Agenda and minutes

County Councillor J. Pratt was elected Chair for the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

No members of the public were present.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 10th October 2018 were confirmed and signed as a true record.

Matter arising: 

-       The Committee accepted apologies for absence for the last meeting from County Councillor G. Howard.

-       A Member asked if our partners (e.g. Natural Resources Wales (NRW), Police, Health, Fire) are clear how they devolve specifically to deal with the Monmouthshire PSB.  Secondly, clarity was sought on the relationship and integration between Monmouthshire PSB and other PSBs and their officers in the region citing the example of a child from another area with specific needs placed in a county school with no consultation or resources.

The Chair acknowledged that these matters could be specifically addressed with partners at the next meeting.

The Head of Policy and Governance reported that PSBs in the region have been working to produce common objectives which can be used to commission future work e.g. Future Trends.  More information can be supplied at a future meeting.  Another common focus will be understanding and mitigating climate change.  Select Committee Members were reminded of the Committee’s power to scrutinise partners of PSBs on Wellbeing of Future Generation functions rather than broader responsibilities.  Considering the specific case, more information would be sought and provided to the Member prior to the next meeting.

Purpose:

To provide the context for presentations that will be given to update the Select Committee on the delivery of key steps as part Monmouthshire’s Well-being Plan. The Select Committee is invited to scrutinise the progress of the lead agency assigned to these steps, who are members of the Public Service Board.

Key Issues:

1. The Public Service Board has approved four well-being objectives that underpin a clear purpose of building sustainable and resilient communities. The ideas and activity that will contribute to the delivery of these is set out as ‘steps’ within the Well-being Plan, each one being led by a PSB partner.

2. The work on the steps is at different stages of evolution, with some still in the exploratory phase whilst others have engaged the market and are developing pilots. The Programme Board sits underneath the PSB and maintains an oversight of all activities.

3. These PSB has prioritised a six steps for particular focus over the next six months. They are:

·         Adverse Childhood Experiences - led by Gwent Police

·         The Mental Health of Children and Young People – led by Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

·         Improve the resilience of ecosystems by working at a larger scale – led by Natural Resources Wales

·         Promoting active citizenship – led by Gwent Association of Voluntary

            Organisations

·         Re-addressing the supply and mix of housing stock - led by Monmouthshire County Council, with involvement of registered social landlords

·         Develop technology-led solutions for improving rural transport – led by

            Monmouthshire County Council.

4. The Select Committee can require any statutory member of the board to give evidence, but only in respect of the exercise of joint functions conferred on the partner as a statutory member of the board in line with the Well-being of Future Generations Act.

5. Two partners have been invited to make a presentation to the 9th January 2019 meeting to outline the activity and progress being made in delivering the steps. Presentations to the Select Committee should reflect the challenge identified in the well-being assessment and provide some of the available evidence to demonstrate the rationale for selecting the issue. The Select Committee will gain a clearer understanding of how the steps being taken reinforce the PSB’s vision and ambition for the future.

6. The Select Committee may wish to consider the extent to which they feel the partners have applied the following five ways of working in their leadership of the steps they are delivering, as follows:

·         Long term

·         Integrated

·         Involvement

·         Collaborative

·         Prevention

Member Scrutiny:

The Head of Policy and Governance introduced the report and invited questions and comments from Select Committee Members on the six point plan, as follows:

·         The Chair expressed concern about NRW’s recent work in her ward leading her to believe that it is under resourced.  She provided details of concerns regarding Clydach Gorge and welcomed the opportunity to question NRW at a future meeting.

·         Referring to the point: Re-address the supply and mix of housing stock, a Select Committee Member raised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Forward Work Programme was noted.  The following additions were suggested:

·         ACES

·         Natural Resources Wales

·         Climate Change (Members were informed of a meeting at Bridges Monmouth on 23^rd January 2019 at 7.00pm – all Members are welcome to attend.)

Is was queried if there was opportunity to hold meetings at 2.00pm to enable better attendance.

The format of today’s meeting (Discussion of two of the six steps) was valued and suggested as a good way forward for the next two meetings.