Agenda item

We welcomed the PSB Development Manager, to the meeting who presented her report on the Landscape and the Partnership Structure in Monmouthshire.  She provided additional detailed information to the previously circulated organogram.

Background:

• An extensive audit and review of all the partnerships in Monmouthshire was undertaken in 2014/15 to gather information to better understand the activities and services they deliver, their outcomes, how they fit within the structure of the Local Service Board Single Integrated Plan (SIP) and how they report back.

• The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 provides for transition to a statutory Public Service Board (PSB), chaired by the Chief Executive. It is made up of the Chief Executive Officers of the multi agencies involved (Police, Fire and Rescue, Health, National Resources Wales, Welsh Government etc.) and is the responsible body that will oversee the SIP until March 2017.  The PSB sets out the vision and direction to respond to needs within Monmouthshire.

• The Programme Board, chaired by Mr. W. McLean, Head of Democracy, Engagement and Improvement, is more operational ensuring that agencies are maximising contributions to deliver outcomes against the SIP.

• The SIP Performance Group monitors partnerships to ensure delivery of outcomes, that they are accountable when delivering statutory responsibilities and that they are effective. During the review, the group acted as a critical friend and offered a peer review to consider barriers, challenges and opportunities for improvement. Issues identified were escalated to provide resolution.  All partnerships have action plans for development and report back accordingly.

• The Engagement and Participation group considers the data in context and the Gwent Needs Assessment Group considers the data in detail.  The partnerships and their sub groups sit below these groups in the structure and the additional information circulated provides details of the organisations and agencies represented on each.

Members Scrutiny:

It was queried and confirmed that partnerships meet quarterly; their sub groups vary with some meeting quarterly and some monthly.

The Chair questioned how well the perspectives of the whole County are covered in the various groups.  It was explained that there was more peer alignment at operational level on the Safer Monmouthshire Group and Integrated Youth Offer Group which have multi-agency representation from across Gwent or Monmouthshire.  It was commented that the Community Safety Action Teams (CSAT) are very responsive; based in each town and working with town and community partners.  Work is being undertaken to consider ways of developing them to be based more on information from the community. 

In response to Members’ concerns, it was confirmed that variations in response from the 101 service have been reported to Gwent Police. 

Members asked how the Older People’s Forum is advertised.  It was confirmed that the Forum is advertised on the website and in the press, an officer visits local groups and distributes leaflets and posters. The Aging Well Executive Group has requested that a Communications Plan to promote the forum is established.

It was confirmed that the Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Board champions recognition that such acts are also committed against men.

Members commented that 50 plus is no longer an appropriate age range. It was confirmed that 50 plus is derived from Welsh Government and acknowledged that the 50-70 age group had differing needs (e.g. preparing for retirement)  from the 70 plus age group.

It was queried if the many organisations that deal with older people could be integrated.  It was confirmed that the agencies that work with older people are all represented on the Aging Well Executive Group.

Future work programme: It was agreed to consider further consideration of the work of the Aging Well Executive group and the Older Person’s Forum, and also the consistency of service across the County.