Agenda item

Cabinet Member: Councillor Dyfrig Siencyn

To consider the report

A report was presented by the Cabinet Member Dyfrig Siencyn, outlining what the Gwynedd and Anglesey Public Services Board had achieved over the past six months. The members were reminded that the Board had agreed priority fields which would improve economic, environmental and cultural well-being in both counties. The Board had also established sub-groups to discharge its functions.

It was reported that the Board accepted the need to focus on what could be achieved in the current climate since the public body's resources were strained and it faced further threats of having to make savings. Despite this, by working together the Board could capitalise on and identify opportunities to work in alternative ways and introduce innovative methods of operating.

A short update was provided on the developments within the six priority fields.

During the ensuing discussion, the following points were highlighted by individual Members:

·         Poverty – the member expressed disappointment and concern that there was no sub-group leading on the work at present

·         A suggestion to review the rent totals for social housing

·         That support for families / carers should be included in the Health and Care of Adults work field

·         Climate Change – the scale of its effect. More support needed. Was the Government responding to what the Board was trying to implement?

·         Climate Change was a global matter, but in the context of flooding could people be educated about the impact / to slow down climate change rather than just accept that this was happening?

·         Considering the underachievement by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, it should be ensured that the priorities of the Health Sub-group are led effectively by a representative of the Health Board

In response to a comment with regard to ensuring effective leadership on the health aspects, it was noted that the sub-group was addressing two priorities and that the Health Board and both Counties were working together particularly well. It was added that the role of the Local Authorities and the Health Board was to provide an effective service and that the role of the Public Services Board was to add value to what was already being undertaken by the public bodies individually.

In response to a comment regarding the lack of work with poverty, it was noted that these situations of poverty were caused by the Westminster Government's benefits system and their budgetary capacity, and that the Local Authority only had limited ability to identify a piece of work / a specific project to make a difference in this area. The member accepted the comment that work needs to be done to identify an area of work / find projects that could deliver and make a difference. With regard to the Public Services Board it was agreed to consider the work that was already ongoing by the Local Authorities in the context of poverty before considering what the Board could do to add value to that work. The Local Authorities would provide a presentation on progress within poverty during the next meeting of the Board in March.

In response to a comment regarding the actual effect of Climate Change, it was noted that Gwynedd Consultancy had already undertaken good work locally and those duties increased as the problem enhanced. It was suggested that the Welsh Government by working with Natural Resources Wales had changed attitudes towards the problems nationally. It was added that the solutions to some problems were substantial and beyond the ability of any local authority to deliver them on its own.

The suggestion of 'educating people' was accepted as an area of work that could be adopted, as opposed to only responding to the situation.

In response to a question regarding who monitored the work of the sub-groups, it was reported that the Public Services Board's Support Team ensured that the sub-groups made progress in their work, and progress reports would also be challenged at the quarterly meetings of the Board. In response to a question regarding risks and how could they expect a report on poverty to be submitted in December 2019 if there was no sub-group leading on the work, it was noted that a risk register would be submitted to the next meeting of the Board. The Local Authorities would also provide an update on their poverty plans.

RESOLVED to accept the report.