Agenda and minutes

Councillor Clive Lloyd, Joint Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and introductions were made.

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

No declarations were made.

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

Agreed that the Minutes of the Swansea Public Services Board Joint Committee held on 17 October 2019 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Matters Arising:

Item 19 “Update from Critical Incident Group – High Street, Swansea”

Alun Michael, Police & Crime Commissioner set out the importance and wider Welsh context in relation to the issues highlighted by the Critical Incident Group (CIG) at a Joint Public Services Board (PSB) between Swansea & Neath Port Talbot on 15 January 2020.

Assistant Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan presented a paper on behalf of the Chief Constable indicating that even though targeted action had been taken, it was clear that they were not having the required impact and not solving the problem.  Mr Michael stated that Swansea and Neath Port Talbot were 2^nd and 3^rd after Blackpool in relation to drug related deaths in Wales.

The Ministers took their concerns on board, however Karen Jones, Neath Port Talbot (NPT) and Joanna Maal, South Wales Police (SWP), Chairs of the Area Planning Boards had been tasked to progress the issues on an “All Wales” basis.

Mr Michael made a plea for Swansea PSB to regard this item higher on its agenda and work together to progress the work in relation to:

·       Substance Misuse;

·       ACE’s;

·       Mental Health;

·       Violence against women and girls.

He outlined details of the “DRIVE” scheme – an innovative approach to high-harm perpetrators of domestic abuse. Rhondda Cynon Taff and Merthyr would be undertaking the first pilot with Cardiff the second. The scheme would be extended to Swansea and Neath Port Talbot towards the second half of the next financial year.

It was acknowledged that when the local wellbeing assessments for the Future Generations and Wellbeing Act had been drafted, the partners had been unaware at that time of the huge amount of work involved and that had resulted from the CIG.  It had however highlighted the flexibility of the partners and their ability to react to and work together at short notice in order to address the problems being encountered.

Action – Adam Hill to liaise with Karen Jones and Joanna Maal & Angharad Metcalfe (Police Crime Commissioner’s Office) and relevant information to be circulated to the Public Services Board Joint Committee.

Councillor Clive Lloyd, Joint Chair reported on the actions from the last meeting held on 17 October 2019.

·                Climate Change Scheme – documentation not circulated as work ongoing with potential opportunity for tendering for climate change Phase 2 project.  Further discussions to take place in the Working with Nature workstream and update be provided at future PSB Joint Committee;

·                Pooled Budgets – item to be closed until the need arises;

·                Review terms of reference for RPB & PSB – various meetings held, table top exercise to be undertaken and paper to be submitted to future meeting in relation to items that could be collaborated on;

·                 Ash dieback – Peter Jordan reported that Natural Resources Wales and Swansea Council had been working together in respect of the Ash Dieback Programme.  If any other Partners wished to be involved they should let him know.  If required, an update on progress could be reported to a future meeting.

Agreed that the actions be noted.

Questions must relate to matters on the open part of the Agenda of the meeting and will be dealt with in a 10 minute period.

Mr Perrot asked 2 questions in relation to funding in respect of Nature and Climate emergencies and the duties imposed by the  Flood and Water Management Act and how the Capital funding apportioned to the 5 strands in the National strategy for the Swansea PSB area.

Peter Jordan, Natural Resources Wales provided a comprehensive verbal response to Mr Perrot.

·                 Early Years – Swansea Bay University Health Board;

·                 Live Well, Age Well – Adam Hill, Swansea Council;

·                 Working With Nature – Martyn Evans, Natural Resources Wales;

·                 Strong Communities – Roger Thomas, Mid & West Wales Fire & Rescue Service.

Each of the Objective Leads provided an update on:

·                Early Years – Sian Harrop-Griffiths stated there were no risks identified for this workstream ;

·                Live Well, Age Well;

·                Working with Nature;

·                Strong Communities – a discussion ensued regarding the issues outlined in both the Highlight Report and Risk Log.  It was acknowledged there was a need to re-evaluate both the work and the priorities and noted that the issue was not unique to Swansea PSB. There was frustration around the pace around what the PSB was doing and whether it added value.  Whilst the PSB had the appetite to change, working towards a single structure with more partnerships but fewer meetings would be beneficial.  The WLGA could help to rationalise the structure.  It was also hoped the new Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill would assist.

Councillor Rob Stewart stated that Swansea Council were in the process of drafting a Climate Change Strategy which he hoped partners would sign up to.  He also mentioned Swansea becoming the first Human Rights City in the UK and suggested this be an agenda item for the next Joint Committee.

Agreed that:

1)              The updates be noted;

2)              The PSB re-evaluate the priorities of the Strong Communities Work stream in the next Swansea PSB Partnership Forum scheduled for 12 May 2020.  A preparation meeting would be held the following week if partners wished to be involved.  Partners were also requested to suggest a venue for 70-100 people – information should be sent to the PSB Support Officer.

3)              Human Rights City be placed on the agenda for the next PSB Joint Committee.

Chair

Councillor Clive Lloyd, Joint Chair presented the Joint Committee Risk Log.

Agreed that the Joint Committee Risk / Issue Log be noted.

Adam Hill

As a result of the Wales Audit Office Report – Review of Public Services Boards, Adam Hill and Sian Harrop-Griffiths had produced a discussion paper to consider the 4 recommendations outlined in the report.

Adam Hill stated that Swansea PSB was in a relatively good place, however there was still some work to be undertaken in relation to a communications strategy and the involvement and input of citizens and stakeholders needed to be considered as part of each work stream.

Sian Harrop-Griffiths informed the Committee that Neath Port Talbot PSB were setting up a Citizens Panel, which would be a good starting point.

Agreed that the report be noted.

Pete Jordan

Pete Jordan provided brief details of the Welsh Government Capital Funding for Nature and Climate emergencies / Natural Resources Wales Grant Programmes.

He stated he would provide a more comprehensive report to a future Swansea PSB meeting to outline exact details once they had been formally received. 

Agreed that:

1)              The verbal update be noted:

2)              Further funding details be reported to the PSB Joint Committee once they had been formally received.

Chair

Councillor Clive Lloyd, Joint Chair provided a verbal update in relation to the Public Services Board Scrutiny Performance Panel held on 5 February 2020. 

Sian Harrop-Griffiths, Adam Hill and Councillor Lloyd had attended the Panel meeting to answer questions on both the Early Years and Live Well, Age Well work streams.

They stated it was a positive meeting which highlighted that the Partnerships were working well, inclusive and good working relationships had been forged.

Agreed that the verbal update be noted. 

Adam Hill

Item already discussed in Minute 24 “Minutes of the last meeting”.

Adam Hill

Adam Hill provided a verbal update in relation to the Critical Incident Group (CIG) as follows:

·                Covered vulnerable street workers, Anti-Social Behaviour, Substance Misuse and violence;

·                Assessment showed a decrease of 37% in respect of anti-social behaviour and 47% reduction in violence with injury;

·                Adam Hill & Superintendent Gareth Morgan had visited University of Wales Trinity St. David’s to talk to Law students – feedback that students now felt safer in High Street;

·                South Wales Police considering bi-monthly meetings with residents and local businesses;

·                Consider public session annually to means test;

·                BAROD outreach project working alongside the SWAN project and officers from Operation Jaeger;

·                Extension of needle exchange now available from the SWAN project van;

·                Vacant units at top of High Street would be managed and used as “safe spaces”;

·                City Centre Ranger appointed for High Street;

·                Positive news regarding restoration works on the Palace Theatre.

It was highlighted that this was a good example for the “Strong Communities” work stream even though it was achieved through a different methodology.

Agreed that the update be noted.

Chair

Anthony Richards, Poverty and Prevention Strategy and Development Manager provided a verbal update on the Poverty Truth Commission.

He stated it would be the first Poverty Truth Commission in Wales and would:

·                 Bring about change, change communities, organisations, behaviours and attitudes towards poverty and take action to tackle it;

·                 Bring together key decision makers with people who have direct lived experience of poverty to form a group of 30 Commissioners, 15 Civic / Business and 15 Community Commissioners; 

·                 Create a safe space for Commissioners to meet together, build relationships, trust and confidence in each other;

·                 Identify key issues they will work on together, over a limited timescale, guided by the experiences of the Community Commissioners. (Timescale from Public Launch to Closing Event / Final Report publication - 18 months);

·                 Ensure that those affected by decisions are central to decision making.

The Commission would have a 2 year life cycle.  The first six months would involve establishing the facilitation team, testifying Commissioners and identifying the key issues that the Commission will prioritise to work on, which influences who will be invited to be the Civic and Business Commissioners.

This would be followed by a public launch, around September / October which would mark the start of the commission and its 18 month process.  A report would be produced at the end of the process to communicate the outcomes and impacts.

The start-up group to date had commenced:

·       Selecting a host organisation (Swansea Council for Voluntary Services (SCVS));

·       Secured sufficient funding (partly achieved but there was still a funding gap of £40k);

·       Recruiting the Facilitation Team (in place by April 2020).

The Commission would run until April 2022.

Agreed that the update be noted. 

Adam Hill reminded partners that the Annual Report would need to be completed soon.

A template would be circulated, however any examples, pictures or case studies to be forwarded to Leanne Ahern, PSB Support Officer in the next fortnight.

Action:

1)              All partners to forward examples, pictures or case studies to Leanne Ahern, PSB Support Officer within the next fortnight.