Swansea Public Services Board to be created

A little bit of history will be created in Swansea’s Guildhall this week when a new Partnership – Swansea Public Services Board – will be created.

The board is one of 22 being set up in local authority areas around Wales over the coming months and its role will be to influence key decisions being made by public organisations.

In Swansea the board will be bringing together expertise and decision-makers from a wide range of organisations such as the health service, emergency services, Natural Resources Wales, Swansea Council for Voluntary Services and the council.

Public Services Boards (PSB), which are statutory, have been set up as successor bodies to Local Service Boards and their job is to oversee and support organisations to co-ordinate their work in the interests of residents.

In Swansea the first meeting is taking place on May 17 in Committee Room 3a of the Guildhall from 12.30pm. The meeting is open to the public and there will be a section at the start of the meeting at which they will be able to ask questions about items on the agenda.

Cllr Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council, said: “The PSBs have a legal mandate from the Welsh Government to make sure local bodies work together to protect and promote the well-being of all our residents.

“At a time when demand for public and voluntary services is growing and the amount of public funding is decreasing, the PSB can play a vital role in ensuring that money is spent wisely and that decisions made by one organisation dovetail well with those being made by others.”

He said: “The first meeting of the board will be thinking about the kinds of priorities we want to look at and be engaged with. For example, the Local Service Board had a role in supporting initiatives to deal with domestic abuse because the issue goes to the heart of well-being and family life and because the services which are needed to deal with domestic abuse cut across the boundaries of health, social care and emergency services like the police.

“The Welsh Government’s vision of a country where communities feel safe, are healthy, educated and have the chance to make the most of their talents is one we share. The PSB is there to seize opportunities for us all to work together to deliver on the Welsh Government’s aspirations.”

Visit www.swansea.gov.uk/psbagendas to see the agenda pack for the meeting.