The Scrutiny Programme Committee met to review the Oracle Project's closure and future developments, and to receive an update from the Leader of the Council on his portfolio responsibilities. Key discussions included the successful closure of the Oracle project, ongoing regeneration efforts in Swansea, and the council's financial strategy.

Oracle Project Closure Review and Future Developments

The committee received an update on the Oracle Fusion project, which officially closed on 1 August 2024. Councillor Andrea Lewis, Cabinet Member for Service Transformation, and Sarah Lackenby, Head of Digital and Customer Services, presented the report. The project met its original objectives, with 57 out of 65 identified benefits achieved, including improvements in self-service, reporting, and automated processes. The final cost of the project was £12.15 million, which was less than budgeted.

Future developments include the implementation of Oracle's new user interface, Redwood, by August/September 2025, which is described as mandatory. A new Oracle Development Board has been established to set priorities for future developments. The council has a Fusion reserve of £1.8 million, which includes a £500,000 contingency, to cover future financial risks such as additional support costs and potential license overages.

De Novo has been appointed as the new Fusion support partner, taking over from Infosys. The relationship with De Novo has been described as extremely positive, with a focus on creating great digital experiences and improving finance, HR, and supply chain management processes.

Scrutiny of Cabinet Member Portfolio Responsibilities: Q & A with Leader of the Council

Councillor Rob Stewart, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economy, Finance & Strategy, provided an overview of his portfolio. He highlighted the council's financial strategy, noting that while the funding settlement from the UK and Welsh governments had improved, it was still insufficient to address all the council's financial challenges. He also discussed the Corporate Transformation Plan, which encompasses thirteen programmes aimed at modernising services and promoting financial sustainability.

Councillor Stewart detailed progress on major projects, including the Copr Bay development, the 71/72 Kingsway building, and the Palace Theatre restoration. He also spoke about future regeneration plans, such as the revamp of Castle Square and the development of community hubs.

Discussions also touched upon the Net Zero programme, with Councillor Lewis highlighting progress in reducing emissions from buildings and the council's fleet. However, both councillors stressed the need for greater national government support to achieve Net Zero targets.

Membership of Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups

A minor change was reported to the membership of scrutiny panels, with Councillor Francesca O'Brien coming off the Education Performance Panel.

Scrutiny Work Programme

The committee was updated on the Scrutiny Work Programme for 2024/25. Key upcoming items include a review of the draft Tackling Poverty Strategy and the delivery of the Workforce Strategy. The termination of the Partneriaeth agreement, which supports regional education partnerships, was also noted, with a new collaboration agreement to be effective from April 2025.

Scrutiny Letters

Scrutiny letters were presented for information, reflecting recent scrutiny activity and correspondence with Cabinet members.

Date and Time of Upcoming Panel / Working Group Meetings

A schedule of upcoming scrutiny panel and working group meetings was provided for information.