Agenda and draft minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Present:

Neil Evans (Chair) (Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service)

Angela Davies (Powys County Council)

County Councillor Liz Webb (Brecon Beacons National Park Authority)

County Councillor Liz Rijnenberg (Powys County Council)

Trish Buchan (Powys Teaching Health Board)

Peter Swanson (Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations)

Gavin Bown (Natural Resources Wales)

Observers:

County Councillor Steve Evans (Brecon Beacons National Park Authority)

County Councillor David Selby (Powys County Council)

Officers in Attendance:

Wyn Richards (Powys County Council)

Rhian Jones (Powys County Council)

Catherine James (Powys County Council)

Diane Reynolds (Head of Digital Services - Powys County Council)

Apologies for Absence:

Ian Phillips (Powys Teaching Health Board)

Emma Palmer (Head of Transformation and Communications – Powys County Council).

To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the meeting of the Public Service Board Scrutiny Committee held on the 15^th October, 2020 as a correct record.

The Chair was authorised to sign the minutes of the previous meeting held on 15^th October, 2020 as a correct record.

Arising thereon:

Link to the Well-Being databank.

This was circulated to the Committee during the meeting.

https://en.powys.gov.uk/article/5800/Wellbeing-Information-Bank

Performance Framework.

It was reported that the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority (BBNPA) were responsible for Well-Being Step 2 and the PSB had been attempting to use it for reports. However, there was duplication with systems already used by organisations. At the last meeting of the PSB it was decided that each of the Step Leads would need to revisit their Performance Indicators / Measures.

The Committee suggested that all Steps should be using the reporting framework as developed by BBNPA as having different formats made it difficult to follow. Concern was also expressed regarding the quality and lack of information in some of the reports. In addition, the Committee suggested that there was a need for more clear performance measures against which the Steps are monitoring progress.

AGREED that the Committee request that the Public Service Board:

(i)       to consider whether the performance framework is meeting the Board's needs or whether it needs to be reviewed.

(ii)      consider the need for more clear performance measures against which the Steps are monitoring progress.

To receive and consider the following items:

·       PSB Delivery Plan – Step 4 – January 2021

·       Quarter 4 Performance Report – Step 4 – 2020-21

Diane Reynolds (Head of Digital Services, Powys County Council), Step Lead will be in attendance to discuss the Delivery Plan and Performance Report with the Committee.

In undertaking the scrutiny of the delivery plan the Committee is asked to consider the following questions:

·        Does the plan have clearly defined actions to deliver the step, which cover the short to medium term?

·       Are the actions clearly aligned to delivery of the step and will they support the intended outcomes (as set out in Towards 2040)?

·       Does the delivery plan reflect collective action/collaboration, where relevant partners are playing their part in delivery?

·       Have the necessary resources been secured to deliver the plan?

·       Are the timescales for delivering the actions ambitious enough/ realistic?

·       Is it clear how the delivery plan has been set in accordance with the sustainable development principle (5 Ways of Working).

·       Have relevant stakeholders been consulted on the plan?

·       Have appropriate measures been set which will help demonstrate the impact the step is having on residents and communities? Are there any other performance measures which you think should be monitored?

·       Does the delivery plan reflect learning from the pandemic and set out an approach to support recovery?

Documents Considered:

·                 Delivery Plan – Step 4 – Digital and Quarter 4 Report (January to March 2021.

Issues Discussed:

Work with and influence others to ensure improved digital infrastructure for Powys

·                 Original proposal to work with 3 community sites. The council was actually working with 12 communities. Some of the projects were ready and had requested vouchers from Welsh Government. Information had been placed on the Council's website about broadband connectivity.

Data Integration

·                 It had been difficult arranging meetings with stakeholders as the Council had been focussing on business critical activity.

Well-Being Dashboards

·                 The number of dashboards had now increased to 76.

Broadband and 4G Roll-out

·                 EE were enhancing 6 sites in Powys to 4G. The Council was awaiting any developments by other providers. The improvements to the Emergency Services Network had stalled and there was ongoing dialogue regarding progressing these improvements.

·                 Questions:

Residents Digital Skills

·                 This has been delayed due to the pandemic and a delay in the recruitment of staff. However digital skills had improved even without support as people had learned to communicate with their families electronically during the pandemic. PAVO had been active in assisting individuals.

·                 Questions:

Digital Businesses

·                 There is a focus in the Mid Wales Growth Deal on digital business sites.

·                 Questions:

(a)      To receive and consider the Highlight Reports for Well-Being Steps 1,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.

(b)      Attached is a copy of a challenge proforma which the Committee is asked to use when scrutinising the highlight reports.

(c)      To consider making any comments to the PSB on the progress with the Well-Being Steps.

(d)      To consider which of the Step Leads to invite to the next meeting of the Committee to discuss the Step Delivery Plan and Performance Report.

Documents Considered:

·                 Well-Being Steps Highlight Reports – Quarter 4 2020-21

Issues Discussed:

·                 The Committee would find it useful to receive the schematic for the purpose of the steps at each meeting when considering the report – AGREED.

·                 Step 1 – others have been able to undertake engagement exercises despite the pandemic. There is a need for other steps to consider innovative ways of engaging.

·                 Step 3 – there is nothing included under this step about Safe Routes to Schools. AGREED to request that the PSB consider including this under the step.

·                 Step 6 – Holistic approach to skills and Lifelong Learning

·                 There is a connectivity between this Step with Step 7 e.g. a need to have a digital structure to assist developing a carbon strategy.

·                 There does not also appear to be smart objectives under either active travel or developing a carbon strategy.

·                 What is being done to replace those traditional skills which are being lost e.g. farming, blacksmiths.

·                 Step 7 – Developing a Carbon Positive Strategy

·                 The pandemic should have assisted the carbon strategy.

·                 The Chair indicated that the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority were undertaking virtual visits to properties for fire safety checks. The number of annual visits had increased but only a small number of these were physical visits.

·                 In response to a question about the lack of activity in relation to this Step, the Committee was advised that consultants had been engaged in 2020 to assist in developing the way forward. The Decarbonisation Strategy had been developed and was awaiting approval for the consultation phase to be undertaken. Welsh Government had originally been leading on the Step but had handed this back and it was now being undertaken by the Head of Digital Services for Powys County Council as Step Lead. The Council had appointed a climate change officer who was responsible for the Step.

·                 The Committee expressed its disappointment with the lack of progress and AGREED that the PSB be asked to review this Step as a matter of urgency to speed up the process and so that some tangible projects could be commenced.

·                 This step also linked across all steps and should not be seen as isolated from the others.

·                 Some of the steps include detail of how they link with other steps but this is not consistent in all the steps. AGREED this should be raised with the PSB.

To note that future meetings of the Committee are scheduled as follows:

The Committee noted that future meetings would be held as follows:

09-07-2021 – 10.00 – 12.00

07-10-2021 – 10.00 – 12.00

The Committee requested that the date of the next meeting be changed to 7^th July, 2021.

AGREED that the Step Lead (Natural Resources Wales) for Step 8 (Develop a Sustainable Environment Strategy) be invited to discuss the Delivery Plan for Step 8 at the next meeting.