Scrutiny Inquiry Panel - Cost of Living

The Panel met to begin its inquiry into the cost of living in Swansea. It heard a strategic overview from council officers and then agreed its draft Terms of Reference, Integrated Impact Assessment and Call for Evidence. It also noted the dates of the first two evidence sessions, with Social Services and the Education directorates.

1. Strategic overview of the cost of living and poverty in Swansea

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   Jane Whitmore and Anthony Richards gave the overview as an introduction to the inquiry. The written report covers Swansea's strategic context, including the Corporate Plan goal of tackling poverty, the Minimum Income Standard (the income needed for a socially acceptable standard of living), and recent poverty data such as the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2025 and the Bevan Foundation's autumn 2025 snapshot. The minute says the discussion will form part of the Inquiry Findings Report, which the Panel will consider at the end of the evidence stage.

   Based on the minutes, Cost of Living Scrutiny Inquiry Feb 2026 Report

2. Agreeing the inquiry's Terms of Reference, impact assessment and call for evidence

   Decided

   The Panel agreed the Inquiry Terms of Reference, the Integrated Impact Assessment and the Call for Evidence. It noted the dates of the first two evidence sessions, with Social Services and the Education directorates. It agreed to speak to a list of organisations and individuals as part of the inquiry, including Welfare Rights, Revenue and Benefits, Swansea Council for Voluntary Service, Employment Support, People Plus, cooking initiatives, Carers Centre, Citizens Advice, credit unions and banks, and food banks. It also agreed to hear from members of the public who visit or attend some of these services. The Project Plan will develop as the inquiry progresses.

   Why

   The Terms of Reference set out the inquiry's key question: what the impacts of the rising cost of living are, and how the Council and others are mitigating them and building resilience in communities. The Panel chose this work to check that the Council meets its legal duties, that services are transparent and sustainable, and that they give value for money. The Integrated Impact Assessment is a check on how the work affects different groups; the officer's screening form says a full assessment is not needed yet, because the inquiry makes recommendations rather than decisions. The Call for Evidence invites the public and organisations to submit views in writing. The report notes that the inquiry is a scrutiny exercise, meaning councillors examine council work and make recommendations to Cabinet.

   Based on the minutes, Report - TOR etc, 01 - Cost of living INQUIRY TERMS OF REFERENCE, Cost of Living Scrutiny Inquiry IIA_screening_form_based on TOR, Call for evidence, 02 - Project PlanDraft

Written by AI from the council's minutes and reports. Sentences with a number or name that can't be found in those papers are removed automatically, but mistakes are still possible. Councils publish no word-for-word record of meetings, so this says what was decided and why. Read the official papers to be sure.

1. 2

   Disclosure of Personal and Prejudicial Interests

   Minute

   None

2. 3

   Prohibition of Whipped Votes and Declaration of Party Whips

   Minute

   None

3. 4

   Public Questions

   Minute

   No public questions were received.

4. 5

   Cost of Living Scrutiny Inquiry - Strategic Overview

   Minute

   Jane Whitmore and Anthony Richards (Tackling Poverty, Social Services) attended to provide the Panel with a strategic overview on the subject, which served as an introduction to this inquiry topic. A written report had been submitted which gave background information the strategic context for Swansea in relation to cost of living and tackling poverty. The Strategic Overview assisted the Panel to help inform the focus for the Panel’s Scrutiny inquiry. The report and the discussion arising will form part of the Inquiry Findings Report and this will be brought back to the Panel at the end of the evidence gathering phase of the inquiry. It will then be considered alongside all the other evidence gathered when discussing and agreeing the Inquiry conclusions and recommendations.

   Papers: Cost of Living Scrutiny Inquiry Feb 2026 Report
5. 6

   Discuss and agree the Draft Inquiry Terms of Reference and Project Plan

   Minute

   The Panel discussed the focus of the Inquiry and agreed the Inquiry Terms of Reference, Integrated Impact Assessment and the Call for Evidence. They also discussed the Project Plan, which will develop as the inquiry progresses. The dates of the first two evidence gathering sessions with Social Services and the Education Directorates were noted. The Panel agreed that they to like to speak to a number of organisations and individual as part of the inquiry including as a start: Welfare Rights Revenue and Benefits Swansea Council for Voluntary Service Employment Support People Plus Cooking initiatives Carers Centre Citizens Advice Credit Union, banks and alternatives to unregulated loans Food Banks and related initiatives Members of the public visiting and attending some of these services.

   Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

   Papers: 02 - Project PlanDraft, 01 - Cost of living INQUIRY TERMS OF REFERENCE, Cost of Living Scrutiny Inquiry IIA_screening_form_based on TOR, Call for evidence, Report - TOR etc

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.

• Lyndon Jones MBE, ChairConservativePresent
• Adam Davis, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies
• Allan Jeffery, Committee MemberLiberal DemocratPresent
• Jeff Jones, Committee MemberLiberal DemocratPresent
• Joe Hale, Committee MemberIndependentAbsent
• Lynda James, Committee MemberIndependentSent apologies
• Mair Baker, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Michael Locke, Committee MemberLiberal DemocratPresent
• Nicola Furlong, Committee MemberLiberal DemocratPresent
• Oliver James, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Susan Jones, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Tony Fitzgerald, Committee MemberIndependents@SwanseaAbsent

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