Scrutiny Inquiry Panel - Cost of Living

The Scrutiny Inquiry Panel on the Cost of Living heard a report from the council's Welfare Rights and Financial Inclusion Team on rising demand for its advice. The report is for information, and the minute records no decision on it. The Panel also noted its next evidence session, with Revenue and Benefits Services on 22 June.

1. Welfare Rights and Financial Inclusion: cost-of-living impacts

   Decided

   The minute records no decision. It says the report and the discussion will form part of the Inquiry Findings Report, which the Panel will consider at the end of the evidence gathering phase.

   Why

   The report, from team managers Jane Storer and Nick Jones, says demand for the team's advice has kept rising over the past two years, with more disability benefit appeals, Universal Credit problems and rent and fuel debt cases. It says working households are now asking for help for the first time, and that some residents wait 18 to 24 months for an appeal hearing. The team works by referral only, so residents usually come through a professional or a councillor.

   Based on the minutes, Scrutiny Report - WRFI Team Cost of Living Impacts FINAL

2. Inquiry project plan and next session

   Decided

   The minute records no decision on the plan. It records only that the next meeting will take place on 22 June at 4pm with Revenue and Benefits Services, on MS Teams.

   Why

   The project plan, dated 6 March, lists the evidence sessions. It shows the Revenue and Benefits session on both 11 May and 22 June 2026, while the minute gives only 22 June.

   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

   Minutes

   Minute

   The minutes of the 13 April 2026 and 28 April 2026 where agreed as a correct record.

   Papers: Minutes Cost of Living Inquiry 11 Feb 2026, Minutes CoL SIP 13 Apr 2026
4. 5

   Public Questions

   Minute

   No public questions were received.

5. 6

   Cost of Living Scrutiny Inquiry - Welfare Rights

   Minute

   Cabinet Member Alyson Anthony and Officers: Anthony Richards (Tackling Poverty Development ManagerJane Storer & Nick Jones (Welfare Rights and Financial Inclusion Team Managers) 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: Scrutiny Report - WRFI Team Cost of Living Impacts FINAL
6. 7

   Inquiry Project Plan

   Minute

   The next meeting will take place on 22 June at 4pm with Revenue and Benefits Services and will be held via MS Teams.

   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 MemberLabourSent apologies
• Allan Jeffery, Committee MemberLiberal DemocratPresent
• Alyson Anthony, Community RepresentativeLabourPresent
• Jeff Jones, Committee MemberLiberal DemocratSent apologies
• Joe Hale, Committee MemberIndependentSent apologies
• 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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