Agenda item

To submit a report by the Gwynedd and Anglesey Public Service Board Programme Manager.

Submitted – a report by the Gwynedd and Anglesey Public Services Board Programme Manager.

The Leader of the Council reported that the Isle of Anglesey County Council is committed to the principles within the Well-being and Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.  The Council provides a range of service which will fulfil its individual well-being objectives, as well as contributing to supporting the well-being of the Public Services Board.  She noted that the Gwynedd and Anglesey Public Services Board was established in 2016, in accordance with the Well-being and Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.  The decision was made by the Executive to establish a Public Services Board for Anglesey in collaboration with the Gwynedd.  The Public Services Board Well-being Assessment for the Anglesey well-being areas was published in May 2017 and following a series of engagement and consultation sessions, the Well-being Plan was published in 2018.  The Public Services Board agreed to six priority fields to deliver the objectives of the Board which is outlined within the report.  Five Sub-Groups have been established to address the priority fields and Members of the Public Services Boards have been nominated as Leaders of the Sub-Groups.  The Sub-Groups are :-

·      The Welsh Language Sub-Group;

·      Homes for Local People Sub-Group

·      The Effect of Poverty on the Well-being of our Communities Sub-Group;

·      The Effect of Climate Change on the Well-being of Communities;

·      Health and Care Sub-Group

The Leader of the Council referred to the key scrutiny questions set out within the report and reported as follows :-

·      How does the Board manage its Forward Work Programme? -  The Public Services Board has established Sub-Groups and Action Plans needs to be put in place before a Forward Work Programme can be produced;

·      Can you outline how the Board makes decisions as a strategic partnership? – An example was given that The Welsh Language Sub-Group has submitted a bid to Welsh Government for resource to fund a collaborative project with the aim of developing the skills and confidence of Welsh speakers in the workplace, and changing the linguistic habit (to using Welsh);

·      How does the Board manage the performance of the delivery

Sub-Groups? -  The Public Service Board will be challenging the decision taken by the Sub-Groups in accordance with the Sub-Groups Action Plan and the Board’s Work Programme;

·      Are there any specific risks or barriers in the delivery of the work programme, in the current financial climate? Does the Member representing the Council have any observations on the delivery of the Board’s work programme? – All the partner organisations within the Public Services Board are facing financial cuts within their services.  The Board is aiming to establishing a better work ethos in achieving their work programme and also in accordance with Social Services and Well-being and Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

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

·      Clarification was sought as to the whether an upgraded website was be afforded by the Public Services Board; at present the information about the Board’s work is limited.  The Leader of the Council responded that the establishment of a Public Services Board has been a challenge in trying to get all the partner organisations in place. She was pleased to report that the partner organisations within the Board are now in agreement with the objectives of the Board and information will be included on the Public Services Board website in due course;

·      Reference was made that a joint Scrutiny Panel between Gwynedd and Anglesey is to be established and the Committee sought clarification as to the work of such a Panel.   The Gwynedd and Anglesey Public Services Board Programme Manager responded that it was an intention to create a joint Scrutiny Panel when the Public Services Board was established.  A meeting of the Public Services Board is to be held in December and discussion will be undertaken as regard to this matter.

It was RESOLVED to note :-

·           the governance structure of the Gwynedd and Anglesey Public Services Board;

·           thedelivery arrangements of the Public Services Board at specific stages. 

ACTION : As noted above.