Swansea Public Services Board delivers meaningful progress for our communities

Published on behalf of Swansea Public Services Board (PSB). Note: Swansea Bay University Health Board is a leading partner within the PSB.

Crucial public services that are helping to support people of all ages across Swansea continue to be strengthened, according to a new report.

Action that's seen local children get the best possible start in life, our amazing natural environment protected and enhanced and strengthened connections in our communities have all helped Swansea become a great place to live.

Andrea Lewis, Swansea Council's joint deputy leader and Cabinet Member for Service Transformation, chairs the PSB in Swansea. Its members include other public service bodies such as the fire and rescue service, health board and Natural Resources Wales.

Cllr Lewis said: "Our commitment to making Swansea a fairer, greener, safer, and healthier place has shaped everything we do. The results speak for themselves. Services have become more accessible, communities have grown stronger, and sustainability is at the heart of how we work.

"From expanding support for young families to embedding human rights into how we serve our communities, this year has shown what's possible when we work together.

"We're proud of what we've achieved, and we know there's more to do."

Key achievements highlighted in the 2024/25 PSB annual report include:

• The public sector has successfully reduced carbon emissions by 20%, exceeding initial projections.
• A comprehensive Early Years Strategic Plan was finalised and is being rolled out across agencies, with a notable increase in uptake of early intervention services.
• Flying Start services expanded into under-represented areas, and Health Visiting referrals improved, enabling earlier developmental support for families.
• A human rights-based approach has been embedded across Swansea's Strategic Equality Plan, and frontline staff have been trained to identify and respond to community needs.
• On climate, a draft Adaptation and Mitigation Strategy has been developed with extensive community input and workshops, setting the foundation for future action.
• A Community Safety Village event brought together residents and emergency services to tackle local safety issues, while targeted workshops and campaigns have already led to reductions in anti-social behaviour.
• The Creative Swansea network was launched, bringing together cultural sectors to boost local engagement, economy, and well-being.
• Governance structures were reviewed and enhanced to align regional priorities, with improved collaboration across strategic boards.
• A regional data portal was developed with support from Data Cymru, enabling better tracking of well-being indicators and improved decision-making.
• A new performance monitoring framework was introduced to track PSB delivery and ensure accountability.

Roger Thomas, Chief Fire Officer for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and PSB Vice Chair, said: "Our progress is a testament to the strength of collaboration.

"By listening to our communities and working across agencies, we have delivered tangible results people can see for themselves. From enabling young families to make a great start in life to supporting initiatives that reduce carbon emissions, we have endeavoured to work together to make Swansea stronger."

He added: "With robust data, strengthened governance, and renewed energy for change, Swansea PSB is building momentum into the next year. The focus remains clear: delivering progress where it counts most for the people of Swansea.