Agenda and draft minutes

The minutes of the Conwy and Denbighshire Public Services Board (PSB held on 28 September 2017 were presented for approval.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Conwy and Denbighshire PSB held on 28 September 2017 be approved.

The Chair will lead on this item.

None.

Report by Sally Baxter (BCUHB)

1.45 p.m. – 2.00 p.m.

Sally Baxter, the Assistant Director Health Strategy, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB), introduced the report to share information on the draft priorities within the BCUHB Corporate Strategy Programme, Living Healthier, Staying Well and to seek feedback from the PSB.

The proposed long term strategic direction for the Health Board for the next ten years had been submitted to the Health Board meeting held on 20 October 2017.  The consultation closes in December 2017 and the strategy would be finalised in the New Year.

A summary version of the community engagement document had been included with the papers circulated for the meeting which identified priorities for the first three years of the strategy.  Following further refinement in the light of feedback from the current engagement process, these would steer the Health Board’s three year plan which would be developed for 2018-21.

Further work with partners would be sought to ensure there was consistency with, but not duplication of, the work of the Public Services Boards being taken forward through the Well-being Plans.

The Programme had been supported throughout continuous engagement and involvement of representatives of partner organisations, stakeholders, community groups, people with experience of services and carers.

During 2017, a series of targeted events were held to inform of specific issues within the strategy programme and more general discussions with a wider range of groups, which had included broad staff involvement.

A further period of engagement would be undertaken to gather feedback on the overall emerging priorities.

It was confirmed that indicators would be used to evaluate the impact of processes and actions against goals.

RESOLVED that the Conwy and Denbighshire Public Services Board considered the draft priorities of the Living Healthier, Staying Well report.

Report by Mohammed Mehmet (Denbighshire County Council)

2.00 p.m. – 2.30 p.m.

The Chief Executive of Denbighshire County Council introduced the Council’s Corporate Plan 2017-2022 for information.

Denbighshire County Council approved its Corporate Plan in October 2017. 

Five priorities had been identified for the period 2017-2022:

a.     Housing – everyone is supported to live in homes that meet their needs

b.     Connected communities – communities are connected and have access to goods and services locally, online and through good transport links

c.     Resilient communities – the council works with people and communities to build independence and resilience

d.     Environment – attractive and protected, supporting well-being and economic prosperity

e.     Young people – a place where younger people will want to live and work and have the skills to do so.

The criteria for what makes a Priority was “something new that will make a significant difference to our residents”.   All other activity would be covered in the Council’s Corporate Portfolio.

The Priorities outlined in this Corporate Plan had been drawn up via a thorough and clear process of evidence-gathering and analysis (Well-being Assessment) and in-depth consultation with the communities (County Conversation).

Once Priorities were drafted, a series of workshops were held with staff from Denbighshire County Council and relevant partner organisations to generate ideas as to how the priorities should be addressed.

The ideas were generated and developed with a cross-party group of Members and officers too, in order to reach consensus that the pledges to which Denbighshire were committed were sufficiently ambitious and realistic.

The County Conversation work would continue throughout the life of the Corporate Plan.  As each Priority was developed further and successes achieved, the Corporate Plan Communications Strategy would be used to keep a focus on the plan.

During discussion it was:

·       Confirmed that apart from Housing, everything within the Corporate Plan was mapped with the PSB Well-being Plan.

·       It was agreed by the Board that there’s clear synergy between the Local Authority’s and the Public Services Board’s plans.

·       Two Corporate Boards were to be set up to steer the Corporate Plan.

·       All six Local Authorities together with the Public Services Board would be working together to share priorities in readiness for preparation of the regional growth bid.   It was agreed to distribute the growth bid information to all Board Members for information.

To ensure information is passed on to the PSB regarding the Growth Bid, the Chief Executive of Denbighshire County Council confirmed there was a Chief Executive and Senior Officers Group meeting taking place and an overview from that meeting could be presented to the PSB.  The Chair agreed for the update to be included at the workshop taking place at the end of January 2018.

RESOLVED that:

(i)              the Board acknowledged the Denbighshire County Council Corporate Plan.

(ii)             a representative from the North Wales Economic Ambition Board be invited to attend the PSB workshop in January 2018, to provide the Board with an overview of the Regional Growth Bid.

Presentation by Ken Cook (Welsh Government)

3.00 p.m. – 3.30 p.m.

Ken Cook, Head of Renewable Energy, Welsh Government presented a verbal report regarding the implications of Brexit.

Mr Cook emphasised there were three areas of Brexit:

·       What we have now and what is at risk

·       What will happen in 2019, and

·       Conversation which would be starting with publication of some proposals from the Welsh Government before Christmas economic development.

Wales benefited from approximately £680million of EU funding per annum, which was distributed by the Welsh Government.

In terms of what would happen on 29 March 2019, there was no definitive response to that as yet.  The Chancellor had undertaken to underwrite any funding prior to leaving the EU.  Therefore, any projects approved leading up to that date would be guaranteed funding.

There were further uncertainties regarding the transition period which informed by the UK Government would be no more than 2 years.   The First Minister had written to the UK Government at the beginning of 2017 to set out six principles to secure for the future.

In terms of post-Brexit there had been a UK Government strategy.  If a challenge based approach were to be taken this would address structural difficulties within Wales.  The Welsh Government is to publish a Paper prior to Christmas setting out the principles going forward. 

It was requested that the treasury guarantee guidance be distributed to the Board Members for their information.

Ken Cook also confirmed that projects would continue to be put forward for funding and the Chair requested that Members of the Board look for priorities which required funding prior to Brexit.

Mr Cook was thanked by the Board for his informative verbal report.

RESOLVED that:

(i)              the PSB acknowledged the Brexit implications report.

(ii)             that Welsh Government officers circulate the treasury guidance to PSB Members

(iii)            that the PSB follow up with the Welsh European Funding Office as the situation becomes clearer on Brexit.

At this juncture (3.10 p.m.) there was a 15 minute break.

The meeting reconvened at 3.25 p.m.

The Chair will lead on this item.

3.00 p.m. – 3.55 p.m.

The Chair introduced the verbal report regarding current Leadership Challenges and Risks for the Counties.

The Chair confirmed that all partners’ Corporate Plans would be programmed into the PSB Agenda packs throughout the future meetings for information. 

General discussion took place and the following points were raised:

·       How the leadership challenges could be addressed and what support would be required from all partners, including what should be added to future PSB Agenda packs for assistance.

·       As cuts within public organisations were at the forefront, how smarter working could be incorporated and even look at third party organisations taking on some aspects of the work (for which they would be able to apply for funding).

·       The sharing of future budgeting assumptions from all organisations and the possibility of smarter working between all the public organisations to ensure duplication of work did not occur.

·       The need for commitment from all partners to deliver the PSB Wellbeing Plan would be necessary to ensure the positive delivery of the Plan.

·       The continued delivery of services.  This could be discussed in more detail during the workshop due to be held in January 2018.

·       It was requested that a standing item be included within the future PSB Agenda packs to show rationale behind some difficult decisions and to develop more team work.

RESOLVED that the PSB acknowledged the current leadership challenges and risks for the counties.

Consultation update and proposal for Workshops.

Verbal report by Fran Lewis and Nicola Kneale.

3.55 p.m. – 4.05 p.m.

The Corporate Performance and Improvement Manager (Conwy County Borough Council) presented the verbal report for the update of the draft Wellbeing Plan.

It was confirmed that the Plan was out for consultation.  An open invitation had been circulated to all community Groups for an officer to attend to discuss the Wellbeing Plan in more detail if necessary.

NRW, CCBC and BCU have presented the draft PSB well-being plan to their respective committees and it had been well received.

The Chair thanked the Officers for their work on the Plan.

RESOLVED that the PSB acknowledged and approved the Draft Well-being Plan.

Verbal report by Fran Lewis and Nicola Kneale.

4.05 p.m. – 4.15 p.m.

The Strategic Planning Team Manager (Denbighshire County Council) presented the verbal report for the Well-being Plan Timetable.

As stated, the Plan was currently out to consultation until 22 January 2018, following which, it would be required to be agreed by all Member organisations of the PSB. 

The Plan would then be resubmitted to the PSB meeting in April 2018 to be ratified.

RESOLVED that PSB acknowledged and approved the Well-being Plan timetable.

The Chair will lead on this item.

4.15 p.m. – 4.20 p.m.

The Forward Work Programme was presented and the following additions were noted:

·       North Wales Economic Ambition Board – Regional Growth Bid overview

·       Current Leadership Challenges and Risks for the Counties.

·       Corporate Plans from various partners for future meetings – NWP present at the next meeting in April 2018.

PSBs and Anti-Poverty (for information)

Report by Fran Lewis and Nicola Kneale.

For information, the response from PSB was submitted to Members.

Resolved that the PSB approved the response for submission to the Welsh Assembly, subject to the inclusion of community area data under question 3. 

It was requested that when tweets and social media notifications were sent out, that PSB Members be tagged in so as not to miss any of the notifications.

The meeting concluded at 4.00 p.m.