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Summary when the minutes are published, usually a few weeks after the meeting.
The Panel looked at the Council's first-quarter 2026/27 budget monitoring, first-quarter performance and the Tourism Destination Management Plan update. The minutes record discussion only, and the Panel's follow-up letters ask Cabinet Members for written answers by 10 November.
The Panel considered three financial outturn reports for 2025/26: the Housing Revenue Account, capital spending and the general revenue budget. The minutes record no decisions on the first two, and the reports propose that Cabinet approve reserve transfers and carrying forward unspent budget. The Panel agreed that equal pay should be considered in a closed scrutiny session later.
The Panel discussed three items at its meeting on 21 July 2026: proposed amendments to the Corporate Plan 2023-28, the end-of-year performance report for 2025-26, and the Annual Review of Performance 2025-26. The minutes record questions and discussion on these items but no decisions. The Panel also noted its work plan.
At its first meeting of the 2026/27 council year, the Panel confirmed Cllr Chris Holley as its Convener, which means chair, and agreed its draft work plan. It also received a summary of city centre regeneration projects and a report on the Panel's role, and the Debenhams project was discussed in private. The minute records no formal decisions on the regeneration update, and the minute for the role report has not yet been published.
The Panel considered a post-completion summary of the Palace Theatre and the planning service's annual performance report for 2024-25. The minutes record no decisions on these two reports, and note only that the Panel's annual review of its work was noted, with feedback to be sent by email.
The panel reviewed the Council's Quarter 3 performance for 2025/26 and Swansea's annual report on the Welsh Public Library Standards for 2024/25. The minutes record discussion and questions only, with no decisions. Panel members asked for early data on Y Storfa and raised a new risk linked to the Burry Inlet.
The Scrutiny Performance Panel met on 10 March 2026 to review two reports: the Council's regeneration achievements over the past year, and its recycling performance. The minutes record no decisions on either report, but the Panel asked for more information on several points, including Pride of Place governance and missed waste collections.
The Panel scrutinised the draft annual budget for 2026/27 and the Quarter 3 monitoring report before Cabinet considers them on 19 February. Members noted an overall underspend, a proposed council tax rise of 3.9%, and a net increase of about £60m for services. The minute records no formal decision, and the Panel's views were sent to Cabinet in a letter.
The Panel considered three reports at its meeting on 13 January 2026: draft budget proposals for 2026/27 to 2029/30, the second quarter budget monitoring report for 2025/26, and the second quarter performance report. The minute records no decisions on these items, and the Panel questioned the Leader and officers on them. The budget proposals are due to go to Cabinet for consultation.
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 Panel considered two items on 4 November 2025: a review of the council's revenue reserves, presented by Ben Smith, and a midpoint update on the Swansea Destination Management Plan 2023-2026, presented by Cllr David Hopkins and Cllr Elliott King. The minutes record no decisions by the Panel; the reserves report goes to full Council for approval.
The panel scrutinised the council's Quarter 1 budget monitoring report for 2025/26 and its Quarter 1 performance report. The budget report forecasts a net service overspend of about £3m, with pressures in social services and place, and a £5m underspend in capital financing. The minutes record discussion only, with no formal decisions on either report.
The Panel considered the Council's 2024/25 year-end finances, covering the Housing Revenue Account, the capital budget and the revenue budget. Officers reported a strong position, with £16.5m less drawn from core reserves, though gains were temporary and risks remain in social care and homelessness. The minutes record no decisions; the reports recommend that Cabinet approve reserve transfers and carry-forwards, and follow-up letters seek further information.
The minutes record requests for further information rather than formal decisions, including updated Castle Square layout plans, City Centre Placemaking Plan consultation figures, and a follow-up on sickness absence.
The Scrutiny Performance Panel for Service Improvement, Regeneration and Finance met on 17 June 2025, the first meeting of the council year. It confirmed Cllr Chris Holley as Convener, agreed its 2025/26 work plan, and questioned officers on the council's Annual Review of Performance 2024/25 and a report on recyclate income at the Baling Plant. The minutes record no decisions on the two reports, and minutes for some items have not been published yet.
The minutes record no decisions on either, but the Panel asked for more information on several points and later wrote to the Cabinet Members concerned for formal replies.
The Panel met on 8 April 2025. It heard from Swansea University about the Campuses Project, a Swansea Bay City Deal scheme (a joint investment programme across the region) to build a med-tech and sports-tech cluster. It also received a report on the council's development and regeneration achievements over the past year. The minutes record discussion only, with no decisions, and a closed session on city centre project costs.
The minutes are published. No summary has been written yet.
The Panel reviewed the draft 2025/26 annual budget and the third-quarter budget monitoring report before Cabinet considered them on 20 February. This is called pre-decision scrutiny: councillors check the proposals before the Cabinet, the group of senior councillors who run the council, decides. The minute records the discussion but no decision by the Panel itself. In a letter dated 19 February, the Panel passed its views to the Cabinet Member, Councillor Rob Stewart, who is also the Leader.
The Panel considered the Cabinet's draft budget proposals for 2025/26 to 2028/29 and the quarter 2 budget monitoring report for 2024/25, with the Leader and the Director of Finance attending. It also considered the quarter 2 performance report. The minute records no decisions; the Panel asked for more information on several proposed savings.
The Panel looked at three items: the mid-term budget statement for 2024/25, the council's recycling and landfill performance for 2023/24, and the annual report on Welsh Public Library Standards. The minutes record no formal decisions on the budget or recycling. For libraries, the Panel asked for more information on staff, absences, usage and stock, and for a report on the bailing plant.
On 5 November 2024 the Scrutiny Performance Panel for Service Improvement, Regeneration and Finance considered the council's mid-year review of revenue reserves and a summary update on regeneration projects across Swansea. The minutes record no decisions by the Panel. Councillors asked questions, and suggested that future reports include a general service breakdown of earmarked reserves.
The Panel met to consider the first-quarter budget and performance reports for 2024/25, the draft Annual Review of Performance 2023/24, and an update on the 71-72 The Kingsway office project. The minute records no formal decisions on the budget or performance reports, only the Panel's comments and a request for more information on Education capital spending. The Panel also agreed to question officers on the Kingsway in private session.
On 10 September 2024 the Service Improvement, Regeneration and Finance Scrutiny Performance Panel considered an Audit Wales report on how Swansea Council manages its assets, such as buildings and land, and the Council's performance report for 2023/24. The minute records no decision on the performance report.
The Scrutiny Performance Panel for Service Improvement, Regeneration and Finance met on 6 August 2024 to consider the council's 2023/24 capital, revenue and Housing Revenue Account outturn reports, and an update on city centre retail. The minutes record no formal decisions by the Panel on the outturn reports or the retail update. They record questions asked, points raised and the Panel's work plan being noted.
The panel confirmed Cllr Chris Holley as its convener for 2024/25 and agreed its draft work plan. It considered two Audit Wales reports, one on reusing brownfield land and empty buildings and one on how the council uses performance information about service users, and it received a report on the panel's role. On brownfield land, the panel recommended more councillor involvement in identifying sites within wards.
On 7 May 2024 the Panel considered an Audit Wales report on the Council's workforce, the annual planning performance report, its own annual review, and letters on regeneration and City Deal funding. It also held pre-decision scrutiny of an updated financial rule for the Palace Theatre refurbishment, but the minute records no outcome. The minutes record two requests: that a regular development and regeneration report be added to the agenda once or twice a year, and that more information on City Deal funding be provided. No decision is recorded on the other items, which were for information or consideration.
At its meeting on 9 April 2024 the Panel considered three items: the Audit Wales report on building safety in Wales, the annual review of the Council's well-being objectives, and the quarter 3 performance report for 2023/24. The minute records updates and questions but no formal decisions. The review proposes that the well-being objectives stay unchanged.
The Panel discussed an Audit Wales report on building safety and building control in Wales, and heard updates on development and regeneration, including the 71-72 Kingsway office project. It deferred the Audit Wales item to 9 April, and the minutes record no decisions on the other items. One item was held in private.