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There is no summary of this meeting yet. Summaries are written once the council publishes the minutes, which are its official record of what a meeting decided. They usually appear a few weeks after the meeting.
In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, no interests were declared.
In accordance with the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011, no declarations of Whipped Votes or Party Whips were declared.
Resolved that the Minutes of the Scrutiny Programme Committees held on 14 April and 21 May 2026 be approved and signed as correct records.
There were no public questions.
The Chair presented the report to ensure that everyone was clear about the role of the Committee, being the first meeting of the municipal year. Committee agreement was sought to continue the co-option of Performance Panel Conveners not already on the Committee, for the year ahead. The report also encouraged Committee discussion about effective working. Resolved that: 1) The co-option of Scrutiny Performance Panels conveners to the Committee be renewed.
The Chair referred to the political group changes that had altered the balance of the Committee during 2025/6 and subsequent co-option of Councillor Peter May for that municipal year. Following a request from Councillor Peter May, the Committee was asked to appoint him as a non-voting Co-opted Member of the Scrutiny Programme Committee for the 2026-2027 Municipal year. This would enable Councillor Peter May to continue to contribute to the Committee. Resolved that Councillor Peter May be appointed as a non-voting co-opted Member for the 2026-27 municipal year.
Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings
The Cabinet Member for Community (Services) assisted by Officers provided a 12‑month update on progress since the Tree Services Scrutiny Working Group in May 2025, which the Committee was responsible for following up on agreed action(s) and developments. The Cabinet Member’s report concluded that the service remained stable, operating in line with the Council's Tree Management Strategy, with improvements evident in several areas despite ongoing resource pressures. Committee questioning and discussions focused on: • Backlog and Resourcing – Committee Members noted a positive trend, with long-outstanding design works reduced by approximately 45%. Despite ongoing pressures from storm damage/tree disease, more historic work was being completed, although lower-priority works may still face lengthy waiting times. • Service Capacity and Resilience – The Committee heard that there had been increased investment over the previous 12 months, including two additional tree surgeon posts and two vehicles which had resulted in the service now operating at full capacity. Challenges remained, including recruitment to specialist arborist posts, severe weather, ash dieback and Dutch elm disease. • Coordination Across Services – Officers advised that coordination was positive, although there remained scope for improvement. Earlier engagement enabled Tree Services to comment on schemes affecting trees, species selection, planting locations and future maintenance responsibilities. Examples included Copr Bay, the Mumbles public realm scheme, the emerging Skyline programme, City Centre and regeneration schemes. • Legacy Issues, Footways and Stump Removal – Officers advised that responsibilities were clear, although better coordination was needed where issues overlapped. Tree Services and Highways worked closely together. Officers were not aware of any significant trend regarding claims for personal injury from tree root damage to pavements, but noted that the data from any footway claims from members of the public would sit with Highways. • Planning Enforcement and Developer Accountability – The Committee heard that discussions take place providing early technical advice on species, locations and long-term maintenance. Examples included advising the respective developers at Pentrehafod and Pontarddulais. • Tree Planting Delivery and Readiness – It was reported that the annual tree planting target had been exceeded, with 341 trees planted in 2025/26 against a target of 300 which was close to current capacity, although the service remained confident it could continue delivering at around the existing target level. Officers advised that tree height would only be considered where there was a safety issue, and that specialist advice was needed because interventions could create future maintenance cycles and increase risk over time. • Community Involvement – Committee Members noted that community involvement made a valuable contribution to tree planting and the Service had benefited from trees donated by Council staff. There could be scope to expand this type of participation, provided it could be delivered safely and appropriately. • Policy Approach and Consistency – The Committee heard that the Tree Management Strategy supported consistent and transparent decision-making through clear protocols and published criteria, while allowing individual circumstances to be considered where appropriate. Decisions would be clearly communicated to residents, including the reasons for supporting or refusing requests. The Chair thanked the Cabinet Member for Community (Services) and praised the Tree Services Department, recognising it as an excellent and valuable service, and thanked officers for their continued work. Resolved that the Chair write to the Cabinet Member for Community (Services) reflecting the discussion and sharing the views of the Committee.
The Cabinet Member for Education & Learning and Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Culture, Human Rights & Equalities assisted by the Corporate Planning and Performance Manager, presented the Welsh Language Scheme Annual Report 2025-2026. The report provided a summary of the activities relating to Welsh Standards within the financial year ending 31st March 2026; including new projects and activities during the year. Committee questioning and discussions focussed on the following: • Welsh-medium Early Years Promotion - The Committee noted that the work aimed to raise awareness among parents, address misconceptions and emphasise that Welsh-medium education is open to all parents in Swansea. The Council was working with partners to promote Welsh-medium early years opportunities and the approach was progressing positively and aligned with the agreed strategy. The Council continued to monitor take-up while also working with external providers. • Workforce Capacity and Recruitment – The Committee noted that the reduction in Welsh-speaking staff was likely due to workforce turnover and that the Council continued to encourage staff to learn Welsh and strengthen Welsh-language capacity. Staff participation in Welsh-language learning had increased and identification of posts where Welsh-language skills should be desirable or required was on-going. A question was raised about whether the Council worked with Welsh-medium comprehensive schools to encourage pupils to consider Council careers. • Welsh Language Training - The Committee noted an increase in Welsh-language training activity, with participation rising from 35 to 55 compared with the previous year. Training participation, learner progression and staff willingness to use Welsh at work were being monitored. The Council was encouraging practical use of Welsh alongside formal training, Welsh-language champions, intranet resources, internal communications and opportunities for staff to use Welsh socially and in day-to-day workplace settings. Funding had been secured for a bespoke Welsh tutor for Swansea Council, with promotion already underway for the next course intake in September. The need to compare the Council’s Welsh-language learning provision with other local authorities and the wider Welsh for Adults offer was highlighted along with greater emphasis on supporting staff beyond introductory learning. The Committee queried the availability of intensive residential Welsh-language courses. • Awareness and Compliance - The Committee discussed work to strengthen awareness and compliance with the Welsh Language Standards. Committee Members were advised that the Council’s induction process had been updated to include the Welsh language more fully, with supporting staff guidance, intranet information and mandatory training also reviewed. Staff survey results showed high awareness overall, although a slight reduction among frontline staff which would be addressed through targeted future promotion. Compliance continued to be monitored through the Council’s annual Welsh-language self-assessment. • Translation Capacity – Officers reported a slight reduction in translation activity compared with the previous year. This was due to the end of the service level agreement with Neath Port Talbot, which meant the Translation Unit was now operating as a Swansea-only service with one fewer member of staff. Monitoring would continue in relation to internal demand. The use of translation technology was discussed and it was emphasised that the technology was being tested carefully and would not replace professional translators, with human review remaining essential to ensure quality, accuracy, style and clarity. • Integrated Impact Assessments – The Officer reported on the review of the integrated impact assessment process, which had been updated following issues raised the previous year. The revised process was more explicit and revised guidance had also been produced. • Demand for Welsh-language Services - The Committee discussed increasing demand for Welsh-language services. Annual Report and Self Assessment was used to support workforce planning, targeting recruitment and prioritising training, service design and resources. The monitoring of demand across calls and social media was highlighted. • Complaints and Learning – Officers reported that the six Welsh Language Standards complaints received during 2025-26, covered issues such as telephone arrangements, English responses to Welsh-language correspondence, signage and forms. Officers detailed the improvements made to reduce the risk of similar issues happening again. The Chair thanked the Cabinet Member for Education & Learning, the Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Culture, Human Rights & Equalities and the Corporate Planning and Performance Manager for their input. Resolved that the Chair write to the Cabinet Member for Education & Learning and Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Culture, Human Rights & Equalities reflecting the discussion and sharing the views of the Committee.
The Chair welcomed Councillor Mary Jones, Convenor, Climate Change & Nature who provided the Committee with a progress report on the work / activities of the Climate Change & Nature Scrutiny Performance Panel. Resolved that the progress report be noted.
The Committee was asked to approve changes to the membership of the following Scrutiny bodies: Education Performance Panel – ADD Cllr Hannah Williams Resolved that the changes detailed be approved.
The Chair referred to the following letters, reflecting on recent Scrutiny activity: • Working Group – Street Scene – 2 February 2026 – Letter to / from Cabinet Members for Community (Services) and Environment and Infrastructure. • Working Group – Heritage Protection & Restoration – 12 March 2026 – Letter to / from Cabinet Members for Culture, Human Rights & Equalities and Deliver. • Committee – Parking Policy, Control & Enforcement – 17 March 2026 – Letter to / from Cabinet Member for Environment & Infrastructure. • Committee – School Transport – 17 March 2026 – Letter to Cabinet Members for Education & Learning and Environment & Infrastructure. • Committee – Pre-decision Scrutiny of Culture Strategy 2026-31 – 14 April 2026 – Letter to Cabinet Member for Culture, Human Rights & Equalities. • Committee – Crime & Disorder Scrutiny (Safer Swansea Partnership) – 14 April 2026 – Letter to Joint Chairs, Safer Swansea Community Safety Partnership. • Working Group – Public Toilets – 22 April 2026 – Letter to / from Cabinet Member for Community (Services). • Community Assets Inquiry Panel (follow up) – 27 April 2026 – Letter to Cabinet Member for Economy, Finance & Strategy.
The Chair stated that following consultation, including the recent Scrutiny Work Planning Conference, the report contained a proposed Work Programme for the year ahead. The Draft Work Programme showed the proposed Inquiry Panel and Working Groups that would be established for the year ahead, Performance Panel arrangements, and topics which the Committee itself will lead on. A Draft plan for future Committee meetings was also shown. The Work Programme document also showed the coverage of topics across Cabinet portfolios and links to Council priorities (Corporate Well-being Objectives), which were important considerations. He stated that proposals were also guided by the fact that this was the final year of the Council Term, with the work of Scrutiny effectively needing to be concluded by the end of March 2027 ahead of Council elections. He highlighted the following: • In-depth Inquiry Panel – There is capacity to support 1 in-depth Inquiry per year. The current Inquiry on ‘Cost of Living’ will continue through the remainder of 2026 with a view to producing final report by January 2027. As such we no further inquiry topic has been identified. • One-off Working Groups – There are 4 topics listed as Working Groups, i.e. single-meetings to be delivered one-at-a-time. The ‘Taxi Services’ meeting was planned for May but had to be cancelled and took place on 1 July. ‘Business Support’ has been rolled over from 2025-26 and is planned for September. A further two topics have been identified: one on ‘Digital Services’ and the other on ‘Highways Maintenance’. • Performance Panel arrangements would be unchanged from last year. Each Performance Panel will have its own work plan, developed by the Convener / Members and agreed by the Panel, however the Programme showed some of the topics which should be considered within their work plans. Subject to agreement, expressions of interest would then be sought from Scrutiny Councillors to participate in new Scrutiny activities, and reported back to the Committee. He referred to the next Committee meeting, taking place on 15 September, and arrangements would be made for the Committee to focus on: • Welsh Housing Quality Standards Programme - Annual Update • Follow Up: Scrutiny Working Group - Empty Properties • Pre-decision Scrutiny of Cabinet Report – Public Space Protection Order Scheme (currently listed for 16 Sep Cabinet) Resolved that: 1) The Scrutiny Work Programme for 2026/27 including Inquiry topic, Performance Panel arrangements, and Working Group topic priorities be approved. 2) The Committee Work Plan for 2026/27 be approved.
The Chair referred upcoming Panel/Working Group/Regional Scrutiny meetings, for awareness.
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