On 19 February 2026, Cabinet recommended the 2026/27 revenue budget, capital programme, Housing Revenue Account budgets and Medium Term Financial Plan to full Council. It approved a 6% rise in most social services charges, 14% rises in standard-rate care home fees, and a public consultation on a new Direct Payments Policy. It also approved funding for phase 2 of the digital transformation programme and adopted a flexible retirement policy and a recruitment policy.
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.
The minutes record that no interests were declared. Cabinet then resolved to exclude the public from part of the meeting. The report linked this to item 5 and said the item involves exempt information under Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, such as personal data, financial or business affairs, and labour relations matters.
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.
Cancelled
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 Planning Committee considered three planning and listed building applications on 3 February 2026. It deferred a plan to convert a house at 90 Springfield Street, Morriston, into six letting rooms so that officers can report on reasons for refusal about parking. It approved listed building consent for internal alterations at New Bethel Church, Carnglas Road, Sketty, with an added condition, and approved the conversion of 1 Oxford Street, Swansea, into 29 flats.
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 Council met on 29 January 2026. It adopted a motion urging the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) to drop its plan to cut professional regional rugby from four teams to three, with 59 votes for and none against. It also adopted the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2026/27, approved the Asset Management Plan for 2025 to 2029, agreed to move Swansea Bay City Deal decisions to the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee, and nominated Councillor Penny Matthews as Lord Mayor Elect for 2026-2027.
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.
Cabinet met on 22 January 2026 and took decisions on seven substantive items. Its main decision was a ten-part plan for future recycling services, including free garden waste bags and reusable recycling containers, and it paused the public consultation on a new waste strategy. It also approved five school governor nominations, a biodiversity duty report and action plan, an application to join the Biophilic Cities Network, a lower quorum for a joint adoption and fostering committee, two external funding bids, and nine updated HR policies.
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 Planning Committee considered an application to change Boutique Student Living, 166-167 St Helens Road, Sandfields, from student flats to temporary homelessness accommodation run by the council with Pobl Homes & Communities Ltd. Members approved the application, subject to a deed of variation to the Section 106 agreement (a legal agreement attached to the planning permission), and amended one planning condition on the management plan.