Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from the Executive Director, People and Organisational Development.

To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the meeting held on 16^th February 2022 as a correct record.

The Leader was authorised to sign the minutes of the last meeting held on 16^th February 2022 as a correct record.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members relating to items to be considered on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest reported.

To consider a report by County Councillor Heulwen Hulme, Portfolio Holder for Environment.

Cabinet considered the Powys Nature Recovery Action Plan which was intended to guide the work of the Powys Nature Partnership, a group of organisations and individuals committed to reversing the declines in biodiversity across Powys. It had been prepared by an Ecological Consultancy and Powys County Council in consultation with the Powys Nature Partnership.

At the heart of the PNRAP was the ambition to reverse the declines in biodiversity in Powys by focussing on developing resilient ecological networks (also known as ‘nature recovery networks’). The PNRAP took an ecosystem approach, meaning that it was designed to deliver biodiversity action at a larger scale than a single species or habitat and takes account of the needs of people at the same time. It was an aspirational 10-year plan and it was intended that the actions included within the plan would be regularly reviewed and updated within the 10-year life of the plan, in response to circumstances.

The PNRAP was a key mechanism for helping prioritise, deliver, and monitor nature recovery in Powys. It provided a local delivery framework for compliance with Wales’ environmental legal and policy drivers and the Nature Recovery Action Plan for Wales. The adoption of the Nature Recovery Action Plan provided a demonstrable way of assisting the Council to deliver its obligations to the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 and Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. It went hand in hand with the Climate Change Strategy.

Cabinet commended the work of officers in producing the strategy.

RESOLVED

1.      The Council adopts the PNRAP as at appendix A and continues its commitment to the Powys Nature Partnership, to help the Council to meet its duties under the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 and Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.  

2.      The actions within the plan (appendix B) are reviewed annually by the Powys Nature Partnership.

3.       Progress towards delivering the plan should be monitored through the production of an annual report by the Partnership.

To consider a report by County Councillor Myfanwy Alexander, Portfolio Holder for Adult Services, Welsh Language, Housing and Climate Change.

Cabinet considered the revised Climate Change Strategy which had been updated following a consultation exercise and presented to the Climate Action Programme Board and the Cross-Party Working group. The revisions addressed a number of issues highlighted in the consultation. The Portfolio Holder thanked everyone who had taken part in the consultation and said she would welcome engagement from a wider range of groups. She thanked the members of the Economy, Residents and Communities Scrutiny Committee for their detailed consideration of the Strategy and their recommendations. She referred to the positive role of agriculture and noted that the Climate Change Strategy went hand in hand with the Procurement Strategy and the benefits of procuring locally sources produce.

                        RESOLVED to approve the publication of the Climate Change Strategy as set out in Appendix A to the report.

To consider a report by County Councillor Beverley Baynham, Portfolio Holder for Corporate Governance, Planning and Regulatory Services.

This report was deferred.

To consider a report by County Councillor Rachel Powell, Portfolio Holder for Young People and Culture.

Cabinet was asked to approve the Council’s to participation in the national Joint Committee for Adoption and Fostering Services in Wales. It was proposed that the national Joint Committee would, on behalf of the 22 local authorities, exercise their powers for provision of the collaboration arrangements for the National Adoption Service for Wales and for Foster Wales.  It would be comprised of Council Members to be appointed via the WLGA meeting twice yearly. The administration costs would be met by the WLGA.

                        RESOLVED

1.    To note the contents of the report.

2.    To support the proposal to establish a Joint Committee via the WLGA to provide governance and accountability arrangements for the National Adoption Service for Wales and Foster Wales.

3.    To support engagement with local Monitoring Officers to ensure that there is collective agreement to the draft Joint Committee Agreement

4.    To approve agreement for Powys County Council to engage and participate in this proposed Joint Committee.

To consider a report by County Councillor Myfanwy Alexander, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care.

Cabinet was asked to approve a Partnership Agreement between Powys County Council, Powys Teaching Health Board and Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations for the provision of the Powys Regional Partnership Board Regional Infrastructure Team. This agreement set out funding in relation to the Regional Infrastructure Team, which provides management of the Regional Partnership Board functions, as required by duties under Part 9 of the Social Services and Wellbeing Act 2014. The purpose of the agreement was to formalise the use of the Regional Integration Fund (RIF) in delivering the Regional Infrastructure Team, as required by the Welsh Government’s RIF Guidance.

The Regional Infrastructure Team would ensure that there was sufficient resource in place to support the co-ordination of the Powys Regional Partnership Board to enable the Board and its partners to effectively carry out its duties.

                        RESOLVED

1.    to approve the Partnership Agreement in Appendix 1 for the provision of the Regional Partnership Board Regional Infrastructure Team. This is to ensure there is sufficient resource in place to support the co-ordination of the Powys Regional Partnership Board to enable the Board and its partners to effectively carry out its duties and to meet Welsh Government RIF requirements.

2.    That if minor, not substantial, changes to the agreement are required by partner organisations, these may be approved by the Director of Social Services  in consultation with the portfolio holder for Adult Social Care.  

To consider a report by County Councillor Myfanwy Alexander, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care, Welsh Language, Housing and Climate Change.

This report was deferred to the next meeting.

To consider the Cabinet forward work programme.

The Cabinet forward work programme was noted.