Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

No declarations were made.

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

Resolved that the Minutes of the Swansea Public Services Board held on 15 October 2020 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Adam Hill, Swansea Council provided an update on the actions arising from the previous meeting.

 

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.

Rev. Ruth Coombs & Jamie Westcombe, The Equality & Human Rights Commission

Reverend Ruth Coombs & Jamie Westcombe from The Equality & Human Rights Commission provided a verbal update on the Socio-Economic Duty.

 

Reverend Coombs explained that the Equality Act 2010 Socio Economic duty was scheduled to come into force in Wales on 31 March 2021.  It required listed public bodies when making strategic decisions such as deciding priorities, setting objectives, etc to consider how their decisions might help to reduce the inequalities associated with socio economic disadvantage.  Those inequalities could include inequalities in education, health, housing, crime rates, susceptibility to fire, etc.  The overall aim of the duty was to deliver better outcomes for those who live and experience socio-economic disadvantage.

 

She indicated that whilst Public Service Boards would probably not be listed under the duty, the individual organisations that made up a PSB would.  The work that PSBs undertook as part of the PSB would also be covered by the duty.  PSBs would need to demonstrate that they were fulfilling the aims of the duty by, for example, when taking account of evidence and potential impact and making demonstrable changes to decisions and funding allocations.

 

Therefore it was really important that when making strategic decisions such as budget decisions or strategic plans that these be taken into account via:

 

·                     A community of place or

·                     A community of interest (people from a particular restricted characteristic) and that the PSB records what differences taking that engagement into account makes in its decision making (audit trail).

 

Jamie Westcombe outlined various examples for the Joint Committee.

 

Reverend Coombs went on to explain the role of The Equality & Human Rights Commission as a regulator but initially it would focus on providing advice and information to organisations.

 

Work had progressed with Welsh Government (WG) and others to produce guidance on how to implement the duty.  The WG final statistical guidance was scheduled to be published when the duty came into force but it was unlikely to alter from the interim guidance.  Various guidance could be found on both the Welsh Government and The Equality & Human Rights Commission websites, including the following statistical reports:

 

“Is Wales Fairer 2018” (general report):

Is Wales Fairer? (2018) | Equality and Human Rights Commission (equalityhumanrights.com)

and the 2020 impact that Coronavirus has affected equality and human rights:

How coronavirus has affected equality and human rights | Equality and Human Rights Commission (equalityhumanrights.com)

 

The final report in relation to the research that had been conducted by The Equality & Human Rights Commission into how public services plan to take forward the duty would also be published in March 2021.

 

Reverent Coombs welcomed Swansea PSB actively considering how it could support the duties aims and demonstrate how it could make an active difference to reducing inequalities of outcome and changing people’s lives.

 

The Equality & Human Rights Commission had also been working with The Wellbeing of Future Generations Team in relation to how the various legislations overlap and link in with the wellbeing goals under the Wellbeing & Future Generations Act, in order to support that implementation.

 

Reverent Coombs outlined details of a webinar scheduled for 23 February with The Future Generations Commissioner should anyone wish to sign up:

 

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/equality-and-human-rights-exchange-cyfnewidfa-cydraddoldeb-a-hawliau-dynol-tickets-137814363471

 

WG were also in the process of developing an eLearning module and several useful films were being developed by The Equality & Human Rights Commission.

 

Amanda Carr also mentioned the recent WG Communities report into Covid19 voluntary sector response which contained some recommendations that linked to how PSBs might work:

https://www.scvs.org.uk/news/wp-report-covid3rdsector-jan21

 

Reverent Coombs stressed that she and her team were available to help and guide the PSB over the next year or so. She also welcomed any good examples from the partners that could be shared as good practice.

 

Adam Hill confirmed that this item had been added to the future work programme of the PSB and looked forward to being able to share training / opportunities together at its next meeting on 8 April once the duty had been enforced.  It was suggested that Reverend Coombs and Jamie Westcombe return in 6 months to discuss progress.

 

The Chair thanked Reverend Coombs and Jamie Westcombe for their informative presentation.

 

The verbal update was noted.

Angharad Metcalfe, Police & Crime Commissioners Office

Angharad Metcalfe, Police & Crime Commissioners Office provided a verbal update on the Integrated Public Health Approach to Substance Misuse.

 

She reminded the Committee that together with Josie Smith, they had produced a paper on the Integrated Public Health Approach for Swansea & Neath Port Talbot. 

 

In January 2020 the Joint Swansea and Neath Port Talbot Public Services Board (PSB) had agreed that it wanted to take a new approach to substance misuse in the Swansea & Neath Port Talbot areas.  Therefore, on 16 October 2020 she was asked by the Joint PSB to consider how the multi-disciplinary, multi sectoral, collaborative approach could be implemented. 

 

Since that time, support and expertise had been gained from the Dundee Commission, in particular Andy Perkins, as Dundee had experienced a significant amount of drug related deaths.  In addition, Lynda Hutchinson, an expert in Alliancing Commissioning had also been consulted.  This this would be a new whole system approach similar to that adopted by Plymouth, who had succeeding in the reduction of 26 contracts down to just 1.  This not only made substantial savings but ensured it considered the outcomes for service users.

 

She stressed that the approach to be adopted needed to be developed by service user voice, clinicians and staff working with the service users and their families.

 

She went on to state that the Area Planning Board (APB) were now considering implementation and detail for delivery.  It was hoped that following the next meeting scheduled for 3 March 2021 there would be a firm agreement of the structure and governance in order to implement the vision / agreement of principles in order to move forward with detailed delivery, commissioning and planning to progress.

 

She stressed that action was required urgently given the amount of drug related deaths that continue to be encountered, however significant consideration would need to be given regarding the complexities of the individuals concerned. 

 

Whilst the Committee were supportive of progressing this piece of work, there was a discussion regarding the governance and route for approval of the process.  This needed to be clarified via the APB and reported back to Swansea PSB Joint Committee. In addition the Regional Programme Board would need to be consulted due to their links with Mental Health commissioning.

 

Funding of the scheme was discussed as there would need to be a specific resource in place to drive this forward as a significant change programme. It was confirmed that current funding would not be diverted to this scheme, however it was noted that the funding for substance misuse would need to be utilised more effectively in the long term.

 

Angharad Metcalfe stated she would continue to source options for more support and funding for the region in order to tackle substance misuse.  Mark Brace confirmed that the letters for community safety funding had been circulated this week and that the way in which community safety was funded would be refreshed over the next 3 years.

 

The Chair thanked Angharad Metcalfe for the update and looked forward to receiving further details once the Governance structure and reporting mechanism had been finalised.

 

The update was noted.

Adam Hill, Swansea Council referred to the letter from the Chair of the Scrutiny Programme Committee regarding the meeting held on 15 December 2020.

 

In addition to a discussion regarding the future PSB arrangements (regional as opposed to Local Authority basis), there were 3 main points highlighted in the letter:

 

a)            Improving the performance framework to better evidence the tangible difference the PSB is making;

b)            Improving public visibility / messaging about the work of the PSB;

c)            Pressing the Welsh Government on PSB resources.

 

The Chair of the Scrutiny Programme Committee had confirmed that it would scrutinise the work of the PSB twice a year.

 

Agreed that:

 

1)            The points outlined the letter be noted;

2)            The items raised be discussed at a future Joint Committee meeting.

Steve King, Swansea Council

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

 

Agreed that:

 

1)        The Joint Committee support the overall approach and proposals outlined in this report;

2)        Statutory partners nominate representatives from each of their organisations for the proposed Assessment Editorial Group (via email to Steve King within 7 days);

3)        The Joint Committee propose other nominees to participate in the Group and/or Research Forum (via email to Steve King within 7 days).

Paul Thomas, Swansea Council

Paul Thomas, Community Integration & Partnership Manager, Swansea Council provided an update on the Critical Incident Group (CIG) & High Street, Swansea.

 

He outlined the issues that were affecting the High Street and surrounding areas and the outcomes that were expected to be achieved.

 

He explained the opportunities to utilise empty properties at the top of High Street to create a community space and improve public realm.  An engagement /consultation with various partners and service users would establish the specific needs and requirements of those living and working in the area.

 

He went on to outline the various successes that had been achieved to date and were ongoing and made a plea to the PSB partners to support the scheme in any way possible such as volunteering or via different budget funding streams that might be available.

 

The Chair thanked the Community Integration & Partnership Manager for the update and his enthusiasm for the scheme.

 

The update was noted.

Adam Hill, Swansea Council referred to a letter from the Minister for Housing & Local Government to the Chair of the PSB thanking the partners for their collective assistance in dealing with the response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

The Minister also requested that partners outline what else they felt could be developed as we work towards the end of the process.  Adam Hill and Councillor Andrea Lewis would share the views of the PSB partners at the meeting with the Minister scheduled for 22 March 2021.

 

Action: All responses be forwarded by Wednesday, 17 February 2021.

Adam Hill, Swansea Council outlined the Terms of Reference of the PSB to ensure they were still fit for purpose.  They had previously been agreed by the PSB on 11 April 2019.

 

There was a discussion about the representation at the Joint Committee, however it was stressed that the Joint Committee was the Strategic element of the PSB and any representations should made to one of the Strategic Partner leads, who would raise any issue or concern at the Joint Committee.

 

Resolved that the Terms of Reference / Membership of the PSB be approved.

Item not discussed.

8 April 2021

1.            Action Plans & follow up:

                 i.                City for Wellbeing & Wildlife;

               ii.                Green / Climate Change agenda;

(iia)        Martin Nicholls Swansea Council Climate Change Presentation

-              Sign up to charter

-              Action plan preparation

-              Awareness raising

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

2.            Feedback from PSB meeting with Minister for Housing and Local Government

3.            Performance Management Review

4.            Socio- Economic Duty Implementation 

 

17 June 2021

1.            Guest Speaker

2.            Reporting and Monitoring of Action Plans

3.            Wellbeing Assessment

4.            PSB Board Members Development Session

5.            Partnership Forum Meeting Topics and Conference

 

12 August 2021

1.            Reporting and Monitoring of Action Plans

2.            Human Rights City Status

3.            Partnership Forum Arrangements and Agenda

 

21 October 2021

1.            Guest Speaker

2.            6 Month Review of Action Plans

The Chair outlined the Future Work Programme as outlined in item 14 on the agenda.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)            The work plan be noted;

2)            Any additional items be forwarded to Leanne Ahern;

3)            “Operation Dawns Glaw” be added to the agenda for 8 April 2021;

4)            8 April 2021 meeting be extended to 2 hours.