Agenda item

To provide members with an update on the approach and progress to refreshing the assessment (copy enclosed).

10.45 am – 11.15 am

Nicola Kneale presented the report (previously circulated) providing an update on progress to develop the Conwy and Denbighshire Wellbeing Assessment.  An update was also provided on the North Wales PSB grant and approval sought for the regional proposals in support of research and engagement.

PSBs were required to prepare and publish a wellbeing assessment every 5 years and a working group had been set up with PSB partners to begin that process.  Rapid reviews had been carried out on topic areas together with mapping of any recent engagement, and community engagement activities would take place over the summer to inform the assessment and vice versa.  It was proposed that a consultation ready draft would be published in October 2021.

Welsh Government had reinstated the PSB support grant for 2021/22 with £87,273 being made available for the North Wales region.  The funding had a clear criteria and it was proposed the grant be used for the collation of research and analysis on themes of regional and sub-regional relevance.  Wrexham Glyndwr University had developed a partnership model proposal to support the research and DCC were leading on developing an alternative service delivery model agreement.  The North Wales PSB officer group had developed a regional engagement proposal to formalise arrangements to support engagement.  Finally reference was made to the benefits of working with the Co-production Network for Wales with an expression of interest submitted by the North Wales PSB officer group in that regard.

The Board thanked officers for the comprehensive report and acknowledged the importance of the wellbeing assessment which would underpin public bodies’ strategic planning for the next few years.  During the ensuing debate members highlighted the importance of close working with the Regional Partnership Board (RPB), who were also undertaking a needs assessment, to ensure a fully coordinated approach, and also a focus on the impact of Covid-19 looking forward with regard to longer term lessons.  Whilst the link with Glyndwr University was important, there was also a need to understand some of the national research in relation to future developments.  In response to the issues raised officers –

·         provided assurances regarding the close working with RPB colleagues to ensure the work was integrated and links would be made

·         clarified that the RPB undertook a population needs assessment on a similar frequency to PSB’s wellbeing assessment and their work would feed into that – however RPB’s work would particularly focus on client groups whereas PSB’s work was based on more general population and early intervention

·         confirmed that when writing the chapters for the wellbeing goals and undertaking analysis of the situation in Conwy and Denbighshire consideration would be given to Covid-19 and drawing on research to speculate on what it was anticipated would happen in the future – however given the situation was ongoing at present any conclusions drawn were speculative and it was hoped that as an active partner, Glyndwr University would help ensure that the conclusions drawn in the assessment would be reviewed as the impact of pandemic became more apparent over the next few months and years.

The Board agreed that the process needed the flexibility to reach conclusions and review them as the situation developed and welcomed the link with Glyndwr University as part of that learning experience which would prove beneficial in that process.  The Chair thanked all those involved with the hard work being undertaken to progress the wellbeing assessments during uncertain and challenging times.

RESOLVED that members –

(a)       approve the progress made within the project plan for the development of the well-being assessment;

(b)       support the North Wales PSB grant submission;

(c)        support the partnership model proposal from Glyndwr University to support the well-being assessment regionally;

(d)       support the draft alternative service delivery model agreement;

(e)       support the regional engagement proposal, and

(f)         support the North Wales expression of interest to Co-production Network for Wales.

At this point (11.00 am) the meeting adjourned for a short break.