Agenda item

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 Services Board should collaborate closely with the Ambition Board as they have more resources to complete the work.  The Chief Executive responded that the Health Travel Charter that has been considered and signed to facilitate active travel and well-being for employees across the partner organisations.  The North Wales Ambition Board is currently consulting on the Regional Transport Plan for Wales.  He noted that when the Ambition Board and the Partnership Board was established it was a priority that the duplication of work needed to be avoided whilst there is collaboration between the Boards as the Leaders of both Gwynedd and Anglesey are members of the Ambition Board and the Public Services Board.

·     Reference was made to the Bilingual Workforce Project which is to address as to why public organisations are struggling to recruit staff to Welsh speaking posts.  Questions were raised that the Public Services Board should be collaborating with the North Wales Ambition Board as they have a Regional Skills Partnership.  The Chief Executive referred to the list of organisations that are part of the membership of the Public Services Board as noted in 1.3 of the report and said that some of these organisations have a wider North Wales remit.   He noted that the Gwynedd and Anglesey Public Services Board can discuss the issues with specific Anglesey/Gwynedd context, rather than regional issues (i.e. North Wales).

·     Questions were raised as to what extent has the poverty situation affected progress in implementing the well-being plan.  The Chief Executive responded that the poverty plan is to minimise the impact of poverty.  He said that whilst resources are limited the Authority is working with local partner organisations and the third sector to try to reduce the impact of poverty.  He noted that sharing good practice and learning from expertise i.e. Bevan Foundation, to ensure that local interpretation of poverty is accurate was important.  He further said that the Gwynedd and Anglesey Public Services Board can ensure that the limited resources available is used efficiently and to make informed decisions.  Reference was made that small local agencies could provide important intelligence on people who are in poverty.   The Chief Executive responded that as the Public Services Board has a statutory membership, consideration could be given to establishing a network of smaller agencies working in the community (subject to resource availability) who play a role in achieving the Boards objectives.  

·     Questions were raised as to what lessons has the Public Services Board learned from past experiences and how have they shaped its structure to avoid duplication of work undertaken by the partner organisations.  The Chief Executive responded that duplication of work undertaken by partner organisations is unlikely due to the lack of capacity and resources with the Board.  He noted that working within the Board is an opportunity to influence other partner organisation and to share good practices.  The Gwynedd and Anglesey Public Services Board Programme Manager gave examples of the work undertaken by the Board in respect of Health Weight and Poverty as was highlighted within the report. She noted that sharing good practices is important and to avoid duplication of work by other organisations. Further questions were raised as to the increase of ‘take-aways’ on the high streets and questions were raised whether the Health Authority is responding to planning process when such facilities are opening as regards to healthy weight issues.  The Chief Executive said that the Health Board now responding to the planning process.  He noted that the Authority has a strategic plan through MônActif which priorities being healthy and active.

·     Questions were raised as to how the welfare objective of the Public Services Board can make sure that children and young people reach their potential. The  Gwynedd and Anglesey Public Services Board Programme Manager responded that partner organisations agreed that the ‘children and young people objective’ was a priority to enable work to be undertaken in specific areas such as the effect of trauma in early years of a child and on their achievements and the future of children and young people.  She noted that each member of the Board is receiving training on Trauma Informed to enable them to recognise the effects of trauma on children and young people.  Regional work is also undertaken to highlights the opportunities available to enable young people to be able to work within their local communities and not having to move away to gain employment. 

·     Reference was made to the ‘local engagement’ objective and especially the needs of the local community through access and transport improvements in Bro Aberffraw.  Comments were made that more Officers from the Authority and other organisations needs to attend community engagement meeting especially in the village of Newborough. Reference was made that the projects in the Bro Aberffraw will continue until February, 2026 as is noted in the report.  Questions were raised as to the future projects for the area following February 2026.  The Gwynedd and Anglesey Public Services Board Programme Manager said that ‘local engagement’ project priorities the effects of people living and working in the the Bro Aberffraw Ward.  She noted that it is hoped that the measures that will be introduced during the short and long term will address the traffic issues in the areas due to the influx of people visiting the area.  The Gwynedd and Anglesey Public Services Board Programme Manager further referred to the plans for the Bro Aberffraw Ward following February 2026 and noted that a review will be needed as to how effective the Bro Aberffraw Group have operated.  She said that the Public Service Board now operates on a Task and Finish basis to address specific projects and outputs. 

·     Reference was made that with the introduction of the new Corporate Joint Committee (CJC’s), questions were raised as to the role the Public Services Board will entail and could this lead to duplication.  The Chief Executive responded that the governance structures of the CJC’s is iperational with clear priority areas.  He noted that the geographic areas within North Wales are different, and that the priorities of the PSB are not currently included within the remit/governance of the CJC’s.

·     Questions were raised as to which projects have not been completed.  The  Gwynedd and Anglesey Public Services Board Programme Manager responded that the Trauma Informed Board has seen a slippage due to difficulties having all the partner organisations together to attend training, however dates have been agreed for the Authority’s Social Services Department to conduct training in the near future.  She further said that the Board’s Poverty project has also slipped and holding workshops with the Bevan Institute.  The Leader and Portfolio Member for Economic Developments said that this Authority is committed to be a Trauma Informed Authority across all services of the Council and the communities of Anglesey .  He noted that been part of the Gwynedd and Anglesey Public Services Boards allows for a commitment from all partner organisations to be Trauma Informed. 

It was RESOLVED to accept the governance arrangements of the Public Services Board and to note the progress against the 2023-2028 Well-being Plan published in July 2023.