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The Scrutiny Programme Committee met on 15 September 2026. It considered progress on the Welsh Housing Quality Standard, a follow-up on the Empty Properties working group, and a pre-decision review of a proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO, a council order that lets officers act against certain behaviour in a set area) for the city centre, beachfront and Dyfatty. It also approved its Annual Report for 2025/26 and changes to panel and working group membership. The Committee agreed to write to Cabinet Members, ended formal monitoring of the Empty Properties working group, and agreed that the Chair would attend Cabinet on 16 September to share its views on the PSPO.
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.
Decision as recorded
Resolved that the Minutes of the Scrutiny Programme Committees held on 14 July and 29 July 2026 be approved and signed as correct records.
Resolved that the Minutes of the Scrutiny Programme Committees held on 14 July and 29 July 2026 be approved and signed as correct records.
There were no public questions.
Decision as recorded
Resolved that: 1) the Chair write to the Cabinet Member for Transformation reflecting the discussion and sharing the views of the Committee.
The Cabinet Member for Transformation assisted by the Housing Planning and Delivery Manager provided an update on Welsh Housing Quality Standard 2023. It was highlighted that delivery of the Standard remained constrained by the scale of Swansea’s housing stock and available resources. Committee questioning and discussions focussed on: • Funding Constraints: The Committee heard the significant financial, practical and delivery challenges involved in meeting the Welsh Housing Quality Standard 2023. Key issues included the estimated cost of over £900 million, limited Housing Revenue Account resources, delivery capacity, and competing repair and compliance pressures. • Government Engagement: It was reported that Officers continue to discuss financial and practical challenges with the Welsh Government and WLGA. Removing the fixed SAP 92 deadline was welcomed for allowing more flexible investment planning. Further discussions with the Cabinet Secretary are expected in November/December, with sector partners anticipated to support some flexibility while maintaining high-quality housing objectives. • Investment Prioritisation: Officers stated that improvement works are prioritised using stock-condition data, around 3,500 independent Watts surveys covering 25% of stock, repairs and servicing information and tenant feedback. The Council targets the poorest-condition properties first, recognising that insulation and ventilation may improve comfort and energy efficiency even without visible change. • Energy Efficiency Pathways: The Committee noted that the Housing Service must develop an energy pathway for each property by 2027, showing how it could progress toward SAP 92 and timescales. New software will support this analysis, with potential measures including solar panels, battery storage and air-source heat pumps. Renewable-energy investment is estimated at £180–£200 million over ten years, with affordability, suitability, market capacity, maintenance and replacement costs as key barriers. Some properties may not reach SAP 92. • Repairs and Compliance Risks: Officers reported the key risks over the next two to three years included limited budgets, high repair demand, rising material and delivery costs, workforce capacity and new legislation, including the Building Safety Wales Act and heat-network regulations. The Council is assessing requirements, seeking legal advice, piloting fire-risk assessments and supporting an all-Wales local-authority working group. An APSE review and potential digital systems will help improve repair-cost, duration and performance data. The Chair thanked the Cabinet Member for Transformation and the Officer for their input. Resolved that: 1) the Chair write to the Cabinet Member for Transformation reflecting the discussion and sharing the views of the Committee.
Decision as recorded
Resolved that: 1) the Chair write to the Cabinet Member for Transformation reflecting the discussion and sharing the views of the Committee. 2) Formal monitoring of the Empty Properties Working Group will be concluded. 3) a list of Housing Department partner organisations be provided to Committee Members so they can identify contacts and follow up on partnership activity.
The Cabinet Member for Transformation assisted by the Divisional Environmental Health Officer and Technical Officer (Housing and Public Health) reported progress in response to the Empty Properties Scrutiny Working Group originally held in March 2025 in relation to using genealogy services, leasing schemes, grants, partnerships and acquisitions to return empty properties to use, while identifying limited staffing and complex eligibility rules as continuing constraints. Committee questioning and discussions focused on: • Genealogy Service: Officers reported on work with the data controller, legal team and Freedom of Information Officer which had resulted in agreements with two providers and training had been delivered in March 2026. The Service has since been used nine times to locate next of kin, helping avoid delays and property deterioration where owners have died or entered care. • Leasing Scheme: It was reported that the Council has signed up to the Welsh Government Private-Sector Leasing Scheme and is working with Welsh Government on its development with a view to taking properties on during this year. Potential financial implications remain under consideration. Officers advised that properties would need to meet relevant fitness and housing requirements, and confirmed that further information would be provided in writing regarding the types of properties eligible for the scheme. • Tax And Grant Measures: The Committee heard that the 200% council-tax premium helps incentivise empty-property occupation. From April 2026, Class F probate properties get two years to resolve probate or obtain administration letters before council tax applies from April 2028. The National Empty Homes Grant offers up to £25,000 for properties empty and unfurnished for at least one year, provided the applicant lives there for five years; it is repayable if they move sooner. The unfurnished rule can exclude deceased-estate purchases where furniture remains late in the sale. • Resource Constraints: It was reported that limited staffing means much of the empty-property work is reactive. To maximise officer time, the service publishes information online, uses standard responses for common enquiries, and has replaced annual mailshots with increased use of website information. Officers also undertook to provide a written update on the implementation of business rates avoidance measures. • Wider Housing Supply: The Committee noted that empty-property recovery forms form part of wider housing supply work, including acquisitions, former right-to-buy buybacks, housing association delivery, new builds, social housing grant and Section 106 properties. The Council also works with housing associations to convert underused buildings into social housing. • Partnership Working: The Council works with South Wales Police, the fire service, arson-reduction team, hospitals, Welsh Government, West Wales Empty Property Working Group, housing associations and community organisations. Welsh Government provides a handbook and empty-property consultant for complex cases, while regular housing association engagement supports conversion schemes. The Chair thanked the Cabinet Member for Transformation and Officers for their continued work. Resolved that: 1) the Chair write to the Cabinet Member for Transformation reflecting the discussion and sharing the views of the Committee. 2) Formal monitoring of the Empty Properties Working Group will be concluded. 3) a list of Housing Department partner organisations be provided to Committee Members so they can identify contacts and follow up on partnership activity.
Decision as recorded
Resolved that: 1) the Chair attend Cabinet on 16 September 2026 to formally feedback on Scrutiny views on the Cabinet report / proposed decision for Cabinet’s attention, in line with a letter that will be sent following the meeting, which Cabinet must consider ahead of its decision-making.
The Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, assisted by the City Centre Manager, outlined the proposed renewal and expansion of Swansea’s Public Space Protection Order which would be considered by Cabinet on 16 September 2026. Committee questioning and discussions in carrying out Pre-decision Scrutiny focused on the following: • Proposed Expansion: The Officer reported that the proposed order would extend beyond the City Centre to include the beachfront and Dyfatty. The evidence base drew on operational intelligence, anti-social behaviour reports, partner feedback, public consultation, community-safety activity and experience of the current order. The beachfront experiences recurring seasonal alcohol-related disorder, public nuisance and youth annoyance, while Dyfatty has longer-standing crime, anti-social behaviour and vulnerability concerns linked to the Building a Better Dyfatty Clear Hold Build programme. • Success Measures: The Office stated that the multi-agency PSPO implementation group would oversee performance and report through the Safer Swansea Partnership. Measures would cover anti-social behaviour and community-safety trends, warnings, dispersals, confiscations, fixed-penalty notices, safeguarding referrals, signposting, outreach, repeat individuals and locations, complaints, stakeholder feedback, community confidence and possible displacement. • Displacement Monitoring: The Committee noted from the officer that there was no clear evidence that the existing order had displaced behaviour into the beachfront or Dyfatty. Attribution was difficult because building uses, police operations, engagement initiatives and support services may all affect behaviour. The expanded order would allow partners to compare activity across zones and monitor neighbouring communities. • Safeguarding Approach: Officers would use signposting and referrals at engagement, welfare checks, multi-agency safeguarding pathways and the Street Vulnerability Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) to assess needs and coordinate interventions. Trauma-informed, safeguarding-led practice would precede enforcement where appropriate, supported by consistent procedures and training from the existing city-centre scheme. • Operational Arrangements: The Officer stated that the Council would build on existing arrangements rather than create a new model. The implementation group would expand, procedures and IT systems would be updated, administrative services would manage fixed-penalty notices and legal colleagues would support escalated cases. Lisa Wells acknowledged that the wider area and additional powers would increase demands on existing resources. • Lessons And Powers: The Committee heard that the existing Order highlighted the value of partnership intelligence sharing, clear repeat-behaviour provisions, stronger guidance and officer training. The revised Order would add dispersal powers and a condition on irresponsible or dangerous riding, creating an escalation route from warning to confiscation or dispersal and, where appropriate, a fixed-penalty notice, with safeguarding underpinning the process. • Stakeholder Engagement: The Officer stated that South Wales Police contributed to revised conditions, enforcement arrangements, boundaries and training through headquarters, neighbourhood, community-safety and licensing representatives. Swansea BID and Swansea Against Business Crime provided business feedback. Following approval, the Council would update its website and signs, install signage in new areas, use Council and partner communications, and brief BID, problem-solving groups, residents, businesses and visitors. • Formal Review: The implementation group would monitor the order throughout its three-year term using intervention data, safeguarding information, complaints, stakeholder feedback, intelligence on prolific individuals and displacement indicators. A formal review (3 years) would determine whether the Order should continue or be amended. The Chair thanked the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families and Officers for their input. Resolved that: 1) the Chair attend Cabinet on 16 September 2026 to formally feedback on Scrutiny views on the Cabinet report / proposed decision for Cabinet’s attention, in line with a letter that will be sent following the meeting, which Cabinet must consider ahead of its decision-making.
Decision as recorded
Resolved that: 1) The Scrutiny Annual Report 2025/26 be approved and submitted to Council on 1 October 2026.
The Chair presented the Scrutiny Annual Report 2025/26. The Chair highlighted a few aspects including the 70% engagement from backbench Councillors in Scrutiny, continued good performance against scrutiny indicators, and positive feedback from those involved in the Scrutiny process. Resolved that: 1) The Scrutiny Annual Report 2025/26 be approved and submitted to Council on 1 October 2026.
Decision as recorded
Resolved that the progress report be noted.
The Chair welcomed Councillor Lyndon Jones, Convenor, Education who provided the Committee with a progress report on the work / activities of the Education Scrutiny Performance Panel. Resolved that the progress report be noted.
Decision as recorded
Resolved that the changes detailed be approved.
The Committee was asked to approve changes to the membership of the following Scrutiny bodies: • Child & Family Services Performance Panel – ADD Councillors Mair Baker and Adam Davis. • Adult Services Performance Panel – ADD Councillors Mair Baker and Adam Davis. • Business Support Working Group – Councillor Mark Tribe now acting as Convener • Business Support Working Group – ADD Councillor Mair Baker. The Committee noted that since the last meeting on 14 July the following Performance Panels have met and confirmed their Panel Convener for 2026/27: • Adult Services, 21 July – Cllr Susan Jones • Climate Change & Nature, 28 July - Cllr Mary Jones Having agreed a Scrutiny Work Programme for 2026/27 expressions of interest were sought from all Scrutiny Councillors to participate in new work. This was reported back to the Committee for approval. The Committee was asked to approve the membership of the new Working Group as shown in the report: • Highways Maintenance – 11 Members (Cllr Peter May in addition to the reported names) with Cllr Mike White as convener Further interest will be invited for the new Digital Services Working Group as there is still room for a few more Councillors to get involved; and will be reported back to the SPC in due course. Resolved that the changes detailed be approved.
The Chair referred to the following letters, reflecting on recent Scrutiny activity: • Working Group – Taxi Servies – 1 July 2026 – Letter to / from Cabinet Member for Investment & Delivery. • Committee – Follow Up: Scrutiny Working Group – Tree Servies – 14 July 2026 – Letter to Cabinet Member for Community – Services • Committee – Scrutiny of Welsh Language Standards Annual Report – 17 March 2026 – Letter to / from Cabinet Members for Education & Learning and Culture, Human Rights & Equalities.
The Chair referred to the agreed Work Programme for 2026/27 which also included in the papers the agreed work plans for the 5 Scrutiny Performance Panels. Additionally, the topics which the Council’s Service Transformation Committees were also included. The main item for the next Committee meeting 13 October included: • Follow Up - Independent Drugs Commission Report (Neath Port Talbot & Swansea Drug and Alcohol Leadership Board) • Pre-decision Scrutiny of Cabinet Report: FPR7 – Bascule Bridge
The Chair referred upcoming Panel/Working Group/Regional Scrutiny meetings, for awareness.
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