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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED 1. To endorse the report as the shared climate risk evidence base for the Powys Public Services Board and partner organisations. 2. To support the five pillars for coordinated climate resilience set out in the report. 3. To seek internal and external resources to support future climate resilience activity. 4. That future stakeholder and community engagement activity would be pursued subject to resources being secured.
The Chair welcomed Ed Wilson Deputy Director for Public Health Improvement and Welsh Government representative on the PSB to the meeting. Apologies were received from: · Hayley Thomas (Powys Teaching Health Board) · Carl Cooper (Powys Teaching Health Board) · Superintendent Gareth Grant (Dyfed-Powys Police) · Charles Ifan (Dyfed-Powys Police) · Clair Bryant (Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner) · Alison Perry (Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner) · Craig Flannery (Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service) · Neil Davies (Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service) · Gavin Bown (Natural Resources Wales) · Ann Watkin (Welsh Government)
The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as an accurate record. Matters Arising Climate Working Group Nominations had been received from partner organisations for the Climate and Nature Group which would be chaired by Richard Dearing of NRW. Governance and reporting arrangements would be developed and reported back to the Board. Healthy Weight and Wider Resilience Work Mererid Bowley confirmed alignment between healthy weight activities and wider resilience commitments. Place Planning Portal An update and demonstration of the Place Planning Portal would be brought to a future meeting once ready.
There were no declarations of interest reported.
Llandrindod Wells Town Council, Welshpool Town Council and Ystradgynlais Town Council had submitted annual Well-being reports as required under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.
The Board received a presentation from Betsy Morgan, Clerk to Ystradgynlais Town Council outlining the Council’s annual well-being report and activities supporting community well-being. Key points included: · Continued support for community halls, welfare centres and social groups. · Investment in parks and open spaces including Diamond Park and Coronation Park. · Grant support for community, arts, sporting and voluntary groups. · Promotion of Welsh language, culture and local heritage. · Strong partnership working with the local Chamber of Trade. · Community events including the Christmas lights switch-on. · Development of a digital information board and other community infrastructure improvements. · Establishment of a parks, biodiversity and open spaces group. Board members welcomed the presentation and asked Ms Morgan about the Town Council’s efforts to address barriers to engagement particularly with the business community and young people. The Board felt that there would be value in sharing their experiences with other town and community councils. The Chair thanked Ms Morgan for her presentation.
The Chair thanked Llandrindod Wells Town Council and Welshpool Town Council for submitting their annual Well-Being reports.
Clair Swales (PAVO) presented the key findings from the Community Conversations project, a county-wide engagement exercise undertaken on behalf of Powys County Council. The project involved over 1,200 survey responses, roadshows, focus groups and community-led action projects across all 18 major towns in Powys. Key Findings from the Report 1. Communities are valued but their future feels uncertain · Most respondents were positive about their communities, with around four in five reporting they were happy or very happy living in them. · Access to nature and community spirit were highly valued. · However, confidence in the future of communities was significantly lower, with many respondents expressing concern about long-term sustainability. · The report concluded that communities are not in crisis but are perceived as becoming more fragile. 2. Community facilities are vital · Healthcare facilities, parks, local shops, pubs and cafés were identified as essential community assets. · Community buildings and shared spaces were viewed as critical for maintaining social connections and reducing isolation. · Social connection emerged as one of the biggest current and future challenges. 3. Wellbeing extends beyond healthcare · GP surgeries and health centres were among the most valued services. · People defined wellbeing in broader terms, including social interaction, independence and opportunities to participate in community life. · Access to services, rather than healthcare quality alone, was a major concern. 4. Transport is a fundamental issue · Public transport received the most negative feedback of any community service. · Respondents considered transport essential but many were unable to use available services. · Transport was identified as a key factor affecting access to healthcare, employment, education and social opportunities. · Clair emphasised the importance of community transport schemes, such as dial-a-ride and community car services. 5. Economic pressures affect community resilience · Jobs, the economy, cost of living and housing affordability were highlighted as significant challenges. · Economic pressures were seen as amplifying other social problems and affecting people's ability to remain active within their communities. 6. Support for young people is a priority · There was strong concern about the availability of youth services and opportunities for young people. · Older residents were particularly concerned about provision for younger generations. · The findings suggested a need to improve both access to and awareness of services for young people. 7. Governance and decision-making concerns · Around one in five respondents identified governance, funding decisions and decision-making processes as major challenges. · People felt there was often a gap between consultation and visible action. · Clair stressed the importance of communicating more effectively how community views influence decisions. The Chair thanked Clair Swales for presenting the report which provided a rich evidence base to inform the forthcoming Well-being Assessment and future Well-being Plan. The Chair indicated that the report’s findings could usefully inform place planning and be valuable evidence within the place planning portal being developed by Powys County Council. Members of the Board welcomed the report and agreed that the findings should help shape future wellbeing planning, service delivery, transport policies and partnership work across Powys.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED 1. To endorse the report as the shared climate risk evidence base for the Powys Public Services Board and partner organisations. 2. To support the five pillars for coordinated climate resilience set out in the report. 3. To seek internal and external resources to support future climate resilience activity. 4. That future stakeholder and community engagement activity would be pursued subject to resources being secured.
The Board considered the completed Climate Change Risk Assessment. The assessment identified: · Increasing climate risks for Powys. · Vulnerable communities facing multiple and overlapping risks. · Distinct responsibilities for different partner organisations. · The importance of prevention and adaptation. · The need for strong partnership working across organisations. The five pillars for coordinated action were: · Shared climate risk understanding. · Strengthened governance and ownership. · Evidence, data and learning. · Collaboration across sectors. · Communications and community involvement. The Chair thanked Liz Hutchins for her work leading the work on the assessment. The next step would be for Richard Dearing to convene the Climate Working Group and report back on future arrangements. The group would explore opportunities for external funding and support, including collaboration with Co-production Wales. The Resilient Powys Hub would be promoted and utilised. RESOLVED 1. To endorse the report as the shared climate risk evidence base for the Powys Public Services Board and partner organisations. 2. To support the five pillars for coordinated climate resilience set out in the report. 3. To seek internal and external resources to support future climate resilience activity. 4. That future stakeholder and community engagement activity would be pursued subject to resources being secured.
The Chair provided an update on consultation on the Well-being Assessment. 312 responses had been received as of 21 September 2026. The consultation remained open until 30 September 2026 and partners were encouraged to continue promoting the consultation within their networks. The Community Conversations findings would be incorporated where appropriate within the next version of the Well-being Assessment.
The Board discussed lessons arising from severe wildfire and drought events experienced across Powys during 2026. Members recognised the substantial environmental, economic and community impacts, with concerns raised that some landscapes and agricultural land may take generations to recover. A proposal was made for the Public Services Board (PSB) to hold a multi-agency learning event bringing together public sector organisations, emergency services, environmental bodies, farming and land management stakeholders and community representatives. Richard Felton from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service advised that the Welsh Government was holding a Wildfire Summit on 22 October. It was suggested that the Powys event should take place after the Welsh Government Wildfire Summit on 22 October, using the summit's findings to inform a Powys-focused discussion. The Board noted that the Powys County Council Leader had written to the First Minister offering future support in developing a new Resilience Plan for Wales. Action · To arrange a multi-agency resilience and learning event following the Welsh Government Wildfire Summit on 22 October. · The event should consider wildfire, drought, climate resilience, community impacts and future adaptation measures.
The Board Members received an update on work being undertaken around: · Healthy weight. · Nutrition. · Obesity prevention. · Early years support. · Food resilience. Action - Schedule a future presentation for the Board on food resilience
The Board was advised that the main focus of work had been on the public consultation on the Well-being Assessment. The findings would be analysed and reported to the next PSB meeting.
The dates of future meetings were noted. 2026 15 December 2026, 14.30 – 16.30 2027 18 March 2027, 14:00 – 16:00 24 June 2027, 14:00 – 16:00 23 September 2027, 14:00 – 16:00 7 December 2027, 14:00 – 16:00
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