Agenda, decisions and minutes

As noted above.

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

Councillor Euryn Morris declared a personal interest in Item 4 – Gwynedd & Anglesey Public Services Board – Governance arrangements & scrutinise progress against the 2023-2028 Well-being Plan as he is employed by Gwynedd Council on secondment to the Ambition Board.

To submit, for confirmation, the minutes of the previous meeting held on 12 March, 2025.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 12 March, 2025 were confirmed as correct.

Arising from the minutes of the meeting held on 12 March, 2025 :-

Item 4 – Annual Equality Report 2024

Action 1 – Welsh Language and Equality Promotion Group to consider a campaign to raise awareness to strengthen the baseline staff data, using insights from the Annual Conversation to monitor trends.

The Welsh Language and Equality Promotion Group will meet during April/May, 2025.

Action 2 – To reconsider introducing new Equality Training for staff and Elected Members, following the approval of the Annual Equality Report 2024.

Action completed – mandatory training on equalities will be afforded to Elected Members and e-modules will be available for staff.

Action 3 – To explore ways of improving Elected Members’ understanding of the corporate induction process for new staff in collaboration with HR.

Action in progress – meeting arranged between Officers of the Policy and Welsh Language and the Training Team.

Action 4 – To reconsider the Welsh Language and Equality Promotion Group’s title and scope.

Action in progress – the Welsh Language and Equality Promotion Group to meet during April/May 2025.

To submit a report by the Chief Executive.

 The report of the Chief Executive was presented for consideration by the Committee.

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Member for Finance and Housing Services said that the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 places a duty on public bodies to improve the social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being of Wales. The Act also established the Public Services Boards across Wales with members consisting of public bodies and the third sector. Gwynedd and Anglesey’s public organisations have come together to collaborate as one Board.  The Public Services Board works collaboratively as partner organisations to ensure that strategic plans are aligned with, and support achievement of local well-being objectives.  He noted that the main challenges for the Board are to establish where it can add the most value and make a difference together with the limited resources and capacity available.  The Gwynedd and Anglesey Well-being Plan 2023-2028 was published in May 2023 which highlighted the three specific Well-being objectives as noted within the report.  The Welsh language is a permanent priority for the Board and will be promoted in all aspects of the work of the Board.  He further referred that a ceremony was conducted in March 2025 for the signing of the Healthy Travel Charter by both Councils with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Mr Ken Skates MS in attendance.   

The Gwynedd and Anglesey Public Services Board Programme Manager said following comments received by this Committee previously, additional details are included within the report as to the projects undertaken by the Board and the organisations that are implementing the projects together with the outcomes and the further plans to be undertaken in the future.  The methodology of Whole System Health Weight has been adopted as a way of working through the work of the Board which could influence the flow of healthy and affordable food choices and create opportunities to allow people to exercise and keep fit.  She further said that the Welsh language is also a permanent priority for the Board as reported by the Deputy Leader. 

The following were points of discussion by the Committee :-

·     Questions were raised as to how the Board prioritises areas where it can add the most value considering the limited resources and capacity.  The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Member for Finance and Housing Services responded that the lack of resources and capacity is a challenge in each partner organisation and to both County Council’s.  He noted that there is a desire within the Board to accomplish the priority areas identified.  The Gwynedd and Anglesey Public Services Board Programme Manager said that this is the second Well-being Plan of the Public Services Board and lessons have been learnt to enable partner organisations to work more efficient and share resources.  She noted that additional regional work is now been undertaken to benefit from the resources available.

·     Reference was made that the North Wales Ambition Board is currently consulting of the Active Travel Charter.  Questions were raised as to whether the Public  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To submit a report by the Head of Regulation and Economic Development.

The report of the Head of Regulation and Economic Development was presented for consideration by the Committee.

The Leader and Portfolio Member for Economic Development said that both UK and Welsh Governments invited bidders to submit proposals for Freeports in Wales in 2022.  Freeports are designated areas where a range of economic incentives are available to boost the local economy and encourage growth and investment. The Anglesey Freeport has been developed fully aligned to the vision, objectives and values of the Council Plan 2023-2028, with particular focus on collaboration, the Welsh language, championing the Island and promoting opportunities that will deliver jobs and growth to the economy.  The Freeport presents an opportunity to attract new private sector investments which is especially important given the context in that a number of major job losses have impacted the Island over the last 10 years.  He stated that there are other designated sites on the Island that can benefit from the Freeport status .

The following were points of discussion by the Committee :-

·      Questions were raised as to the potential employment and training opportunities that will arise from the Freeport and whether the Island’s infrastructure can support the influx of workers.  The Leader and Portfolio Member for Economic Development responded that the Authority has been realistic and not to raised expectations from the start as to the potential employment opportunities that will result from the Freeport; it is envisaged that around 3,000/4,000 employment opportunities will materialise from the Freeport project over the years.   He noted that the employment and training opportunities will be dependent on the companies that choose to locate their businesses in the designated areas on the Island.  Grwp Llandrillo Menai, Msparc and Bangor University, the Regional Skills Partnership and the Ambition Board are involved in discussions of the potential of the Freeport and will be ready to afford training opportunities when information is available as to what businesses will be locating into the designated area. 

·      Questions were raised as to whether the proposed £600k annual budget will be sufficient to meeting Anglesey Freeport’s operational needs.  The Leader and Portfolio Member for Economic Development responded that it is considered that the £600k annual budget will be sufficient as the Freeport is relatively small compared to other Freeports and funding will materialise from the companies that will establish within the designated areas. 

·      Reference was made that attracting an influx of workers into a rural Welsh speaking area could have an effect on the Welsh language.  The Leader and Portfolio Member for Economic Development said that securing employment opportunities will secure the Island’s future with affording young people work that will protect the Welsh language.  Future generations of families relocating to the Island will afford their children to be educated in Welsh in the local schools and will secure the Welsh language within the local communities. The Head of Regulation and Economic Development said that the one of the three strategic objectives within the Freeport project is the commitment to the Welsh  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To submit a report by the Scrutiny Manager.

The report of the Scrutiny Manager setting out the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee’s indicative Forward Work Programme 2025/2026 was presented for consideration.

It was RESOLVED to agree the current version of the forward work programme for 2025/2026.