Agenda and minutes

As noted above.

To receive any declaration of interest by any Member or Officer in respect of any item of business.

None received.

To submit an Annual Report by the Chief Officer of Medrwn Môn.

The Chair welcomed Mrs Sian Purcell the Chief Officer of Medrwn Môn to the meeting.

Submitted – an Annual Report by the Chief Officer of Medrwn Môn.

The Chief Officer, Medrwn Môn reported that the aim of Medrwn Môn is to promote and support voluntary and community organisations by working with individuals, groups and communities on Anglesey and ensure they play a full and prominent role in developing the potential of the Island.  Medrwn Môn is a registered charitable company with a membership of voluntary organisations and local community groups.  It is part of a network of County Voluntary Councils operational throughout Wales.  Funding towards core work comes from the Welsh Government via WCVA.  She further noted that volunteers play an increasingly important part in local communities and Medrwn Môn promotes, supports and develops all types of volunteering, supports volunteers and voluntary groups on a local level, acknowledging that their unique contribution gives benefits to those that use and receive the service, the local community and the volunteers themselves. 

She noted that this Annual Report is for 2016/17 and the Annual Report for 2017/18 will be published in the autumn and was willing to attend this Committee annually in order to report on their work within local communities.  She referred that Medrwn Môn runs Community Voices which is a programme that is funded by the Big Lottery Fund.  In addition, Community Voices ensures effective ways to enable individuals and organisations to voice their opinions and ensure that their voices are heard during the planning and designing states of services, making sure that services providers get to hear exactly what the community needs.  The ‘Building Communities’ model, which has been adopted to facilitate the process using the different consultation methods to create a picture of the community’s assets that range from local services; buildings and green spaces; people, information and skills; to local networks and community activities. 

The Chief Officer of Medrwn Môn referred to the ‘Seiriol Alliance’ which received £10k devolved spending from the County Council as a pilot project and with Medrwn Môn’s support and advice, has allocated the finance between 3 Community Councils on the basis that they engage their communities in deciding how the money is spent.  She noted that an Intermediate Care Fund funding was devolved to Medrwn Môn to engage residents in Llanfairpwll in a process of identifying the need for a Community Hub in the area.  Using the Building Communities Toolkit developed through the Community Voices project, Medrwn Môn held several mapping sessions in the area as well as open events and focus group sessions.  The best venue for the project was the Memorial Hall in Llanfairpwll and the Community Voices project has been working with the local Community Council to identify how the capital funding could be spent.  Building works started at the beginning of the summer and the activities identified in the consultation process are now available through the newly established Llanfairpwll Community Hub which was launched in November 2016.  Bryngwran  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To submit a report by the Head of Housing Services.

Submitted – a report by the Head of Housing Services in relation to the above.

The Housing Services Manager reported that there is no corporate Anti-Poverty Strategy currently within the Council. This document has been recognised as a priority for the work programme of the Housing Services Strategic Unit for 2017/18 which has been driven by the 2017/2022 Corporate Plan.  She noted that one of the strongest messages regarding poverty in Wales currently is that there are more people of working age in poverty compared to 10 years ago.  She further said that the terms ‘poverty’ does not necessarily mean a person with no money, it can equate to people feeling that they are unable to take part in activities within a community level and maybe a lack of ability to source goods or unable to have access to essential services.  The County Council has a role to promote strategies that people are able to access to services available and also to guide people to services that the Council does not afford.    The Anti-Poverty Strategy has been subject to internal discussion within the Council to raise awareness and setting a baseline of activities within services and with partners and developing a method of measuring the effect of services on dealing with poverty within local communities on the Island.  A period of public consultation took place in May 2018 through social media and the Council’s corporate website, but the Housing Services Manager noted that no representations were received by the public but a good response was received by the partnerships who work with the Council and wish to be part of the strategy.

The Housing Services Manager reiterated that the Anti-Poverty Strategy is a corporate document across all services of the Council and should be part of the Annual Delivery Plan. 

The Committee considered the report and raised the following main matters :-

·      Comments were made that Citizens’ Advice Bureau on Anglesey referred that over £1.2m benefits available to the people of Anglesey were not claimed.  Questions were raised as to how services can make sure that these people who are eligible for such benefits to be able to apply and be made aware of their entitlements.  The Housing Services Manager responded that Social Inclusion Officers have been appointed within the Housing Services and one Officer will work within the private sector to raise awareness of benefit entitlements.  She said that people not claiming benefit entitlements is a national issue as is parents not claiming free school meals for their children which they are entitled to.  Comments were further made by the Committee that people are not guided towards their eligibility to available benefits and therefore they miss out on those benefits they eligible for;

·      Clarification was sought as to which partnership working the authority has consulted in regard to this Strategy.  The Housing Services Manager gave an example of the organisation that the Housing Service work closely with i.e.  Medrwn Môn, CAB and Housing Associations.  She further said that other  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To submit a report by the Scrutiny Officer.

Submitted – a report by the Scrutiny Officer on the Committee’s Work Programme to June 2019.

Members considered that :-

·           the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner be invited to attend a future meeting of the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee to give an overview of his role and responsibilities and to report on the Police and Crime Plan 2017 – 2021.

·           Medrwn Mׅôn be invited to the Scrutiny Committee annually in order to report on their work on the Island so that the partnership with the Council can be scrutinised.

It was RESOLVED to note the Work Programme to June 2019 and to invite the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner to a future meeting of the Committee and that Medrwn Môn shall attend the Committee to present their Annual Report.

ACTION : As noted above.