Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: By Teams. View directions

Contact: Wyn Richards, Scrutiny Manager and Head of Democratic Services  Email: wyn.richards@powys.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

To receive apologies for absence.

Minutes:

An apology for absence was received from Mr P Swanson (PAVO) due to technical issues joining the meeting.

 

The Committee also noted that Ms R Parry-Wright had resigned as the PAVO representative on the Committee and that PAVO would need to appoint a replacement representative.

2.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 460 KB

To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the meeting of the Public Service Board Scrutiny Committee held on 14th January, 2020 as a correct record.

Minutes:

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 14th January 2020 were approved as a correct record.

 

Arising thereon:

 

Page 3.

The Committee noted that an impact assessment on the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic had been undertaken and the interim assessment shared with Welsh Government and the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA). The Public Service Board (PSB) would be considering whether any of the Well-Being steps should change as a result of the pandemic and this would be considered at a workshop at the beginning of November as well as whether the steps would be affected by the period of recovery. However there would be a need to be able to adapt to what was a continual fluid period.

 

AGREED that a link to the Well-Being databank and the Covid-19 assessment be circulated to the Committee.

 

The Committee questioned whether it would be possible for one or two members of the Committee to attend the workshop as observers.

 

AGREED that the Chair write to the Chair of the PSB asking if 1 or 2 members of the Committee could attend the workshop as observers.

 

Page 4 - Step 6. The Head of Transformation and Communication indicated that the Council had moved forward with collaboration with other partners in Wales as well as moving forwards with school transformation.

 

The Committee asked about progress with Steps 7 and 8.

 

AGREED that the Chair request an update on the progress with steps 7 and 8 from the step leads.

 

AGREED that the WAO recommendations relating to PSB Scrutiny Committees be discussed at the next meeting.

3.

Well-Being Steps

3.1

Progress Reports pdf icon PDF 274 KB

To receive and consider the progress in relation to the 12 Well-Being Steps.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee noted the progress made with the Well-Being steps. It was stressed that organisations had learned and adapted a great deal during the pandemic and some of those changes should be included as business as usual moving forwards. Organisations working in partnership had been one positive outcome of the pandemic. The Head of Transformation and Communication indicated that a number of case studies had been prepared during the pandemic and a business survey had also been undertaken.

3.2

Other Matters for Consideration

(i)       The Public Service Board is holding an informal workshop on 6th November, 2020 to consider the steps and recovery. To assist with the discussion on that day, the Committee is asked to consider the 12 steps and identify which of these steps to recommend to the Board as the focus for the next two years which tie in with the Covid Recovery process.

 

(ii)      Which 3 of the 12 steps would the Committee wish to consider in detail at forthcoming meetings? Some suggestions for consideration could include improved digital structure, community resilience and a carbon neutral strategy.

Minutes:

The Committee considered which of the steps should be recommended to the PSB as priorities for the future, which could be considered at the workshop on 6th November, 2020.

 

Suggestions included:

·       Connectivity (step 4) especially in relation to working at home as well as the digital skills of the community. However digital poverty should also be considered as part of this step.

·       Partnerships

·       Community capacity and support and resilience

 

There was a discussion about whether some of the steps could be reviewed and amalgamated. The Committee was advised that this was part of the workshop discussion in November. The Committee also noted that there had been successes during the pandemic such as digital learning as well as blended learning. However, there was also a need to consider vulnerable children who did not always have access to the technology or a safe environment in which to learn.

 

There had also been very strong partnership working between organisations such as the county Council, Powys Teaching health Board and the voluntary sector which should continue after the pandemic.

 

The Committee noted that the outcome of the workshop in November would be reported to the PSB at its meeting in December, 2020.

 

It was suggested that the Committee should meet informally prior to its next meeting in January to consider which of the steps coming from the PSB workshop should be considered for detailed examination at forthcoming meetings, so that the relevant lead officers could be invited.

 

In relation to a discussion about the ongoing role of the Committee, it was stressed that the role of the Committee was to provide value and challenge to the difference the PSB was making by considering what the PSB aspired to achieve, by when, were there appropriate resources in place and were delivery plans being achieved. It was considered that it is difficult to scrutinise the steps without a robust performance management framework in place.

 

AGREED that this be raised with the PSB and that the step lead officers from the National Park Authority update the Committee on progress in implementing the performance management framework.

 

 

4.

Work Programme

The next meetings of the Committee are scheduled as follows:

 

14-01-2021

PM

 

22-04-2021

AM

 

09-07-2021

AM

 

07-10-2021

AM

 

 

Minutes:

The Committee noted that future meetings were scheduled as follows:

 

14-01-2021

PM

22-04-2021

AM

09-07-2021

AM

07-10-2021

AM