Agenda and minutes

Resolved that Councillor Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council and Councillor Andrea Lewis be appointed as Joint Chairs for the Municipal Year 2020-2021.

Councillor A S Lewis (Joint Chair) Presided

Resolved that Roger Thomas, Mid & West Wales Fire & Rescue Service be appointed Vice Chair for the Municipal Year 2020-2021.

Councillor Andrea Lewis welcomed everyone to the meeting and explained that she had taken over lead responsibility for the Public Services Board for Swansea Council.

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

Phil McDonnell declared a personal interest in Minute 11 “Natural Resources Wales Funding Update”.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

Resolved that the Minutes of the Public Services Board Joint Committee held on 13 August 2020 be approved and signed as a correct record.

In addition to the comments outlined in the action log, Adam Hill reported that there was currently no desire to extend the age range for the “Early Years” work stream to include children up to 7 years of age as it was felt the age was currently fit for purpose, however a report would be submitted should the age range be extended.

Agreed that the update on actions be noted.

Questions must be submitted in writing, no later than noon on the working day prior to the meeting.  Questions must relate to items on the agenda. Questions will be dealt with in a 10 minute period.

There were no public questions.

Helena Herklots

Helena Herklots, Older People’s Commissioner for Wales and David McKinney, Ageing Well Lead joined the meeting in order to update the Committee on the recent “Leave No-one Behind report”, and how it supported Swansea’s commitment in becoming an Age Friendly City.

The Commissioner commenced by acknowledging the unusual times being encountered and thanked all the partners for the work undertaken during the Covid-19 pandemic.

She explained that discussions had commenced approximately 6 months ago in relation to both Swansea and the other Local Authorities in Wales’ development as Age Friendly Cities.  She went on to say that whilst a network of age friendly communities existed across the world but there were currently no places in Wales that were currently members of that international community, therefore she would like to develop this piece of work as well as a Community of Practice in Wales which would link into the international network.

The Commissioner stated that it was a very difficult time for older people to stay well and connected in their local communities.  She had undertaken numerous virtual network engagement sessions which were summarised in the “Leave no one Behind” report.  She went on to say that human contact encountered in local communities had been very important to older people.  However, we needed to ensure that our communities were age friendly and there were no barriers to older people taking part in daily activities  She outlined some practical issues raised which included:

·                     Adequate benches / seating available;

·                     Safe pavements;

·                     Street lighting;

·                     Ensuring our shops & businesses were aware of particular needs eg dementia, etc.

The Commissioner stated that some older people could unintentionally be excluded, and suggested that audits should be undertaken in our communities to ensure that we were age friendly and enable older people to participate and stay included.

She acknowledged that Swansea had made great progress towards an age friendly status by signing the Dublin status in 2014.  In addition, our Ageing Well plan had also been very positive.  Therefore, she felt that Swansea were well placed to be one of the leading communities in this field.

The Commissioner requested that Swansea agree to take part in the Community of Practice in Wales in order to share learning.  She also offered support to submit an application to the World Health Organisation in order to be recognised as an Age Friendly City.

It was highlighted that this topic would fit in with a later agenda item in respect of a City for Wellbeing.

Councillor Lewis thanked the Older People’s Commissioner for joining the meeting.

Agreed that the Swansea Public Services Board welcome the offer of support to submit a bid to the World Health Organisation to become an Age Friendly City and participate in the Community of Practice.

Steve King, Swansea Council

Steve King, Information, Research & GIS Team Leader, Swansea Council presented a report to note the survey questions circulated following the PSB COVID-19 recovery planning workshop (August 2020), and circulate an initial draft ‘PESTLE’ analysis of the main community impacts of COVID-19.

He outlined the background including the work undertaken including the recovery workshop undertaken in order to share partner experiences of the pandemic and devise a response to recovery.

The Information, Research & GIS Team Leader recognised that whilst this was not a full community impact assessment compared to some others undertaken in Wales, it outlined what work had been undertaken in terms of extracting the key themes and relevant streams.

It was suggested that the workstreams consider the following 3 strategic objectives to focus on in order to develop a multi-agency added value action plan to build greater resilience over the next 12 months:

1.            City for Wellbeing & Wildlife;

2.            Green / Climate Change agenda;

3.            County Lines, Substance Misuse, Anti-Social Behaviour

It was felt that a considerable amount of work had been undertaken by the Council in compiling a Climate Emergency action plan.  Part of that process would be for all partners be asked to sign up to a climate change charter and construct their own action plans for their own organisations with collaboration across organisations eg co-procurement of green vehicles.

A climate emergency had been declared prior to covid, however it had brought things into sharp focus including the health inequalities.  The economic response should not be to do more of the same and the Committee should utilise the learning already experienced.

There was a need to reflect but also prospectively look ahead and be realistic about timescales whilst supporting people to be resilient and manage expectations whilst acknowledging that the landscape had changed.

Flexibility would be required in how we react and respond whilst consideration to public tolerance, co-operation and perception was also key. However it was stressed that joint PSB’s and other organisations were continuing to collaborate across other County Boroughs and nationally too, particularly in respect of County Lines.

Agreed that:

1)        The report be noted;

2)        The Board consider the draft PESTLE analysis of community impact    and note any gaps or potential scope for improvement; in terms of          issues, their key impacts, evidence sources and policy implications;

3)        The Board use this analysis to help guide its work programme in the year ahead; and to assist in preparing for the next Assessment of Local Well-being (2022).

Steve King, Swansea Council

Steve King, Information, Research & GIS Team Leader, Swansea Council presented a report to set out issues and initial outline proposals for undertaking an Assessment of Local Well-being 2022.

Guidance from the Welsh Government was still awaited, however the report outlined and summarised the work undertaken for the previous well-being assessment and how it had been organised in terms of structure. 

Consideration of the population assessment under the Social Services & Wellbeing Act would need to dovetail the requirements of the Local Wellbeing Assessment.

As Swansea Council no longer had the same number analysts available than when the last assessment had been undertaken in 2017 support in the form of analysists / researchers / specialists to feed into this would be required from the partners. 

A lengthy discussion ensued with the following comments:

·                     Anticipate that very little would have changed since the last Wellbeing Assessment was undertaken, except the impact of Covid-19.  Resources should be transposed into meaningful actions.

·                     A truly joined up, simplified approach to the population assessment and theLocal Wellbeing assessment would be required as organisations would be asked to contribute to both.

·                     New factors for consideration would be: Covid, EU exit, climate change agenda, wider picture of economy, unemployment, SME’s.

·                     Area statements (published in April) would statutorily need to be referred to.

·                     Refresh rather than re-start, utilising current benchmarking data.

·                     Involvement of the public and wider collaboration should be taken into account in the preparation of the Local Wellbeing Assessment and factored into the development of the Wellbeing Plan. 

·                     Utilise existing partner consultation methods eg focus groups etc.  All partners would need to lead in their respective organisations.

·                     Noted that the Green Infrastructure Strategy originated from the benefits of the PSB.

·                     Actions must be seen as mutually beneficial on a multi-agency basis and focus on something that the PSB would not have been doing outside of the PSB.

Agreed that:

1)        The report be noted.

2)        The Board consider how the Assessment might be undertaken in Swansea, in light of matters raised in this report and advice anticipated shortly from Welsh Government.

Adam Hill, Swansea Council

Adam Hill updated the Committee on the £25k made available by Natural Resources Wales in respect of climate & wider changes.

He reported that an application process was undertaken and reviewed by the 4 statutory partners.  He was pleased to report that the full £25k had now been committed for the financial year up to March 2021 as follows:

·                     Fire breaks - £8k;

·                     Nature, recreation and action project - £7.5k;

·                     Swansea Environmental Forum - £8k;

·                     Working With Nature Task Group supporting Crymlyn Bog Eastside Project (to improve community engagement) - £1.5.

Agreed that the above allocations be approved by the Swansea Public Services Board Joint Committee.

Anthony Richards / Sian Denty, Swansea Council

Anthony Richards, Poverty and Prevention Strategy Development Manager and Sian Denty Poverty & Prevention Strategy Development Officer joined the meeting to update the Committee on the current situation in relation to the Poverty Truth Commission.

The Poverty and Prevention Strategy Development Manager reminded them of the background and role of the Commission and informed them that the Facilitation Team had now been recruited but progress had been hampered due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

He encouraged the PSB members to attend the virtual event that they had been invited to on 23 October 2020.  There would an opportunity for organisations in Swansea to hear from Leeds Poverty Truth Commission regarding UK support and information on the role of being a Commissioner would also be available.   Additional information, including handouts had previously been circulated to partners to forward to those interested in becoming a Civic and Business Commissioner.  Potential candidates should contact the Facilitation Team.

In addition, as an element of funding was still required for the Poverty Truth Commission, the partners were asked to consider utilising funding from next year’s Natural Resources Wales allowance or other source towards the Poverty Truth Commission.

Agreed that the update be noted.

Adam Hill, Swansea Council

Adam Hill reminded partners that information had been circulated to them in relation to the UK Prevention Research Partnership.  If anyone intended to submit an application please could inform Leanne Ahern, PSB Support Officer, however it would be the responsibility of the respective organisation to complete and submit the application.

Adam Hill reminded partners to send any responses in respect of the barriers to the successful Implementation of the Well-Being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 to Leanne Ahern, PSB Support Officer as the consultation would close on 27 November 2020.  A response would be sent collectively on behalf of Swansea Public Services Board.

Adam Hill reminded Workstream Leads to ensure that the 4 Workstream groups continue to meet on a regular basis.