Opening Meeting Held For New Gwynedd & Môn Public Services Board

A new Public Services Board has been established covering Gwynedd and Môn areas and its main tasks will be to prepare and publish an economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being assessment of the communities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As a start to the process, representitives who are members of the Gwynedd and Anglesey Local Service Board elected Ffion Johnstone, Area Director (West) for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board as Chair for the new board, and Councillor Ieuan Williams, Anglesey Council leader as vice-chair. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ffion Johnstone said: “As local services, we are eager to work together efficiently to provide the best services and support for the people and communities of Gwynedd and Anglesey. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Board’s main responsibility will be to implement the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 which places a statutory duty on public bodies including the two local councils, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Public Health Wales, North Wales Fire Service and Natural Resources Wales to work together formally to meet the Law’s expectations. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“In the past, working together locally between the different public services has lead to positive results and has given us an insight into the possibilities if we share resources and expertise across the public sector. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Well-being of Future Generations Act now offers a vital opportunity to work together on a statutory and formal basis and to build on aspects of economic, social, environmental and cultural benefits for local people from Amlwch to Aberdyfi.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Ieuan Williams, the Isle of Anglesey County Council Leader said: “The new Board has an unique opportunity here to make a major difference to the lives of Gwynedd and Anglesey residents and to enhance public services across both counties. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“In the autumn, we will arrange for people and communities from both counties to learn more about the work of the Board and the Future Generations Act, and also to contribute directly towards the task of determining our areas’ strengths and weaknesses.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In accordance with the Welsh Government’s expectations, the Board will prepare and publish a detailed assessment of the state of economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being in Gwynedd and Anglesey. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Following this, the Board is expected over the coming years to prepare and publish the Local Well-being Plan for Gwynedd and Anglesey which will determine local objectives and implement action points in order to address these objectives and to produce annual progress reports. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​