Councillors Rebecca Fogarty and Andrew Williams will share the new post of Corporate Services following a mini‑reshuffle prompted by the temporary absence of long‑serving Cabinet Member Robert Francis‑Davies, who is taking leave due to ill‑health.
Job share approach
Council leader Rob Stewart said the move reflected Swansea’s commitment to flexible leadership and resilience.
“We all want to wish Cllr Francis‑Davies a speedy recovery during his temporary leave of absence.
In the meantime, I want to welcome Cllr Fogarty and Cllr Williams to their new roles. By introducing a second job share post, we are embracing new ways of working that support Cabinet Members and ensure we remain resilient and responsive to the needs of our residents,” he said.
It is the second job share arrangement within the Cabinet. The first, covering Community Services and Support, has been jointly held by councillors Cyril Anderson and Hayley Gwilliam for several years.
Portfolios divided
Under the new structure:
- Cllr Fogarty will oversee the mayoralty, civic functions and commercial services, among other duties.
- Cllr Williams will take responsibility for performance, including planning, public protection, performance monitoring, customer services and licensing.
Other Cabinet members will also see their portfolios adjusted:
- Joint Deputy Leader Cllr David Hopkins, Cabinet Member for Delivery, will add parks, sports development and inward investment to his existing responsibilities for health and safety and building control.
- Joint Deputy Leader Cllr Andrea Williams, Cabinet Member for Service Transformation, will now also oversee residential inward investment and strategic housing delivery.
- Council Leader Rob Stewart will work alongside Cllr Hopkins and Cllr Elliott King, Cabinet Member for Culture, Human Rights and Equalities, on tourism and regeneration, areas previously led by Cllr Francis‑Davies.
- Cllr Andrew Stevens, Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, will take on EV infrastructure and sports development, while also working with the Leader and Cllr Hopkins on community regeneration and suburban centres.
Focus on residents
Cllr Stewart said the reshaped Cabinet would ensure continuity and focus.
“Swansea Council is always here for the people of our city. We’ve re‑shaped the Cabinet and brought two new members on board to make sure we remain focussed on our residents’ priorities, delivering the services that touch their lives every day.”
