Agenda and draft minutes

At this juncture, it was confirmed that Sian Williams’ role within NRW had changed and she was no longer able to Chair PSB.   Martin Cox has replaced Sian as the NRW representative.  The Vice-Chair, Iwan Davies, agreed to chair the meeting.

Apologies were received from Gerwyn Evans (Welsh Government), and Leader Cllr Hugh Evans (DCC).

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 15 September 2021(copy attached).

The minutes of the Conwy and Denbighshire Public Services Board meeting held on 15 September 2021 were submitted.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 15 September 2021 be received and approved as a correct record.

The Chair will lead on this item (copy attached).

Hannah Edwards presented the meeting action tracker.

RESOLVED that the Meeting Action Tracker be noted.

The Chair will lead on this verbal item.

No matters arising to be discussed.

The Chair will lead on this verbal item.

10.05 a.m. – 10.10 a.m.

Sian Williams’ role had changed within NRW and could no longer carry on as Chair of PSB.  Martin Cox was now the NRW representative.   Iwan Davies, Vice-Chair was nominated and unanimously agreed to Chair the Board for the remainder of the term.

The Board expressed their thanks to the Sian Williams, NRW, for Chairing PSB throughout the past two years.  Iwan Davies agreed to send a note of thanks to her.

Iwan Davies proposed Helen MacArthur as Vice-Chair for the remainder of the term.  Everyone in attendance agreed.

RESOLVED that Iwan Davies be appointed Chair and Helen MacArthur be appointed as Vice-Chair for the remainder of the term.

Fran Lewis to provide members with an overview of the responses to the report of the Public Accounts Committee Delivering for Future Generations (copy attached).

10.10 a.m. – 10.20 a.m.

Fran Lewis introduced the Responses to Report of the Public Accounts Committee Delivering for Future Generations – the story so far report.

In March 2021 Welsh Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) released their findings following an inquiry in to the barriers of implementing the WBFG Act and how it could be implemented successfully in the future.

The Public Accounts Committee had put forward recommendations and responses were included in Appendix A of the report.

Key points were as follows –

·         Longer term financial responsibility for public bodies.  Future funding possibilities for PSBs.  There would be no additional funding from Welsh Government for PSBs.

·         The Future Generations Office had allocated points of contact for each public body in Wales. This would give additional opportunities to improve communication, provide advice and support and help signpost to other colleagues internally and across Wales

·         The Welsh Government to carry out a review of the public bodies subject to the Well-being and Future Generations Act by summer 2022

·         The Welsh Government must not create any new partnership or collaborative structures to fulfil any functions.

·         Recommendations 13 and 14 of the report were the responsibility of the Senedd.

RESOLVED that members note the responses received to the recommendations and the implications for the PSB.

Graham Boase to provide members with details of the consultation on the Conwy and Denbighshire Public Services Board’s Well-being Assessment 2021 (copy attached).

10.20 a.m. – 10.40 a.m.

Nicola Kneale introduced the Well-being Assessment – Approval for Consultation report to provide details of the consultation on the Conwy and Denbighshire Public Services Board Well-being Assessment 2021.

The report described the process that had been undertaken to refresh the Well-being Assessment since its first launch in 2017, and the next steps for launching the consultation.

In line with statutory deadlines, it was planned to launch the Well-being Assessment consultation from January 2022 to March 2022 for a period of 8 weeks. Once any feedback from the public had been considered and changes actioned accordingly, the final assessment would be presented back to the PSB meeting on March 23^rd 2022. This would allow for sufficient time to meet the statutory deadline for publishing the Well-being Assessment on May 5^th 2022.

A communications plan had been developed to ensure a press release would be published, publish the consultation on the organisational websites, post on social media, email all key stakeholders, notify talking newspapers, establish an online survey (and make paper copies available).  Further information was contained within Appendix B. 

The effects of climate change continued to be an urgency as was covid 19. 

Digital infrastructure was important for the sustainability of communities.

Following discussion it was –

RESOLVED that:

·         PSB considers and approves the launch of the consultation on the Conwy & Denbighshire Public Services Board’s (PSB’s) Well-being Assessment;

·         PSB understands and agrees the approach to launching the public consultation for the Well-being Assessment;

·         PSB also considers the feedback received from the Future Generations Commissioner on the previous Well-being assessment that asked us to be more explicit about PSBs response to the Well-being Assessment.

Bethan Jones to provide a verbal update on the production of new well-being Plan.

10.40 a.m. – 11.00 a.m.

Bethan Jones commenced the introduction of the Production of New Well-being Plan verbal report which was needed to be published by 5 May 2023.

Unfortunately, at this juncture, Bethan Jones lost internet connection to the meeting.

Fran Lewis continued with the verbal report. 

The challenge for the new Well-Being Plan would be where PSB could make a difference but was about the PSB capacity and resources to hand.  

This would be an opportunity if PSB were to alter their focus and to take on a more leadership role.  Where could PSB lead in terms of addressing barriers which was a very prescriptive area.   Compliance with legislation was imperative. 

Discussions were taking place as to the way forward for a regional approach to engagement and research analysis.  

RESOLVED that the Public Services Board noted the verbal report.

Tom Barnham to provide a verbal update.

11.00 a.m. – 11.10 a.m.

A Social Value Awareness Presentation was given by Tom Barnham.

It was stressed that the work taking place was taken a lot more seriously when measured and reported on social value.   It was important to measure and present social interventions in an effective way. 

It was confirmed that a minority of organisations had dedicated staff to measure social value reporting and in Wales it was usually outside organisations who addressed social value.

Members agreed the climate change challenge could be linked in with social value.

Wendy Jones, CVSC confirmed they were part of a project which was lottery funded and most Voluntary Service Councils had staff who could undertake the work.  Unfortunately, social value work was very labour intensive but reiterated CVSC could undertake the work on behalf of organisations if required.

At this juncture, the Board Members thanked Tom Barnham for his very interesting and thought provoking presentation.

RESOLVED that Public Services Board members note the presentation by Tom Barnham regarding Social Value.

Gerwyn Evans to provide a verbal update.

11.10 a.m. – 11.25 a.m.

This item had been deferred.

The Chair will lead on this item (copy attached).

11.25 a.m. – 11.30 a.m.

A copy of the PSB forward work programme was presented, and the following matters were discussed -

31 January 2022 – Workshop – Further discussions to take place on the Well-being Plan and also the Well-being Assessment consultation.

The next full PSB meeting will take place on 23 March 2022

The Chair, Iwan Davies confirmed the importance of having future item on Corporate Joint Committees and how they would feed into regional landscape.

Sarah Schofield (ADRA) stated that Helen Kirk would be taking over from the New Year for Housing Associations.

RESOLVED that, subject to the above, the forward work programme be approved.

The Chair thanked everyone for their attendance and contribution.

The meeting concluded at 11.25 a.m.