Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed Members to the final meeting of the Cwm Taf PSB Joint Overview & Scrutiny Committee in 2021.

Apologies of absence were received from County Borough Councillors (Rhondda Cynon Taf) A. Fox and A. Cox and County Borough Councillors (Merthyr Tydfil) T. Skinner. J. Davies and D. Isaac.

Members of the JOSC are reminded that, as set out within its terms of reference, their core statutory functions include:-

•     To review or scrutinise the decisions made or actions taken by Board;

•     To review or scrutinise the Board’s governance arrangements;

•     To make reports or recommendations to the Board regarding its functions or governance arrangements;

•     To consider matters relating to the Board as the Welsh Ministers may refer to it and report to the Welsh Ministers accordingly; and

•     To carry out other functions in relation to the Board that are imposed on it by the Well-Being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

The Chair asked Members to note the 5 core statutory functions of the Cwm Taf Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

To receive disclosures of personal interests from Committee Members in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

Note:

1.       Members are requested to identify the item number and subject that their interest relates to and signify the nature of the personal interest: and

2.       Where Members withdraw from a meeting as a consequence of the disclosure of prejudicial interest they must notify the Chairman when they leave.

In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, there were no declarations made pertaining to the agenda.

To approve as an accurate record, the minutes of the meeting held on the 17^th September 2021.

It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the 17^th September 2021 as an accurate reflection of the meeting.

To receive an update on the Quarter 1 PSB Work Programme and objectives achieved to date. 

Kirsty Smith (KS), Senior PSB Support Officer, provided Members with an update on the Quarter 1 PSB Work Programme.

The Senior PSB Support Officer thanked Members of the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Cwm Taf PSB for allowing us time and opportunity to provide them with an update on Board activity since we last met in September 2021. Members were informed that the PSB Chair, Mark Brace, sends apologies and is unable to attend this rescheduled JOSC meeting and has worked with the PSB Support Team to prepare this update.

The Senior PSB Support Officer continued the update and outlined key points as follows:

PSB: Future Focus

·         PSB last met in October and the agenda was very much focused on the future – both in terms of the focus and structure of Public Services Boards in Cwm Taf Morgannwg. As Members will be aware, the current period is something is a transition as we manage undertaking an Assessment of Well-being in the context of a pandemic and Covid restrictions as well as looking to the creation of one Cwm Taf Morgannwg Public Services Board. It’s also important that we consider the Board’s existing Objectives and what the PSB can do this year, as well as what work carries forward in preparing for the new Cwm Taf Morgannwg Well-being Plan to be published in 2023.

·         The October meeting had representatives from the Community Safety Partnership, the Substance Misuse Area Planning Board and the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Safeguarding Board in attendance to hear their experience of working within the regional partnership structures. Following discussions, Members agreed that way forward needs to be based on a foundation of information and suggested discussion with the RPB in terms of alignment and delivery mechanisms. There is full support the direction for one Cwm Taf Morgannwg PSB operating with strategic intent. An action was taken back to work with representatives from the PSB and delivery boards to draft a timeline for the merger and identify work that would need to be undertaken.

·         PSB welcomed the JOSC recommendation, given via the Chair at the October meeting, that over the medium term the Public Service Board must demonstrate its value and role in improving the delivery of public services and that its purpose makes a positive difference to the residents of Merthyr and Rhondda Cynon Taf. We feel that the work underway regarding the Assessment helps this and the engagement work has given PSB officers the opportunity to speak with residents and groups about what that positive difference could look like. The Committee will appreciate that, as with most other areas and organisations, the ambitions of the PSB have been curtailed by the challenges of the last couple of years where focus has, quite rightly, had to be on the response to the pandemic. However, the Community Impact Assessment commissioned into the impact of COVID by both PSBs and RPB was an example of how we are able to react to circumstances and this has provided good  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

To receive an update on the work of the Community Assessment Action Group regarding the Well-being Assessment.

The Chair welcomed Dr Brendan D’Cruz to the meeting and thanked him for his attendance.

Dr Brendan D’Cruz began by thaning the the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Cwm Taf PSB for allowing him the time and opportunity to provide them with an update on the work towards the Community Assessment Action Group.

Dr Brendan D’Cruz continued his update and outlined the key points as follows:

The Approach

As set out in the briefing paper, there is a requirement under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act to undertake an assessment of Wellbeing and the guidance sets out the specific elements that the assessment must contain.

The approach being taken in is to jointly undertake the work with both Bridgend PSB and the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Regional Board (RPB) so that we collaborate in how we engage with the communities that we all serve. To that end we have established one joint Community Assessment Action Group to oversee the work needed for both the PSB’s Well-being Assessment and the RPB’s Population Needs Assessments. We also have the support of Co-Production Network for Wales supporting our commitment to improving how we engage and involve the people and our communities.

Members were reminded of the update from Dr Tom Powell, Chair of the Community Assessment Action Group, at the last JOSC meeting in September. Work has continued as planned since then, and Councillor Caple was also welcomed to the Group.

·       Engagement Group

The Engagement Group met on a weekly basis and have produced and shared bilingual toolkits to support colleagues and groups with carrying out engagement work. Through RPB and PSB support teams, alongside members of the Engagement group we have spoken with groups ranging from Knit and natter to Brownies, Girl Guides and Rangers. We have used the Community Hubs and Neighbourhood Networks, established under the Thriving Communities objective, to speak with people and have promoted a conversation tool for people to fill in as best suits them (online, bilingual and easy read). We have also joined in with Veterans groups, ASD Rainbows, attended Remembrance Festivals and family fun days as well as bespoke ‘hackathon’ events such as sessions for older people, people with learning disabilities and mental health.

PSB grant money has also been used to support community level engagement activity through the region’s county voluntary councils, namely Interlink RCT, Voluntary Action Merthyr Tydfil (VAMT) and Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations (BAVO).

We also carried out three ‘Better Futures’ sessions online with young people (aged 15 – 25) from across the region to think about what they want the future to look like, and what needs to change to achieve or create it.

To try and reach as large and as broad an audience as possible, we decided to extend the period of engagement beyond the 100 days initially discussed through our work with Co-Production Network Wales. December 17^th (today) is the official end of the work, and the online conversation tool will be closed this afternoon. The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

Feedback from the Chair of the JOSC on the actions to be taken forward following the training session with Dr Dave McKenna on the 5^th November 2021.

The Chair provided feedback to the Committee following a training session in November with Dr Dave McKenna. The following points were noted and it was noted that changes will be impemented for future meetings of the JOSC: :

·       A pre pre-meeting of Committee Members (informal discussion on the agenda papers);  

·       To send out a briefing note to Committee Members in advance of a meetings detailing what is being asked of them on each agenda item;  

·       To produce cover reports for any verbal updates with clear recommendations attached;

·       To write a letter from the Chair of JOSC to the Chair of the PSB with Committee’s recommendations so that there is a clear audit trail and for the Chair of the PSB to respond back in writing with any actions taken forward; and,   

·       For Members of the Committee to scrutinise one particular issue and to form a Working Group with clear scrutiny outcomes to provide to the PSB.

Following the update, Members RESOLVED to note the changes going forward.   

·       Draft Cwm Taf PSB Delivery Plan (Healthy People);

·       Drat Cwm Taf Delivery Plan (Loneliness and Isolation)

·       Draft Cwm Taf PSB Delivery Plan (Strong Economy);

·       Draft Cwm Taf PSB Delivery Plan (Thriving Communities);

·       Draft Cwm Taf PSB Work Plan 2021-22; 

·       Draft Cwm Taf PSB 12.10.21 minutes;

·       OFGC Summary Roadmap Info;

·       Letter to PSB Chairs – assessment of local well-being; and,

·       Minister for Housing and Local Government meeting with Public Service Board Chairs, 22nd March 2021 

The Chair noted the Information Reports and advised Members to email any questions to scrutiny@rctcbc.gov.uk. 

To consider any other business, as the Chair feels appropriate.

There was no urgent business to report.

To reflect on the meeting and actions to be taken forward

The Chair thanked everyone for attending and noted that it had been a productive meeting. The Chair wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.