the proposed process to deliver the scheme as outlined in the report be approved.
Cabinet were requested to exclude the public from the meeting during consideration of the item(s) of business identified in the recommendations to the report(s) on the grounds that it / they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as set out in the exclusion paragraph of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007 relevant to the items of business set out in the report(s). Cabinet considered the Public Interest Test in deciding whether to exclude the public from the meeting for the item of business where the Public Interest Test was relevant as set out in the report. Resolved that the public be excluded for the following item(s) of business. (Closed Session)
Councillor C A Holley asked questions in relation to Minute 196 “Options Appraisal – NCP City Centre Car Parks”.
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.
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