Agenda item

Context:

To present the draft Social Justice Strategy for scrutiny.

Key Issues:

During 2016, two significant pieces of legislation came into force, the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act and the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act. Both Acts are underpinned by duties to collaborate with other public bodies, to involve people in the issues that affect them and to concentrate on developing preventative approaches rather than waiting for problems to arise.

In March 2017, the council endorsed two major pieces of work looking at well-being across the county - the Well-being Assessment and the Population Needs Assessment. Both highlighted the strengths and opportunities within our communities and used an extensive evidence base to draw out some of the challenges individuals and communities will face in the future.

In May 2017, the County Council election resulted in a new set of Councillors with renewed ambition to address issues of inequality that had been highlighted as a result of the Wellbeing and Population Needs Assessments, appointments included a new Cabinet Member for Social Justice. This was also coupled with the importance of re-setting our work with communities and subsequently in September 2017, Cabinet approved the restructure of both the Whole Place and the Partnerships Teams into a re-focussed Community and Partnership Development Team.

This draft Social Justice Strategy demonstrates our commitment as a Council to address inequalities in our county in order to make our society function better. Using the Community and Partnership team as an enabling body, it provides an approach that will help turn lives around by removing barriers and facilitating practical support and solutions to enable all our citizens to realise their full potential.

This is the first phase of an evolving strategy demonstrating our intention to work as a Council, and in partnership at national, regional and community level, to implement the policy interventions, approaches, support and methods to improve outcomes for people and communities.

This draft Social Justice Strategy sets out our purpose, our intentions and activities for the next four years and the targets by which we will measure our success to ensure that we achieve our goal – to put social justice at the heart of what we do in Monmouthshire.

Member Scrutiny:

In respect of the weight statistics in the case for change it was noted that the figures date back to 2014/15 and it was asked if more current figures could be supplied to allow Members to look at changes which are taking place.

The financial implications of the policy were questioned and it was asked who would take responsibility for the different areas. An example was given with child friendly communities, over previous years there had been occasions when dated playground equipment had been taken away and not replaced. Members stressed the necessity of safe, active communities and queried how we would finance this.

The value of open spaces was highlighted with Members keen to see infrastructure which had been taken away replaced with new play equipment which was easily accessible to all in the community.

Members applauded the Officers for the work which had gone into the policy and commented on the value of the Member’s workshop they had attended. The fact that it is a live document with across party committee support reassured Members that the policy would thrive.

In regard to the play areas a Member pointed out that these are community assets and it was felt that town and community councils should be fully engaged and involved in obtaining funding. The Member raised the point that town and community councils are not capped at the moment they can precept for the funding and get the work done.

The Chair raised the importance of focusing on modern day slavery and people trafficking as an authority as two cases have been highlighted through our Licensing and Regulatory Committee.  

The Cabinet Member for Social Justice thanked the committee for their scrutiny and spoke of the policy being live and regularly updated.

Reflections included;

·         The importance of community ownership working with town and community councils

·         The creation of the community development partnership team

·         Looking for Members to endorse the strategy and the endorsement of PSB partners.