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Apologies for absence were received from Mererid Bowley, Powys Teaching Health Board, Duncan Hamer Welsh Government, Christine Harley HM Prisons and Probation Service, Alison Perry, Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Gillian Perry Natural Resources Wales.
Alison Merry and Anna Prothero gave an update. Stakeholder engagement events on breast feeding and introduction to solid food and cooking skills and affordability of healthy food had been held in November and December. There were a series of suggested actions from each workshop which would help inform the strategic delivery plan. The steering group that would oversee the implementation of the strategic delivery plan had been established. Emma Palmer noted that as a large employer the County Council could make changes to make breast feeding easier for its employees will little expense. The council would also welcome a discussion on planning approval for fast food outlets.
Catherine James reported that the RAG status for the Step was green. The following activity had been undertaken in the quarter: · The Memorandum of Understanding had been drafted and agreed with information compliance leads to facilitate the sharing of information. · The first PSB Scrutiny Committee had been held on 5 December. · The Step lead attended Powys Food Partnership Strategy event to understand opportunities to align the work of the PSB to this work, and identify any opportunities for collaboration from an engagement perspective. · A shared digital file and calendar solution had been devised but not all Partners are able to access. This had been escalated to ICT. · As part of a workshop planning the work of “Responding to the Climate Emergency” workstream, the step supported this workstream with stakeholder analysis ahead of further engagement planning. The sharing of information was welcomed and there was agreement that the partners should explore the possibility of sharing buildings. It was agreed to add this to the agenda for the PSB Chief Executives meeting on 15 January.
Part of an issue followed across 8 meetings
Liz Hutchins reported that good progress has been made in the last quarter. The funding agreement for SPF funding had been finalised and two members of staff recruited – a Climate Policy Officer and Climate Co-ordinator would be starting work in February. A climate workshop had been held in November and there had been good levels of engagement. Details of what each of the partners were doing in respect of decarbonisation, public engagement and carbon literacy in their own services had been circulated with the papers. Carbon literacy was highlighted as an issue to ensure that it informed all levels of decision making. Diane Reynolds reported that the Council was working with a stakeholder engagement group and Liz Hutchins confirmed that she would look at how that group could be brought on board along with County Councillors and Town and Community Councils. Hayley Thomas asked if the top 2 or 3 high impact actions that partners should concentrate on could be identified. Liz Hutchins advised that the high impact actions would be identified but that they needed to be driven by the 5 stepped evidence based strategic approach. Rhys Morris the Chief Regional Officer for North Mid and West Wales for Welsh Government asked about the future energy infrastructure needs for the grid. Liz Hutchins confirmed that these issues were being raised with the energy companies and community energy groups. Emma Palmer agreed on the need for high impact actions. She also noted that simple behavioural changes could have an impact and suggested that there be comms on “Think local act personal”. Partners needed to understand the costs and where to invest. Partners also needed to understand the skills gap, how to link with the Regional Skills Partnership and how that influences the curriculum. Liz Hutchins would discuss with Diane Reynolds how to link with the RSP and also work going on in the Mid Wales Growth Deal. Liz Hutchins agreed that behavioural change would be really important and noted that Welsh Government had launched a behaviour change initiative with some key messages. She also confirmed that she would be happy to support partner organisations in sense checking their costed decarbonisation action plans.
Iwan Cray gave a presentation on Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service Community Risk Management Plan 2040. The plan was intended to redesign the service to make it sustainable in the long term. The CRMP 2040 focused on three interconnected themes, Prevention and Protection, Response, and Corporate Prevention and Protection - Keeping communities safe by preventing fires and other emergencies from happening through understanding of risk. Response - Ensuring sustainable response arrangements in the right place, with the right people, using the right resources. Corporate – Delivering an effective and efficient Service that considers the needs of staff, communities, and environment. The consultation would run to 15 January and the results reported back to the Fire Authority.
Diane Reynolds gave a presentation on the council’s Climate and Nature plan. The plan had eight priorities: 1. Sustainable Powys 2. Place Planning across Powys 3. Emissions reduction 4. Climate Risk and Adaptation 5. Asset Management 6. Powys-wide and cross border collaboration 7. Leadership on Climate Change 8. Resourcing Climate Transition Prof. Alan Netherwood had been commissioned to provide assurance that the Council was focused on the right areas. The Council had also examined its Carbon accounts to show which areas to focus on and found that by far the largest carbon emissions come from the supply chain. The Council’s Net Zero 2030 strategy had a number of key workstream areas each with a costed action plan. In addition to the direct control each of the partner organisations had over their own direct operations, each had a role in shaping places and working in partnership could bring other organisations and people together. Over £2m had been secured from the Shared Prosperity Fund in the last year to support climate projects in the county.
Jenny McConnel, Change Analyst at the Office of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales on the new Cymru Can strategy for 2023-2030. The strategy focuses on five missions: Implementation and Impact, Climate and Nature, Health and Well-being, Culture and Welsh Language, and A Well-being Economy. Alongside the five missions, two areas of focus had been identified: Food, and AI and Digital. The Cymru Can approach was designed to ensure the OFG focuses its work and resources where they can be most effective. More detailed workplans were being worked on and would be shared when available.
The minutes of the last meeting held on 4th October 2023 were agreed as a correct record. CJ advised that the PSB Scrutiny Committee had met on 5th December. Jennifer Owen Adams had been appointed by Powys Teaching Health Board, Councillor David Bryan had been appointed by Mid and West Wales Fire Authority and Peter Swanson by PAVO. Jennifer Owen Adams had been appointed Chair of the Committee and Councillor Gareth E Jones Vice Chair.
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