Agenda item

To inform members of progress to date against the priority areas and seek approval for specific areas of work.

 

(a)  Mental Well-being

To receive a verbal update on the Mental Well-being priority by Richard Firth (Public Health Wales)

 

(b)  Community Empowerment

To receive an update on the Community Empowerment priority by Judith Greenhalgh (Chief Executive, DCC), and Helen Wilkinson (Chief Executive, DVSC) (copy attached)

 

(c)  Environmental Resilience

To receive an update on the Environment Resilience priority by the Chair (copy attached)

2.15 p.m. – 3.00 p.m.

 

(a)  Mental Well-being

 

Richard Firth (Public Health Wales) provided an update on the mental well-being priority. He confirmed work is beginning to progress on this priority, with meetings held with BCUHB and the Local Implementation Team (LIT) for Conwy and Denbighshire. 

 

Looking at rural focus together with the effect of Brexit.  Libraries work was ongoing which tied in with LIT (Local Implementation Team) and ICAN.  They were setting up mental health and suicide training and hoping to take that further.  A paper was to be produced and circulated to all PSB members.

 

A report is currently being drafted, with data measurements available in approximately one week. This will provide an up to date position on the priority and contain options for taking strand of work forward. 

 

The Chair requested the paper be circulated to the Board in early January, in order for Members to consider.

 

It was agreed that a briefing note prior to the meeting be supplied within the agenda pack in future.

 

(b)  Community Empowerment

 

Judith Greenhalgh, Chief Executive of Denbighshire County Council, informed the Board that cross partnership working was working well with opportunities for joint working being explored.  The sub-group will next meet in February 2020 to progress this work.

 

In regards Dementia Aware Community Led programme, it was noted that a lot of community led work had taken place.  In January 2020 planning for the Dementia Friendly week which will be in May 2020 will commence.  It was suggested that the PSB take a collaborative approach to support activities during Dementia Week.

 

HW informed members that DVSC had been a successful recipient of the Foundational Economy Challenge Fund to support the reopening of Ruthin Market Hall with Denbighshire County Council.  The Market Hall will be run as a Social Enterprise to support inclusive economic growth in the area. A meeting was due to take place in Ruthin and papers to be shared from the Welsh Government. 

 

Work on homelessness had not been provided due to capacity issues.   It was confirmed that before an update could be provided, issues needed to be prioritised and further work carried out.  The National Lottery provided priority funding for homelessness schemes.

 

(c)  Environment Resilience

 

Fran Lewis, Corporate Performance and Improvement Manager (CCBC) provided an update on the community Green Pledges and Environmental Policy Statements (previously circulated).

 

Following approval of the Community Pledges in July 2019 by the Board, work has progressed with Conwy County Borough Council’s marketing team to support the engagement of the scheme.  A meeting has been arranged with the Communications Officers from PSB partner organisations to share and seek views on this work and discuss how partners can help promote and encourage participation of the scheme.

 

The Community Pledges will be formally launched in the New Year.  In the interim officers are using partners own engagement activity as a soft launch for the scheme to inform groups how they can get involvement.

 

The Environmental Position Statement had been revised to focus on 2 commitment areas, Carbon and Energy and Climate Change Adaptation.

 

FL informed members that draft measures have been identified, however there are some actions where measures had not been identified as further work was required to establish direction.  The environment sub-group will be reconvened in the New Year to progress this work and finalise the performance measures. 

 

An update was presented for the Regional Environment Programme Board by the Chair. 

 

Following the regional environment event which was held in September 2019, there were proposals to establish a regional approach to the PSBs environment work.  This was taken to the North Wales Regional Leadership Board and included:

·         Establishing a North Wales Regional Environment Programme Board

·         Establishing sub-groups for each of the themes identified at the event (fleet, assets, procurement and land management)

·         Use the North Wales Regional Public Services Board grant to commission a consultant to initially scope and provide recommendations to take the Board forward.

 

The North Wales Regional Leadership Board were supportive of the proposals and requested further information on structure and proposed membership be provided at a future meeting.

 

Work was progressing on developing a tender specification to commission consultant to scope and identify gaps.  It was anticipated the tendering process would start in the New Year.

 

Iwan Davies informed members that the North Wales Regional Leadership Board have identified climate change as a priority.  The Board is due to hold a workshop in January 2020 to establish direction. 

 

Bethan Jones informed members that BCUHB were to hold a workshop with an environmental specialist in the New Year.

 

RESOLVED that

1. the Board notes the PSB priorities updates.
2. the mental well-being options report is circulated to Members when available in the New Year.
3. the performance measures for the environment position statement be presented at the March 2020 meeting.