Councillor Andrea Harrington was elected Chair and Marie Davies was elected Vice Chair of the Swansea Public Services Board for the municipal year 2026-2027. The Board noted updates on the Public Services Board Action Plan, including progress on transforming early years' services, building on Swansea as a Human Rights City, working towards net zero targets, making Swansea safer, more cohesive and prosperous, and developing an integrated cultural offer. The Board also received an update on the Assessment of Local Well-being 2027 and noted the outcome of the Public Services Board Partnership Forum held on 4 September 2026.

Transforming Early Years' Services Across Swansea

Progress on transforming early years' services across Swansea was reported as largely positive, with most actions marked as 'green'. The only outstanding item, relating to influencing the pathway for the transition from school, remains 'yellow' due to ongoing waiting for Welsh Government approval of guidance. Once this is received, local policy development with Swansea partners can proceed.

Building on Swansea as a Human Rights City

Good progress has been made in building on Swansea's status as a Human Rights City, with several actions completed and the remainder marked as 'green'. While a bid for continued funding for the UK network of human rights cities was unsuccessful, the network remains active. Discussions are underway regarding the possibility of Swansea hosting the next UK network meeting.

Working Towards Swansea's Net Zero Target and Nature Recovery

Progress in working towards Swansea's net zero target and nature recovery was described as pretty good. An action to develop a local food strategy will be reviewed in light of a new position statement from the City and County of Swansea on food.

Developing Swansea's Integrated Cultural Offer

Strong progress has been made in developing Swansea's integrated cultural offer, with the overall status marked as 'green'. A significant milestone was the launch of the Cultural Strategy at the National Waterfront Museum, which provides a shared vision and framework for development over the next five years. The focus has now shifted to implementation, with progress on working groups, governance arrangements, an event strategy, and a music audit. Work is also underway to strengthen collaboration with Menter Iaith to increase Welsh language visibility and participation through cultural programmes. The strategy deliberately integrates culture, sport, and physical activity, viewing them as part of a wider ecosystem. A school survey on sports participation, involving over 8,500 young people, has provided valuable insights into inequalities and demand, which will help shape future investment.

Making Swansea Safer, More Cohesive, and Prosperous

An update was provided on the Building a Better Dyfatty programme, which is the Public Services Board's flagship place-based initiative. The strategic board agreed to move from the Clear to the Hold phase of the project. A tactical group will review existing workstreams to make them more focused, aiming to improve efficiency and address risks related to maintaining focus, capacity, and data quality.

Assessment of Local Well-being 2027

The Board received an update on the progress and approach for Swansea's third Assessment of Local Well-being, which is required by May 2027. Given resource challenges and limited time, the process is being streamlined, focusing on identifying a small number of priorities where joint effort will have the greatest impact. A 'contributor template' has been developed to gather information on the four dimensions of well-being: social, economic, environmental, and cultural. Contributors are asked to review and supplement existing information, provide evidence, and identify any gaps. The template also seeks information on engagement, co-production, and lived experience. Further engagement is planned through workshops, the Big Conversation with children and young people, and activities at the One Stop Shop. The overall structure of the assessment is under review and will aim to reflect and signpost to the regional data portal for ongoing monitoring. Board members were asked to ensure their organisations prioritise the assessment and provide timely evidence.

Update from Public Services Board Partnership Forum

The update from the Public Services Board Partnership Forum held on 4 September 2026 was overwhelmingly positive, with feedback describing it as a productive day with valuable input from various partner organisations. The Building a Better Dyfatty session was highlighted as particularly interesting, demonstrating the potential for partners to make a significant difference in an area in need of attention. The forum also served as a springboard for future work, including the well-being assessment, and helped to strengthen collaborative efforts. The annual report video, featuring Andrea Harrington, was praised for bringing the work of the board to life. The positive impact of the forum was evident in the subsequent meeting with the Dyfatty Junction team, highlighting the inspiring work being done. The reduction in crime and antisocial behaviour in Dyfatty was noted, alongside the re-establishment of trust with communities. The event was described as energising and a helpful springboard for the coming months, strengthening connections for joint working.

The meeting concluded with a plug for the Walking in Our Shoes event hosted by the health board on 15 October, which aims to provide partners with insight into the challenges faced in their working week.