Agenda item

Context:

 

To consider the draft well-being assessment, as well as considering the emerging Well-being Objectives ahead of a decision by Council on 20^th March 2017.

 

Key Issues:

 

The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 places a well-being duty on public bodies to act jointly via Public Service Boards (PSB) to improve the economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being of their area by contributing to the achievement of the seven well-being goals. The four statutory members of the PSB are the Local Authority, Local Health Board, Fire and Rescue Authority and Natural Resources Wales, other organisations are also invited. As part of this responsibility the PSB has produced a draft well-being assessment which assesses the state of economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being in Monmouthshire.

 

The production of a well-being assessment is a key part of identifying the priorities for the area that the Public Service Board will work to progress. The assessment is evidence based and draws on a range of sources, in particular: data; the views of local people; information about future trends and academic research.

 

The assessment highlights a number of strengths on which the Authority can build a future for the people and communities of Monmouthshire and also a number of problems and challenges that need to be addressed.  During the consultation phase between January and February 2017 the PSB is seeking the views as to whether the right issues have been identified based on the evidence presented as part of the assessment.

 

The challenges and opportunities facing public services in Monmouthshire are in the process of being finalised through the consultation process and discussions with PSB partners.  They are identified in the draft assessment as:

 

·                Inequality between communities and within communities.

 

·                Wage levels available locally are low, coupled with high property prices, making it difficult for young people and future generations to live and work locally.

 

·                With an increasingly globalised economy and technological advances, tomorrow’s workforce will need a very different skillset to those of today’s school leavers.

 

·                Limited public transport, particularly in rural areas, makes it harder for people to access jobs, services and facilities. This could be exacerbated by rising fuel prices but there are also future opportunities from things like automated vehicles.

 

·                Adverse childhood experiences have a negative impact on people’s long term health and economic prospects and can be perpetuated through the generations.

 

·                There is a need to increase healthy behaviours with a particular focus on the first thousand days of a child’s life.

 

·                Reducing levels of physical activity which along with dietary changes are leading to growing levels of obesity. This is likely to lead to an increase in long-term conditions.

 

·                An ageing population brings many opportunities. However, there are also challenges for service provision and increases in the number of people living with long term conditions.

 

·                The natural and built environment needs to be protected and preserved for future generations, due to risks from development, climate change and pollution.

 

·                There are human health impacts of air pollution, especially in Usk and Chepstow.

 

·                Water pollution is a concern, especially from changing agricultural practices.

 

·                Climate change is likely to increase the risk of flooding, as well as many other risks, so mitigating climate change and building resilience is crucial.

 

·                There is a need to increase accessibility of arts, culture and heritage and to ensure adequate provision of Welsh Medium education.

 

·                Monmouthshire has high levels of social capital and volunteering. By taking an asset and placed based approach there is an opportunity to improve well-being.

 

The Council also has a responsibility under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 to set its own well-being objectives. To achieve this the organisation must:

 

·                Set and publish well-being objectives by 31st March 2017.

 

·                Take all reasonable steps to meet those objectives.

 

·                Publish a statement about well-being objectives.

 

·                Detail arrangements to publish an annual report of progress.

 

The Council is still required under the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009 to set annual Improvement Objectives and produce an Improvement Plan.  Welsh Government is consulting on a proposal to repeal Part 1 of the Measure which would remove this requirement in future years. Following discussions with regulators and the WLGA, it has been deemed sensible to combine the two requirements in a single set of clear objectives to be published by 31^st March 2017.

 

The emerging well-being objectives bring together the latest evidence from the draft well-being assessment, policy and legislation to set out how the Authority will strive to deliver a public service that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

 

To support the delivery of the well-being objectives, which are focused on the outcomes that enhance the quality of life of citizens and communities, The Authority also has to ensure that the organisation remains relevant and viable for the next generation, while continuing to meet the needs of residents, visitors and businesses now.

 

One of the fundamental approaches advocated by the Act is a shift in focus from gains in service output to a stronger link between the actions of public bodies and the outcomes that enhance the quality of life of citizens and communities both now and in the future. This means that the measures aligned to the objectives will have a longer term focus.

 

In order to meet the legislative requirement of approving and publishing the Wellbeing Objectives by 31^st March 2017, further details on actions that will be taken to deliver the objectives and metrics to evaluate progress are still being developed. With the local elections being held in May 2017, it is proposed that the objectives will be further developed and presented to the new Council following the local elections and subject to discussions with the incoming administration.

 

Public Service Boards also have a planning responsibility to produce a local well-being plan by May 2018. The local well-being plan will provide important evidence that may inform the Council’s well-being objectives.

 

Member Scrutiny:

 

·         In response to a Select Committee Member’s question regarding the lack of and cost of transport provision in the countryside for children wishing to undertake further education.  It was noted that this issue comes across strongly both in the evidence in the data and in conversations that officers have had with people.  This matter is being raised through the Future Monmouthshire agenda and this matter may be looked at via the Public Services Board.

 

 

·         In response to a Select Committee Member’s question regarding Flying Start, it was noted that the case studies identified through this scheme are evidence that early interventions are important in the early years of a child’s life.

 

·         Page 24 of the Monmouthshire Public Service Board Well-being Assessment: Summary – Severn is not a ward in Chepstow.

 

·         Page 25 of the document, paragraph 4, reference to St. Mary’s – In response to a Select Committee Member’s question regarding this paragraph, officers would check the accuracy of the data.

 

·         In response to a question raised regarding the well-being of carers who care for elderly people within their home and the need for respite care to be provided, it was noted that there is a substantial section within the document referring to carers’ needs.  However, the issue raised might not come through explicitly enough via the summary.  Therefore, officers will investigate this matter to ensure that this matter is adequately reflected.

 

·         The Chair informed the Committee that there will be a Joint Select Committee Meeting between the Children and Young People Select Committee and the Adults Select Committee on the 23^rd March 2017 which will scrutinise the Young Carers Strategy.  Some young carers will be attending the meeting.

 

·         Page 2 of the report, paragraph 4.4, bullet point 13, There is a need to increase accessibility of arts, culture and heritage and to ensure adequate provision of Welsh Medium Education – It was noted that the reference to Welsh Medium Education was attached to this bullet point because the way in which the legislation is defined, the Welsh language is a part of the cultural aspect of how this is described within the act.

 

·         The four well-being objectives were identified, as follows:

 

-       Provide children and young people with the best possible start in life to help them achieve better outcomes.

 

-       Maximise the potential in our communities to improve well-being for people throughout their life course.

 

-       Maximise the benefits of the natural and built environment for the well-being of current and future generations.

 

-       Develop opportunities for communities and businesses to ensure a well-connected and thriving county.

 

·         Housing availability and quality is fundamental to people’s well-being.  More emphasis regarding this matter should be identified in the document.

 

·         In response to a question raised regarding the state of Monmouthshire’s Infrastructure, it was noted that this matter will need to be adequately referenced within the document. 

 

·         The investment of how the Authority invests Section 106 Funding is a matter that a Select Committee might wish to scrutinise in future.

 

 

Committee’s Conclusion   The Chair summed up as follows:   On behalf of the Joint Select Committee, the Chair thanked the officer for presenting the report.   ·         The Joint Select Committee supports the report and acknowledges the work that has gone into producing it.   ·         Issues were raised around young carers, transport and infrastructure which should be accounted for in the report.   ·         The Joint Select Committee approves the well-being objectives with the additional matters raised.   We recommended that the report be presented to Full Council.