Scrutiny committees question the Cabinet's plans and decisions and can ask them to think again. More in the guide
The Scrutiny Inquiry Panel on Cost of Living met on 28 April 2026. Scrutiny is the process by which councillors examine the council's work.
The Community Assets Scrutiny Inquiry Panel met on 27 April 2026 to review what has changed since its inquiry into community asset transfer (CAT), the process by which the Council hands land or buildings to community groups. The minute records that the Panel agreed to sign off the inquiry as complete. The Panel's views are set out in a letter to the Cabinet Member dated 15 May 2026.
The Public Toilets Scrutiny Working Group met on 22 April 2026 to hear a report on the Public Toilet Strategy from Cllr Cyril Anderson, Cabinet Member for Community (Services), and officers. Scrutiny means councillors questioning and checking the Cabinet's work. The minute records no decision on the report itself, but the group agreed nine conclusions and recommendations for the Cabinet Member on opening times, signs, closures, faults and funding. In a reply dated 18 May 2026, the Cabinet Member said that the recommendations on shorter opening windows and on using staff from other services were not feasible, and that paid toilets were not being progressed.
The Education Scrutiny Performance Panel met on 16 April 2026 to discuss three items: an Estyn letter on a February 2026 visit to Swansea's secondary schools and Welsh-medium education, the council's additional learning needs (ALN) reform programme, and its capital programme for new and improved schools. The minutes record discussion only and no decisions.
The Scrutiny Programme Committee met on 14 April 2026. It received progress reports on the Safer Swansea Community Safety Partnership and the Education Scrutiny Performance Panel, and gave pre-decision scrutiny (checking a proposal before the Cabinet decides) on the draft Culture Strategy 2026-2031, which Cabinet considers on 16 April. The Committee also reviewed its 2025/26 year, and the minutes record that the Chair will write letters to the Cabinet Member for Culture and to the Joint Chairs of the Safer Swansea Partnership.
On 14 April 2026 the Scrutiny Performance Panel considered the council's Quarter 3 corporate performance report for 2025/26 and the annual report on Swansea's libraries against the Welsh Public Library Standards for 2024/25. The minutes record no formal decisions on either item. The Panel asked questions, requested further information and raised concerns about the Burry Inlet, the Medium Term Financial Plan and ageing library buildings.
The Scrutiny Inquiry Panel on the Cost of Living met on 13 April 2026. Education officers and the Cabinet Member for Education and Learning gave a briefing, based on a written report, on how the cost of living affects pupils, families and schools. The Panel also noted progress with its project plan and agreed it would like to visit a school that is good at reducing the cost of the school day. No conclusions were reached, as the evidence gathering is still under way.
The Climate Change and Nature Scrutiny Performance Panel met on 24 March 2026 to hear two updates: progress on the Council's Section 6 biodiversity duty action plan, and the annual air quality report. The minutes record no decisions, but they list three actions for the Council to provide in writing after the meeting.
The Scrutiny Programme Committee questioned the Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure on parking policy, control and enforcement, and Cabinet Members on school transport. It noted progress reports from two scrutiny performance panels, approved a membership change to one working group, and reviewed the work programme and recent letters. The Chair will write to Cabinet Members with the Committee's views on parking and school transport.
The Working Group met on 12 March 2026 to consider how Swansea Council protects and restores empty heritage assets, including listed buildings at risk and scheduled monuments. The minutes record six conclusions and recommendations for the Cabinet Members, including a request that the Big Apple in Mumbles be treated as an urgent priority. The Convener wrote to the Cabinet Members on 26 March, and they replied on 16 April 2026.
On 10 March 2026 the Scrutiny Performance Panel, a group of councillors that checks the council's work, considered two reports: an update on regeneration achievements and the annual recycling performance report. The minutes record no formal decisions, but the Panel asked for further information on several points, including Pride of Place governance, the economic impact figure for the Kingsway development, and missed bin collection data. One councillor declared a personal interest in the recycling item.
The Panel received a briefing on young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), and on those at risk of becoming NEET. Cabinet Members and officers from education and social services gave information on Swansea's position, the support available, and its strengths and challenges. The minutes record no decision; the Panel's views are set out in a letter to the Cabinet Members dated 9 March 2026.
The Panel considered an inspection of the Western Bay Adoption Service, the December 2025 performance report and an update on the Child and Family Improvement Programme. The minute records two decisions: a review of residential property purchases was added to the work plan, and officers will report on the inspection at the next meeting.
The committee questioned Cabinet Members and officers on three items: the annual report on the Tackling Poverty and Enabling Communities priority, progress on the Workforce Strategy, and a one-year follow-up on agile working. It also agreed two membership changes to scrutiny working groups. For the first three items, the committee resolved that the Chair write to the relevant Cabinet Member with its views. Three letter items on the agenda have no published minutes.
The Scrutiny Performance Panel for Service Improvement, Regeneration and Finance reviewed the draft annual budget and the quarter 3 budget monitoring before Cabinet considers them on 19 February 2026. The minute records points discussed but no Panel decision. The Panel then wrote to the Leader on 18 February with its views, asking for written replies on several savings by 4 March.
On 16 February 2026 the Scrutiny Performance Panel (Joint Social Services) at Swansea Council considered draft budget proposals for Adult Services and Child and Family Services for 2026-27. The Panel agreed its views and recommendations to pass to Cabinet, welcoming the proposed budget rise but raising concerns about savings, moving services in-house, residential care fees, grant funding, unpaid carers and local provision for young people. The Convener of the Service Improvement, Regeneration and Finance Panel will attend Cabinet on 19 February to share these views.
The Panel agreed a set of views to send to Cabinet on school funding, grants, school reserves, the music service, the capital programme and energy costs.
The Panel met to begin its inquiry into the cost of living in Swansea. It also noted the dates of the first two evidence sessions, with Social Services and the Education directorates.
The minute records no decisions on the briefing itself. The Working Group agreed 11 conclusions and recommendations, to be sent to Cabinet Members in a letter.
The Panel considered the Adult Services performance report for November 2025, covering demand, early help, reablement, care at home and safeguarding. It also heard an update on the Adult Services Transformation and Improvement Programme. The minutes record no decisions. The only action recorded is to arrange a visit to the Smart Suite, a technology demonstration facility, early in the new municipal year.
It also received the annual update on Local Flood Risk Management. A scrutiny panel is a group of councillors that questions Cabinet Members about their work. The minutes record no decisions on either item.
The Scrutiny Programme Committee agreed that the final report of the Grants Scrutiny Inquiry Panel should go to Cabinet on 19 February 2026. The Committee noted its work programme, the scrutiny letters, a performance panel update and follow-up on public engagement, and agreed that the Chair should write to the Leader after the Leader's question and answer session.
The Panel questioned the Leader and the Director of Finance on the draft budget for 2026/27 to 2029/30, which Cabinet will consult on, and on the Quarter 2 budget monitoring report for 2025/26, which forecast a £1.3m overspend for the year. It also considered the Quarter 2 performance report, which says the council is broadly on track against its six well-being objectives. The minutes record presentations and questions only and do not record any decision by the Panel.
The Panel considered the Annual Complaints and Compliments Report 2024-25 for Adult Services and Child and Family Services, and the annual report of the Corporate Parenting Board, which oversees the council's care of looked after children. The Panel welcomed both reports, asked about rising justified complaints, investigation costs, health waiting times and educational results, and asked that positive feedback be shared with staff.
The Panel considered two reports: annual education performance against the Education Directorate's objectives, including progress on two 2022 Estyn recommendations, and progress with the Vulnerable Learners Inclusion Strategy. Both were for information, and the Panel asked questions and gave views.
On 10 December 2025 the Grants Scrutiny Inquiry Panel discussed its final report on how the Council manages the grants it receives. The Panel agreed to send the report to the Scrutiny Programme Committee in January 2026, and then to Cabinet for a decision. The report makes eight recommendations to Cabinet.
The Scrutiny Performance Panel for Service Improvement, Regeneration and Finance heard two updates on 9 December 2025. The Leader, Cllr Rob Stewart, and the Director of Finance gave a verbal mid-term budget statement for 2025/26. The Panel also heard progress on the draft Swansea City Centre Placemaking Plan, and officers agreed to arrange councillor workshops and explore a shorter version of the plan. The minutes record no formal decisions on the budget statement.
The Scrutiny Programme Committee met on 9 December 2025. It considered progress on the Children and Young People's Rights Scheme and the annual complaints and compliments report for 2024-25, and noted progress reports from its performance panel and work programme. It also approved the membership of a new Cost of Living inquiry panel and a Taxi Services working group.