The Swansea Public Services Board (PSB) met on Thursday 13 February 2025 to discuss updates on its action plan, review partnership governance, and consider its annual report. Key decisions included noting updates on the PSB's 8 Steps Action Plan, agreeing to the review of partnership governance, and approving the minutes of the previous meeting.

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

The Board received updates on the progress of its eight-step action plan. Karen Stapleton, from Swansea Bay University Health Board, reported on the Transforming early years’ services across Swansea initiative, highlighting the agreement of strategic principles for early years collaboration and the use of shared data to inform service expansion. Ness Young from Swansea Council provided an update on Building on Swansea as a Human Rights City, detailing progress in fire service training on poverty, safeguarding courses delivered by Swansea Council for Voluntary Service (SCVS), and the embedding of human rights principles into the health board's strategic equality plan. Jane Richmond from Natural Resources Wales discussed progress on Working towards Swansea’s net zero target and nature recovery, noting the technical report for the adaptation and mitigation strategy was nearing completion. Roger Thomas presented on Making Swansea safer, more cohesive, and prosperous, highlighting the success of the community safety village event and a targeted prevention workshop. Mark Wade provided an update on Developing Swansea’s integrated cultural offer, stating that a draft cultural strategy was on target for completion by the end of March. Ness Young also provided updates on Influencing and connecting with other governance arrangements across the Swansea Bay region, Improving data quality and accessibility across the Swansea Bay region, and Developing Swansea PSB performance management arrangements, detailing progress on a regional data portal and population well-being indicators. The Board noted these updates.

Swansea Public Services Board Review of Partnership Governance

The Board agreed to the findings and recommendations of the review into partnership governance across the Swansea Bay region. The report, presented by Ness Young, identified overlaps and gaps in coordination between various partnerships, including the PSB, the Regional Partnership Board (RPB), the Area Planning Board (APB), and the Safer Swansea Partnership (SSP). Areas of overlap were noted in health and well-being, community safety, and mental health and substance misuse services. The report recommended leveraging existing groups for coordination, streamlining data-sharing mechanisms, assigning clear responsibility for cross-cutting themes, improving coordination through joint meetings, maximising the use of digital tools, and rationalising meeting schedules. Marie Davies, Executive Director of Planning and Partnerships, commented that while the principles were sound, implementation would be complex, and Abigail Harris, CEO of Swansea Bay University Health Board, found the report helpful in understanding how different initiatives fit together.

Walking in our Shoes

The Board noted the progress and plans for the Walking in our Shoes initiative, which aims to provide partners with a deeper understanding of each other's operational challenges and opportunities. Howell Manley from Natural Resources Wales volunteered to organise the next event, suggesting a focus on water quality monitoring and estate management. Roger Thomas provided further context on the initiative, explaining its purpose as a way for board members to gain firsthand experience of partner organisations' operations.

Public Services Board Annual Report 2024/25

Ness Young informed the Board that the Public Services Board Annual Report for 2024/25 would be drafted based on the updates provided in the meeting and further input from strategic leads. A draft report would be presented to an informal board meeting on 17 March, with the aim of bringing the final report to the next formal board meeting on 10 April. The Board was asked to consider whether to repeat the production of a video alongside the report to improve accessibility. The Board noted this item.

Feedback letter from Scrutiny Programme Committee & Response

The Board noted the feedback letter from the Scrutiny Programme Committee and the response detailing how the points raised were being addressed. The Scrutiny Programme Committee had recognised the PSB's progress but requested further information on the Transforming Early Years’ Services workstream, public engagement, youth involvement, and the relationship between national well-being indicators and PSB actions. The PSB confirmed that a detailed response on early years services would be provided, and efforts were underway to enhance public engagement, increase youth involvement, and continue monitoring national well-being indicators. Statutory partners may also be invited to future scrutiny sessions.