Agenda item

To receive the Public Service Board Annual Report 2023/24 report from Councillor Jason McLellan (copy attached).

2.20pm – 2.35pm.

The Public Services Board Development Manager guided the Board through the Public Services Board (PSB) annual report 2023/24.

The 2023/24 annual report provided an overview of what the Board had achieved during the first year of the latest Well-being Plan. It was important that the PSB was accountable to the public and the report helped the PSB to self-reflect on where they felt they were making a difference, in line with the 5 ways of working as well as outlining the Board’s future direction.

 

The guidance provided for the Act specified that the annual report must detail the activity the Board had taken to meet the objectives set out in their well-being plan. However, the report could also include any other information the Board thought would be appropriate. Therefore, the report also outlined –

 

·       Achievements in the past year

·       Other areas of work

·       The Boards reflections after this year and looking forward; and

·       How people could get involved.

The annual report also detailed some key contextual measures which were relevant to the well-being themes. These were high level indicators that qualified why the themes were still a priority for the PSB and helped focus discussion going forward.

The Board was required to send a copy of their annual report to Welsh Ministers and the Boards designated overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The main achievements during 2023-2024 included –

Enhance PSB structures and governance:

The Introduction of informal meetings. This was an opportunity to facilitate networking for all members, helping to build trust and speak candidly on issues and challenges that were being faced, there was also a review of the Board’s Terms of Reference.

 

Partner organisations’ common risks and issues were discussed which may have an impact on the delivery of the Board’s Well-being Plan aspirations. It was felt there was a value in exploring these emergent risks and issues as a North Wales region with other PSBs.

 

Development of `whole systems` and collaborative region-wide approaches:

 

Presentations on Whole Systems Thinking were received from Public Health Wales (both the local and national teams). This helped in exploring the ways this approach could be applied towards the ambition to play a greater leadership role.

 

Following on from initial discussions, a systems mapping exercise was undertaken to evaluate the next steps for delivering the Well-being Plan. This was to identify the system beliefs and goals that could be taken ownership of as PSB Members, and system structures and events for organisations to take a lead on.

 

This approach was helping to ensure the most added value was received from the PSB and the transformative change wanting to be achieved.

 

Working with Communities:

 

A collaboratively developed engagement mission statement was adopted. Work was continuing to develop a community engagement plan as part of the next steps.

 

Work was currently ongoing with Wrexham University to undertake an engagement project within two communities in Conwy and Denbighshire (Pensarn and Bruton Park in Rhyl). The project was ongoing and was using creative methods (such as artwork, photography and video) to support communities tell their stories of what it looks like and feels like to live in their community.

 

Engagement had taken place with diverse communities to understand their difficulties and explore the ways the Public Sector could help empower people into employment. A number of barriers and suggested actions were identified and were being taken forward. The work was undertaken regionally on behalf of the three North Wales PSBs.

 

Progression of key PSB initiatives:

 

There was a commitment to progress the Healthy Travel Charter within all organisations, by conducting a baseline assessment of organisations’ current activity against the Charter Commitments. This would also identify any gaps and opportunities for development in line with existing organisational plans.

 

Some preparatory work had been undertaken in determining the best approach to undertaking the Climate Change Risk Assessment framework developed by Natural Resources Wales.

 

Contributions were made to the Welsh Language and Employment project led by Gwynedd and Anglesey PSB.

 

Other areas of work were also highlighted within the report including the continuation of collaborative working with other partnerships and national bodies to avoid duplication and to share ideas.

 

The Chair thanked the Public Services Board Development Manager for the report and questions and comments were welcomed from Members.

 

Members welcomed the working collaboratively approach across North Wales and expressed the benefits of a regional approach.

 

Members referred to the data on affordable housing and stated that over time this information could provide information on how the number of affordable homes available correlated with the housing need.

 

Members requested indicators on poverty and Healthy Travel within the report.

 

Members discussed the future possibility to include further indicators within the report however, due to the tight time frame it was agreed that the report could be approved as is, without the indicators included within the report.

 

Members discussed and agreed to a session on diversity as funding was still available to pursue. The session would aim to drive change across all organisations and look at the difference that PSBs could make when working collaboratively.

 

RESOLVED: that –

A.    the Conwy and Denbighshire Public Services Board agree to a further EDI session and;

B.    the Conwy and Denbighshire Public Services Board approve the Conwy and Denbighshire PSB 2023/2024 Annual Report for publication without the addition of the indicators.