The Scrutiny Programme Committee met on Tuesday 13 October 2026. The committee noted progress on the Independent Drugs Commission Report, agreed to changes in scrutiny panel memberships, and approved the exclusion of the public for a discussion on maritime heritage assets.

Follow Up - Independent Drugs Commission Report

The committee received an update on the progress made in implementing the recommendations of the Turning the Tide report, which was commissioned in response to rising drug-related deaths and harms in the Neath Port Talbot and Swansea area. Julia Jenkins, Principal Officer for Substance Use at Neath Port Talbot Council, presented the report, highlighting significant progress in governance, co-production, and service integration.

The Neath Port Talbot & Swansea Drug and Alcohol Leadership Board (DALB) has been rebranded and has strengthened its governance structures. A new integrated service, Verve, commenced on 1 June 2026, bringing together previously separate service elements. The Lived Experience Alliance Forum (LEAF) has been embedded within the DALB's governance, with individuals with lived experience contributing to strategy development and service design.

While structural changes have been made, the report acknowledged that it is too early to measure the full impact on outcomes. Data from 2025/26 was presented as a baseline, and a new outcomes framework is being developed to shift focus from activity to the difference services make in people's lives. Risks related to service mobilisation, demand, waiting times, data quality, workforce capacity, and financial sustainability were identified, with mitigation strategies in place.

Councillor Peter May questioned the absence of a y-axis on graphs showing trends in drug-related deaths and non-fatal overdoses, which was explained as a limitation of real-time data reporting. Councillor Mike White raised concerns about the timescale for the three-year strategy and how progress would be reported, with assurances given that quarterly reporting and a dashboard would provide timely updates. Councillor Mary Jones asked about the greatest risks to successful delivery, with service mobilisation and data quality identified as immediate concerns.

The committee also discussed the progress of the Turning the Tide recommendations, with Appendix A of the report detailing progress against each recommendation and its alignment with the DALB Strategy and Delivery Plan 2026–2029. The report noted that all 24 recommendations are represented within the strategy, with strong progress in structural changes, but further evidence is needed on longer-term outcomes.

Scrutiny Performance Panel Progress Report: Service Improvement, Regeneration & Finance

Councillor Chris Holley OBE, Convener of the Service Improvement, Regeneration & Finance Scrutiny Performance Panel, presented a progress report on the panel's activities since March 2026. The panel had met six times, reviewing financial reports, performance reports, regeneration items, and annual reports on planning, recycling, and library standards.

Key achievements highlighted included:

• Financial Monitoring: The panel reviewed the Revenue Financial Outturn 2025/26, Revenue Outturn 2025/26 (Housing Revenue Account), and Capital Outturn and Financing 2025/26. They noted increased maintenance costs for housing stock but welcomed the budget increase for repairs. Project slippage in the capital programme was discussed, with the panel acknowledging potential benefits in delaying borrowing. Concerns were raised about general reserves falling below the appropriate level for a council of Swansea's size.
• Performance Monitoring: The panel reviewed Q3 and Q4/end-of-year performance reports for 2025/26, noting that the council was broadly on track to meet its corporate wellbeing objectives. Areas of strength included safeguarding, education, and economic regeneration, while areas for improvement included timeliness in safeguarding, school attendance, homelessness, and environmental targets. The panel recommended a more ambitious aim for tackling homelessness, particularly for families with children in bed and breakfast accommodation.
• Development and Regeneration Monitoring: The panel received updates on regeneration projects, including the Palace Theatre, where costs had increased significantly due to various factors. They requested further updates on usage levels and financial positions for projects like the Copr Bay Multi-Storey Car Park and the Arena. The panel also discussed the former Marks and Spencer site and new commercial units at Castle Square.
• Recycling Annual Performance Monitoring: Swansea Council exceeded the Welsh Government's statutory recycling target of 70%, achieving 71.7%. The panel noted the need for investment in the Llansamlet bailing plant for wider rollout of soft plastic film recycling and welcomed the increase in the fly-tipping budget.
• Welsh Public Library Standards Annual Performance Report: Swansea Public Libraries met all 13 core entitlements. The panel discussed the reasons for not fully meeting the opening hours target and expressed surprise at the high cost of e-book and e-audiobook licences.
• Planning Annual Performance Report: Performance remained strong, with 93.9% of planning applications determined within agreed timescales. The panel welcomed the proposed changes to create a dedicated enforcement team and requested the reintroduction of a regular list of enforcement complaints.

The panel's future work programme includes monitoring budget reports, performance reports, the Tourism Destination Management Plan, revenue reserves, and the Ferry Service Consultation Research.

Membership of Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups

The committee agreed to several changes in the membership of scrutiny panels and working groups. Councillor Jess Pritchard was removed from the Climate Change & Nature Performance Panel, and Councillor Brigitte Rowlands was added to the Highways Maintenance Working Group. Councillor Peter May was added to the Digital Services Scrutiny Working Group, and he also volunteered to act as convener for this group. The committee also noted that further interest was being sought for the Digital Services Working Group.

Scrutiny Letters

The committee reviewed a log of Scrutiny Letters produced during the municipal year 2026-27. The log indicated an average response time of 16 days for Cabinet Members, with 75% of responses received within the target of 21 days. The committee noted a letter to the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Families regarding the Pre-decision Scrutiny of the Public Space Protection Order Scheme.

Scrutiny Work Programme

The committee reviewed the agreed Scrutiny Work Programme for 2026/27. Key upcoming items for the Scrutiny Programme Committee included discussions on homelessness and a scrutiny of the Swansea Public Services Board. The committee also considered opportunities for pre-decision scrutiny of future Cabinet business. The work programme detailed the ongoing activities of Inquiry Panels, Performance Panels, and Working Groups, as well as regional scrutiny arrangements through the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee.

Date and Time of Upcoming Panel / Working Group / Regional Meetings

The committee was informed of upcoming meetings for various scrutiny panels and working groups, including the Education Scrutiny Performance Panel, the Service Improvement, Regeneration & Finance Performance Panel, and the Climate Change & Nature Performance Panel. The next Scrutiny Programme Committee meeting was scheduled for 17 November 2026, with homelessness and the scrutiny of the Swansea Public Services Board as key agenda items.

Exclusion of the Public

The committee resolved to exclude the public from the meeting for Agenda Item 11, concerning the exclusion of the public. This decision was made on the grounds that the report contained exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of the authority, as per Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. The public interest in maintaining the exemption was considered to outweigh the public interest in disclosure.