Cabinet Member: Councillor Dyfrig Siencyn
To consider the
report
Minutes:
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.
Supporting documents: