Concise Minutes - Local Government and Housing Committee


Meeting Venue:

Video Conference via Zoom

Meeting date: Wednesday, 1 December 2021

Meeting time: 08.48 - 12.47
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/12516


Remote

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Attendance

Category

Names

Members of the Senedd:

John Griffiths MS (Chair)

Mabon ap Gwynfor MS

Alun Davies MS

Joel James MS

Sam Rowlands MS

Carolyn Thomas MS

Witnesses:

Nick Bennett, Public Services Ombudsman for Wales

Amelia John, Welsh Government

Bethan Webb, Welsh Government

Jonathan Price, Welsh Government

Nicola Moorhouse, Welsh Government

Neil Hemington, Welsh Government

Sue Leake, Welsh Government

Amanda Whittle, Welsh Government

Glyn Roberts, Welsh Government

Hannah Browne-Gott, Welsh Government

Rhian Davies, Welsh Government

Dafydd Meurig, Gwynedd Council

Heledd Fflur Jones, Gwynedd Council

Gareth Jones, Gwynedd Council

Committee Staff:

Manon George (Clerk)

Catherine Hunt (Second Clerk)

Chloe Davies (Deputy Clerk)

Stephen Davies (Legal Adviser)

Jonathan Baxter (Researcher)

 

<AI1>

1       Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

1.1.      The Chair welcomed Members to the meeting of the Local Government and Housing Committee.

1.2.      Alun Davies MS and Mabon ap Gwynfor MS declared relevant interests.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2       Evidence session with the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales in relation to the report "Homelessness Reviewed: an open door to positive change"

2.1 The Committee received evidence from Nick Bennett, Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.

</AI2>

<AI3>

3       Motion under Standing Order 17.42 to resolve to exclude the public from items 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the meeting

3.1 The Committee agreed the motion.

</AI3>

<AI4>

4       Inquiry into second homes: technical briefing with Welsh Government officials

4.1 The Committee received a technical briefing from Welsh Government officials.

</AI4>

<AI5>

5       Inquiry into second homes: evidence session 2

5.1 The Committee received evidence from:

Councillor Dafydd Meurig, Deputy Leader, Gwynedd Council

Heledd Fflur Jones, Planning Policy Team Leader, Anglesey and Gwynedd Joint Planning Policy Unit

Gareth Jones, Assistant Head of Department, Environment Department, Gwynedd Council

 

5.2 The witnesses agreed to provide a note on how the infrastructure of the Well-being and Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 has shaped planning decisions taken by local authorities.

</AI5>

<AI6>

6       Papers to note

</AI6>

<AI7>

6.1   Letter from the Minister for Climate Change to the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee in relation to the LCM on the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill

6.1.a The Committee noted the letter from the Minister for Climate Change to the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee in relation to the LCM on the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill.

</AI7>

<AI8>

6.2   Letter from the Minister for Climate Change in relation to the LCM on the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill

6.2.a The Committee noted the letter from the Minister for Climate Change in relation to the LCM on the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill.

</AI8>

<AI9>

6.3   Letter from Jonathan Edwards MP in relation to Incomplete Housing Estates and Outsourcing of Building Control

6.3.a The Committee noted the letter from Jonathan Edwards MP in relation to Incomplete Housing Estates and Outsourcing of Building Control.

</AI9>

<AI10>

6.4   Letter from Rhys ab Owen MS in relation to cladding and the LCM on the Building Safety Bill

6.4.a The Committee noted the letter from Rhys ab Owen MS in relation to cladding and the LCM on the Building Safety Bill and agreed to respond.

</AI10>

<AI11>

7       Consideration of the evidence received from the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales under item 2

7.1 The Committee discussed the evidence received and agreed to write to the Minister for Climate Change and to stakeholders on matters raised during the session.

</AI11>

<AI12>

8       Consideration of the draft report on the Building Safety Bill LCM

8.1 The Committee considered the draft report and discussed changes to make.

</AI12>

<AI13>

9       Update on the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill LCM

9.1 The Committee received an update on the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill LCM and discussed matters to raise in its draft report.

</AI13>

<AI14>

10    Inquiry into second homes - consideration of the evidence received under items 4 and 5

10.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

</AI14>

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