Agenda, decisions and minutes

Councillor Andrea Lewis, Swansea Council elected.

Resolved that Councillor Andrea Lewis, Swansea Council be elected Chair for the Municipal Year 2021-2022.

Roger Thomas, Mid & West Wales Fire & Rescue Service elected.

Resolved that Roger Thomas, Mid & West Wales Fire & Rescue Service be elected Vice Chair for the Municipal Year 2021-2022.

 

Roger Thomas, Vice Chair Presided

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

None.

No declarations were made.

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

Approved.

Resolved that the Minutes of the Swansea Public Services Board Joint Committee held on 8 April 2021 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Noted.

Agreed that the 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.

None.

There were no public questions.

Helen Grey & Martyn Evans, Natural Resources Wales

Noted.

Russell De’Ath, Natural Resources Wales (NRW), supported by Helen Grey provided a presentation on the State of Natural Resources Report (SoNaRR).

 

He explained that SoNaRR2020 was an assessment of the extent to which the sustainable management of natural resources was being achieved.

 

The report provided an assessment on how successfully Wales was addressing the four aims of the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR).  It split Wales into 8 broad ecosystems and assessed the state of each ecosystem in turn. It then considered the cross-cutting pressures faced by these ecosystems:

 

•              Climate Change

•              Land use change

•              Pollution

•              Over-exploitation

•              Invasive Non Native Species

 

It also addressed our overseas footprint.

 

He outlined the 4 questions used to obtain the data used towards the assessment:

 

·                    Framing the questions - Aim 1 – Are stocks of natural resources being safeguarded and enhanced?

·                    Framing the questions – Aim 2 – Are ecosystems resilient to expected and unforeseen change?

·                    Framing the questions – Aim 3 – Do we have healthy places for people protected from environmental risks?

·                    Framing the questions – Aim 4 – Do we have a regenerative economy achieving sustainable levels of production and consumption?

 

The conclusion being that Wales was not currently achieving the sustainable management of natural resources SoNaRR2020 as set out in the following 4 aims:

 

1.        stable stocks of natural resources, 

2.         resilient ecosystems, 

3.        healthy places for people, free from environmental risks 

4.        a regenerative economy. 

 

The report proposed that Wales needs to take a systems approach to tackling environmental problems. In order to make Wales’s use of natural resources more sustainable, transformational change was needed for things like the food, energy and transport systems. Although those three systems were not the only ones putting pressure on the environment, they were responsible for most of the impacts, therefore it was a good place to start a systems approach.

 

He stated that NRW could support the development of Wellbeing Assessments by understanding the significance of the Climate and Nature Emergencies and its potential impacts on social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being.

 

NRW recommend PSBs use the SoNaR Report framing (4 aims).  

 

In addition, the ‘three horizons’ framework could help people to think and plan for the longer term.  The toolkit could be designed for anyone who is involved in making decisions that need to consider the future and future generations, like public bodies in Wales with duties under the Well-being of Future Generations Act. It enabled organisations to think about how and why the way things are currently done was not fit for purpose, in what ways emerging trends might shape the future, what an ideal future should look like and the kinds of visionary actions that are needed to get closer to that future.

 

NRW could help PSBs understand the significance of the Climate and Nature Emergencies and their potential impacts on social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being by:

 

-          Sharing their SoNaR report findings.

-          Framing the questions to help the assessments of local well-being through the 4 aims used in SoNaRR.

-          Working through Area Statements to deliver well-being outcomes that support transformational change. 

-          Offer to host a "Three Horizons" workshop, to look at our environmental challenges through a societal lens. 

 

Additional information could be found on the NRW website:

Natural Resources Wales / State of Natural Resources Report (SoNaRR) for Wales 2020

 

The 4 aims should be considered when discussing the future direction of the PSB in its role as a City for Wellbeing.

 

Agreed that the presentation be noted.

Rhian Millar & Catherine Window, Swansea Council

Agreed.

Lee Wenham, supported by Rhian Millar, Swansea Council provided a report in order that the Joint Committee reconfirm commitment, identify resources and agree the process to support Swansea’s ambition to become a Human Rights City.

 

Whilst the partners continued to support the proposals, it was noted that this was a huge commitment which needed to be kept under review in terms of the inputs required and time commitment involved.

 

Agreed that the Swansea Public Services Board Joint Committee reconfirm its commitment to Swansea becoming a Human Rights City by:

 

·                    Each statutory Public Service Board member sign the declaration of ambition to be a Human Rights City;

·                    Agree the creation of a new body to oversee the journey;

·                    Commit a senior resource to lead on human rights in your organisation and sit on the new governance group to shape our journey (names to be emailed to Lee Wenham);

·                    Agree to oversee the development of a Human Rights City approach through the Public Services Board.

Suzy Richards, Swansea Council

Agreed.

The Sustainable Policy Officer presented proposals to stimulate discussion for PSB focus and delivery in response to the pandemic for 2021/22.

 

Whilst the 4 workstreams would continue, they would focus on:

 

·                    Human Rights;

·                    A Culture of Community;

·                    Mental Health;

·                    A City for Well-being & Wildlife.

 

It was noted that discussions should take place with the Regional Programme Board in terms of the Mental Health item in order to avoid duplication.

 

Agreed that:

 

1)        Partners scope areas of overlapping interest for focused delivery to directly address and aid Swansea’s recovery from impacts of the pandemic in 2021/22.

2)        Partners identify Strategic Leads for each of the work streams if approved by the Joint committee.

Paul Thomas & Jane Whitmore, Swansea Council

Agreed.

Paul Thomas and Jane Whitmore, Swansea Council provided a report to highlight the Domestic Homicide Review Process in Swansea.

 

Agreed that the Joint Committee support the overall approach and progress offered in the report.

Paul Thomas, Swansea Council

Agreed in principle, further discussion required.

Paul Thomas, Swansea Council provided a report to consider establishing a Critical Incident Group (CIG) to look at Anti-Social Behaviour in Swansea post Covid.

 

It was noted that the date in paragraph 1.2 should read 20 May 2021.

 

Adam Hill stated it was important to note that this Critical Incident Group, if formed, would look at Anti-Social Behaviour across the whole of Swansea, not just in relation to the Mayhill incident.  The CIG would be time limited to no more than 18 months – approximately 6 meetings.

 

Agreed that:

 

1)           The PSB supports the overall approach and proposals outlined in the report;

2)           Further discussions take place regarding who will Chair the Group and provide secretarial support.

Geoff Bacon, Swansea Council

Noted.

Geoff Bacon, Chair of the Local Property Board, supported by Hannah Thomas & Becky Jones, Swansea Council and James Colthart and Neil Farquhar of the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) provided a presentation in relation to the collaborative City Centre Community Hub (former BHS building) which would form an employability hub and link all public sectors.

 

Hannah Thomas outlined the stakeholder engagement that had taken place to date with both internal and external stakeholders in relation to take up in the building via lease or membership.  She outlined a flavour of internal front facing services which include the Central Library, Archives, Family History, Housing Options, Employability projects, Contact Centre, Revenue & Benefits and Lifelong Learning services with initial discussions having been undertaken in relation to individual requirements.

 

External discussions had taken place with the Princes Trust, Careers Wales, Swansea Council for Voluntary Services (SCVS), Citizens Advice, Police, Department for Work & Pensions (DWP), Swansea  Carers Centre, both Universities and Gower College Swansea and Health.  Firm commitment from external stakeholders would be required as the project progressed.

 

James Colthart, Multi-Disciplinary Team project lead provided an update on the programme undertaken over the last 6-8 weeks:

 

Stage 1 has just been finalised which included development of the brief and building on the work already progressed by the team. As stated that has been considerable positive stakeholder engagement with many synergies between service providers, both internal & external. 

 

Stage 2 had just commenced and more of the design work would progress, looking at the spatial arrangement and building plans.  It was hoped to commence contractor procurement later this year. 

 

In terms of commencement of work on site, this would likely be split into two phases:

 

The enabling works package would include removal of the asbestos and old systems which would need to be removed prior to the commencement of the main works, which would commence at the start of 2022.

 

The main works, including the fit out of the building would commence in March 2022 and completion was targeted from the end of September through until the end of that year.

 

Neil Farquhar provided various images of the building in its current form both internally and externally. He stated there were a number of challenges in relation to the building such as the roof requiring significant repair and the existing services were at the end of their natural lifespan.  These would be updated as well as the building fabric to improve the energy efficiency and sustainable credentials of the project.

 

The Architects would be obtaining information from the stakeholders in terms of the schedule of accommodation, special arrangements to plan how they would all fit in the building in order to give as much visibility as possible to each service area.

 

In terms of using exemplar standards such as the WELL Building Standard certification scheme, Geoff Bacon confirmed that we would work with the MDT, looking at all different strands and levels of sustainability, which would include the WELL certification scheme in the constraints of the budget available.  There was however, significant support from Welsh Government, who view this as an important step in revitalising the City Centre.

 

The Chair thanked the team for their informative presentation.

 

Agreed that the presentation be noted.

Steve King, Swansea Council

Noted.

Steve King, Swansea Council presented a report to set out recent developments in preparing for the next Assessment of Local Well-being for 2022.

 

Agreed that the report be noted.

Adam Hill, Swansea Council

Progress noted.

Adam Hill, Swansea Council reported that the Annual Report was in the process of being finalised that week and would be circulated to partners on 25 June for final checking.  He asked for a swift turnaround so that the final version could be sent for Welsh Translation in order to meet the end of July deadline.

 

Agreed that the verbal update be noted.

Adam Hill, Swansea Council

Update noted.

Adam Hill, Swansea Council enquired whether any partner with good organisational skills in co-production would like to join the Co-ordination Task & Finish Group for the Partnership Forum. 

 

Agreed that names should be forwarded to Adam Hill / Leanne Ahern.

Adam Hill, Swansea Council

For information.

For information.

21 October 2021

1.            Reporting and Monitoring of Action Plans;

2.            Human Rights City Status;

3.            Partnership Forum Arrangements and Agenda.

 

16 December 2021

1.            Guest Speaker (Health);

2.            6 Month Review of Action Plans.

For information.

The Chair outlined the Work Plan for the October and December meetings and encouraged other partners to consider providing an update on their organisation / specific topic at a future meeting.

 

Agreed that the Work Plan be noted.