Scrutiny Inquiry Panel - Cost of Living

The Scrutiny Inquiry Panel on Cost of Living met on 28 April 2026. Cabinet Members and Social Services officers briefed the Panel on how the cost of living affects adult and child services, and the Panel agreed to visit a primary school to look at how it reduces the cost of the school day. Scrutiny is the process by which councillors examine the council's work.

1. Social Services and the cost of living

   Decided

   The minute records no vote. It states that the report and the discussion will form part of the Inquiry Findings Report, which will return to the Panel at the end of the evidence gathering phase and be considered with all other evidence before conclusions and recommendations are agreed.

   Why

   The report briefs the Panel on how the cost of living affects Social Services, and officers said it is anecdotally more common across adult services, which did not record people's finances before 1 April 2026. Officers said Child and Family Services see high and more complex demand, but cannot yet link this directly to the cost of living because financial hardship is not recorded as a referral reason, and they are exploring LIFT (Low Income Family Tracker). The report also describes Early Help in all wards, through five locality Early Help Hubs, the council website and its Common Access Point.

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

2. Visit to Craigfelen Primary School

   Decided

   The Panel agreed to visit Craigfelen Primary School, alongside the Education Scrutiny Performance Panel, to discuss how the school minimises the cost of the school day.

   Why

   The project plan lists evidence sessions, including a visit to a primary school with good practice on this topic, tentatively planned for July with the date to be confirmed. The minute does not give a reason for choosing Craigfelen Primary School.

   Based on the minutes, 02 - Cost of Living Inquiry Project Plan as at 6 Mar

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 - Social Services Directorate (including Poverty and Prevention Aspects)

   Minute

   Cabinet Members Cllrs Louise Gibbard and Hayley Gwilliam Officers along with Officers: Jane Whitmore (Chief Officer - Commissioning and Resources), Anthony Richards (Tackling Poverty Development Manager), Amy Hawkins (Head of Adult Services) and Julie Davies (Head of Child and Family Services) attended the meeting and provided a comprehensive report addressing a set of key questions sent to them in advance. 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 April 2026 Report
5. 6

   Inquiry Project Plan

   Minute

   The Panel agreed to make a visit to Craigfelen Primary School alongside the Education Scrutiny Performance Panel to discuss how they minimise the cost of the school day.

   Part of an issue followed across 10 meetings

   Papers: 02 - Cost of Living Inquiry Project Plan as at 6 Mar

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 MemberLabourPresent
• Allan Jeffery, Committee MemberLiberal DemocratPresent
• Hayley Gwilliam, Community RepresentativeLabourPresent
• Jeff Jones, Committee MemberLiberal DemocratPresent
• Joe Hale, Committee MemberIndependentAbsent
• Louise Gibbard, Community RepresentativeLabourPresent
• Lynda James, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Mair Baker, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Michael Locke, Committee MemberLiberal DemocratPresent
• Nicola Furlong, Committee MemberLiberal DemocratPresent
• Oliver James, Committee MemberLabourAbsent
• Susan Jones, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Tony Fitzgerald, Committee MemberIndependents@SwanseaAbsent

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