The Swansea Public Services Board (PSB) met on Thursday 18 July 2024, approving several key reports and plans. Decisions included endorsing a regional child poverty governance model, approving an update on the PSB Action Plan, and accepting a report on climate change and nature recovery mapping.

Update on the 8 Steps in our Public Services Board (PSB) Action Plan 2024/25

The Board approved the update on the 8 Steps in the PSB Action Plan for 2024/25. This plan outlines key areas of focus for the PSB, including transforming early years' services, building on Swansea's status as a Human Rights City, and working towards Swansea's net-zero target and nature recovery. Other steps involve making Swansea safer, more cohesive, and prosperous; developing an integrated cultural offer; influencing and connecting with other governance arrangements across the Swansea Bay region; improving data quality and accessibility; and developing the PSB's performance management arrangements.

Climate Change & Nature Recovery Mapping Survey Report (March 2024)

The Board approved the Climate Change & Nature Recovery Mapping Survey Report, subject to the suggested actions being placed in priority order. This report, compiled by the Climate Change and Nature Action Charter Signatories Group, surveyed ten organisations to understand their current arrangements for tackling climate change and nature recovery. The survey revealed that while Nature Recovery, Energy Generation, and Transport and Travel themes showed higher levels of activity and confidence, Adaptation and Managing Risk, and Health and Wellbeing themes had the lowest self-assessment scores. The report proposes several actions, including sharing best practice, further research, and potential collaborative working, to inform Swansea's Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Strategy.

Regional Child Poverty Governance Model

The Board endorsed the proposal for a regional funding application to Welsh Government's Child Poverty Innovation and Supporting Communities Grant. This initiative aims to co-produce and establish a new governance model, centred around a Child Poverty Forum, to capture and promote the lived experiences of children, young people, families, and carers affected by poverty. The model seeks to enhance collaboration between public and third sector organisations to address child poverty, aligning with Objective 5 of the Child Poverty Strategy for Wales 2024. The proposal outlines key actions and a timeline for developing the governance model, with an expected project closure in March 2025.

Welsh Government Support for Public Service Boards 2024/25

The Board noted and discussed how the Welsh Government's allocated support for Public Service Boards would be prioritised in Swansea to enhance its strategic capacity and capability in delivering well-being plans. The allocated funding of £58,440 for Swansea and Neath Port Talbot will be used to support community engagement and maintain a data portal. A significant portion will be dedicated to developing a regional data portal, with potential remaining funds allocated to partnership forum meetings, community engagement initiatives, and cultural and engagement events.

Letter from Scrutiny Programme Committee

The Board received a letter from the Scrutiny Programme Committee following their meeting on 14 May 2024. The letter provided feedback on the performance of the Swansea PSB, noting positive progress and improvements in focus and performance management. It highlighted achievements against the Well-being Objectives and acknowledged the commitment to partnership working. The Scrutiny Committee suggested reviewing the Annual Report to better demonstrate PSB performance and outcomes, and requested a focused discussion on public engagement at a future meeting. The letter also touched upon comparisons with other PSBs, Welsh Government involvement, and the importance of demonstrating the PSB's impact on people's daily lives.

Presentation Slides: Local Food on the Public Plate Procurement Learning Journey

This item was presented for information. The Local Food on the Public Plate initiative aimed to explore how public organisations in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot could create a sustainable and resilient regional food system by sourcing more locally produced food. The project involved workshops to identify risks, barriers, and opportunities, and to learn from best practices elsewhere. Key challenges identified included high costs, difficulty in sourcing sufficient local produce, and procurement systems focused on cost reduction. The importance of local food sourcing for health, the local economy, food security, and carbon footprint reduction was emphasised. The initiative aims to establish a community of practice, foster new connections, and identify next steps for strengthening the local and sustainable food system.