Agenda item

To submit a report by the Chief Executive.

Submitted – a report by the Chief Executive for consideration by the Committee.

The Gwynedd and Anglesey Public Services Board Programme Manager reported that this is the final year of the Boards Well-being for 2018 – 2023.  The report reflects what has been achieved as a Board to improve the well-being of communities during the period 2022/2023.  She noted 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 with representation from public bodies and the third sector.  Every five years, Public Services Boards must prepare and publish an assessment of the state of economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being in their areas and use this as a basis for the Well-being Plan for the next five years.   She further said that the Board has started preparing for the 2023 – 2028 Well-being Plan and in May 2022, Local Well-being Assessments for Gwynedd and Anglesey were published.  In accordance with the requirements of the Act, a public consultation was held on the draft plan for a period of 12 weeks between 12 December 2022 and 6 March 2023 with appropriate opportunities provided for individuals, interested groups and organisations to participate in the consultation process by holding workshops and information sessions.  She noted that it is an intention to re-visit the local communities so that they can assist with the fulfilment plan for the new Well-Being Plan. The Programme Manager referred that a Climate Change Sub-Group was established, under the leadership of NRW, to encourage collaboration among public organisations on mitigating the impact of climate change.  She further said that work has been undertaken by the Board as regards to the Welsh language as it is important to local communities to be able to live their lives through the medium of Welsh and having access to services and activities in Welsh.  The Board has undertaken collaborating with partnerships and other national bodies to avoid duplication and to share ideas to identify caps and a risk assessment on a strategic level has been undertaken in Gwynedd and Anglesey. 

In considering the report, the Committee raised the following matters:-

·     Reference was made that as the Public Services Board has undertaken work as regards to the Welsh language during 2018-2023. Questions were raised whether it would be beneficial for a report to be submitted to this Committee as to what the Board has accomplished through there aims as regards to the Welsh Language.  The Programme Manger responded that the Welsh language is not one of the specific aims of the Board, which has been challenged, as the Welsh language is part of all of the work achieved by the Board. She further referred that the Board has identified three aims as priority areas over the next year and the Welsh language with be at the forefront of each identified aim;.

·     Reference was made that the Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board do not respond to the required public consultation as regards to planning applications.  Questions were raised as to whether the Health Board engages and fulfil their role within the Public Services Board?  The Programme Manager responded the Health Board has engaged well with the Public Services Board and fulfilled their strategic requirements as part of the Board.  Reference was made that the Besti Cadwaladr Health Board is back in special measures and questions were raised whether this is a challenge and risk for the Public Services Boards to fulfil its aims?  The Programme Manager responded that the new Interim Chief Executive of the Health Board will be attending the next meeting of the Public Services Board and discussions will be undertaken to address any issues that arise;

·     Questions were raised as to what opportunities, challenges and risks the Public Services Board faces going forward?  The Programme Manager responded that the strength of the Board is to working in partnership to challenge and to afford opportunities within communities.  She gave an example that Public Services Board has been supporting the application bid for a third bridge over the Menai Straits;

·     Reference was made that the Annual Report discusses the last year of the Well-being Plan for 2018- 2023.  Questions were raised as to what added value was introduced by working together as a Board? The Programme Manager responded that the members of the Boards have expressed that they consider that working within the Board has given added value, sharing good practise on a strategic level;

·     Questions raised as to what extent has the side effects of the pandemic and the cost of living crisis been seen to have an impact on the ability of the Public Services Board’s partners to deliver against the key targets and what lessons learnt during the last year of the Well-being Plan?  The Programme Manager responded that during the pandemic it was difficult for the partner organisations to respond to the work of the Public Services Board as they had key strategic responsibilities within their own organisations.  The new Well-being Plan for 2023 – 2028 will be more realistic in terms of what can be achieved by the partner organisations and what added value they can afford by working in partnership.  She noted that within the new Well-being Plan there are three corporate aims rather than nine in the previous plan;

·     Questions were raised as to whether it was considered that the responses to the questionnaire was disappointing as regards to the draft plan?  The Programme Manager responded that she considered that the 499 responses received were positive, however, it was considered that face-to-face engagement could have been more effective with community groups.  Feedback was also obtained from approximately 200 additional individuals through engagement such as workshops and information sessions and the Well-being Plan was adapted to address the comments received. 

It was RESOLVED:-

·         To accept the Annual Report and to note the progress made against the current Well-being Plan – 2018/2023;

·         To note that the Well-being Plan – 2023/2028 is to be published in July, 2023.

ACTION : As noted above.