Scrutiny Inquiry Panel - Cost of Living

The Scrutiny Inquiry Panel on the Cost of Living heard evidence from Swansea Council for Voluntary Service (SCVS), with Amanda Carr attending and Cabinet Member Alyson Anthony also present. The questions covered rising living costs, demand on voluntary groups, gaps in support, partnership working and the Poverty Truth Commission. The minute records no decisions, and the discussion will feed into the Panel's findings report.

1. Evidence from Swansea Council for Voluntary Service

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   The inquiry is looking at the cost of living, and SCVS was identified as a key stakeholder. Scrutiny means councillors examining the council's work. The minute says the report and discussion will form part of the Inquiry Findings Report. That report will return to the Panel at the end of evidence gathering and will be considered with all other evidence before the Panel agrees its conclusions and recommendations.

   Based on the minutes, Cover CoL SIP report 20 Jul 2026 SCVS

2. Inquiry project plan and next meeting

   Decided

   The minute records that the next meeting will take place on 23 September at 10.30am.

   Why

   The project plan sets out the inquiry's evidence sessions. The next session, on 23 September, is with the Department for Work and Pensions.

   Based on the minutes, 02 - Cost of Living Inquiry Project Plan as at 30 Jun 26

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

   Minutes of the 1 and 29 June were agreed as a correct record.

   Papers: Minutes CoL SIP 22 June 2026 Revs and Bens, CoL SIP 29 June 2026 Minutes
4. 5

   Public Questions

   Minute

   No public questions were received.

5. 6

   Cost of Living Scrutiny Inquiry - Swansea Council for Voluntary Service (SCVS)

   Minute

   The Director of Swansea Council for Voluntary Service, Swansea Amanda Carr attended the meeting to discuss a set of questions the Panel sent to her in advance of the meeting. Also in attendance was the Cabinet Member Alyson Anthony. 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.

   Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

   Papers: Cover CoL SIP report 20 Jul 2026 SCVS
6. 7

   Inquiry Project Plan

   Minute

   The next meeting will take place on the 23 September at 10.30am.

   Part of an issue followed across 10 meetings

   Papers: 02 - Cost of Living Inquiry Project Plan as at 30 Jun 26

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 DemocratPresent
• Joe Hale, Committee MemberIndependentSent apologies
• Lynda James, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Mair Baker, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Michael Locke, Committee MemberLiberal DemocratSent apologies
• Nicola Furlong, Committee MemberLiberal DemocratSent apologies
• Oliver James, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies
• Susan Jones, Committee MemberIndependentAbsent
• Tony Fitzgerald, Committee MemberIndependents@SwanseaSent apologies

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