Meeting Venue:
Zoom
Meeting date: 18 January 2022
Meeting time: 09.00 - 09.16
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Category |
Names |
Committee Members: |
Elin Jones MS, Llywydd (Chair) Lesley Griffiths MS Darren Millar MS Siân Gwenllian MS |
Committee Staff: |
Graeme Francis (Clerk) Bethan Garwood (Deputy Clerk) |
Others in attendance |
David Rees MS, Deputy Presiding Officer Jane Dodds MS Manon Antoniazzi, Chief Executive and Clerk Siwan Davies, Director of Senedd Business Siân Wilkins, Head of Chamber and Committee Service Julian Luke, Head of Policy and Legislation Committee Service, Head of Policy and Legislation Committee Service |
1 Introductions, apologies and substitutions
The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting.
2 Minutes of the previous meeting
The Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed for publication.
3 Organisation of Business
3.1 This week's business
The Trefnydd drew Business Managers’ attention to the following addition to Tuesday’s business:
Wednesday
Plenary format
A majority of Business Committee agreed that Plenary should continue to be held virtually during the week commencing 24 January and return to hybrid meetings from 1 February if, as expected, the requirement to work from home is removed before then.
3.2 Three week timetable of Government Business
The Trefnydd drew Business Committee’s attention to the following changes:
Tuesday 25 January 2022 -
· Statement by the Minister for Finance and Local Government: Procurement Update (45 mins)
· Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Reform of Hospice Funding (45 mins)
· Statement by the Minister for Social Justice: Holocaust Memorial Day (45 mins)
· Statement by the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing: Update on the Substance Misuse Delivery Plan 2019/22 (45 mins)
Tuesday 1 February 2022 -
· Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Launch of the new Health and Social Care Regional Integration Fund (45 mins)
· Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: Exploring reform of the school day and year (45 mins)
· Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership: LGBTQ+ History Month (45 mins)
· Statement by the Minister for Economy: Wales and Europe – managing a new relationship (45 mins)
·
The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Order
2022 (5 15 mins)
·
The Official Controls (Extension of Transitional Periods and
Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2021 (5
10 mins)
· Debate: The Equality and Human Rights Commission Annual Impact Report (60 mins)
3.3 Three week timetable of Senedd Business
Business Committee agreed to schedule the following items of business:
Wednesday 9 February 2022 –
3.4 Member Debates: Selection of Motion for Debate
Business Committee agreed to schedule the following motion for debate on 26 January:
NNDM7880 James Evans
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes that 101 million bus journeys were undertaken in Wales in 2018/19, compared to 129 million in 2004/05.
2. Further notes that 23 per cent of people in Wales do not have access to a car or van.
3. Recognises that public transport is essential in rural Wales to prevent isolation and loneliness.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) provide sustainable long-term funding for local authorities to enhance rural bus services;
b) ensure rural councils receive a fair share of future investment for public transport and active travel schemes;
c) guarantee the National Bus Strategy for Wales considers the unique challenges of public transport in rural Wales.
d) prioritise investing in zero-emissions public transport vehicles in rural areas.
Supporters:
Rhys ab Owen
Mabon ap Gwynfor
Natasha Asghar
Samuel Kurtz
Jack Sargeant
Carolyn Thomas
Business Committee also agreed the schedule the following motion for debate on 16 February:
NNDM7881
Rhys ab Owen
Jane Dodds
Llyr Gruffydd
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes:
a) the Local Government and Elections Wales Act 2021 extends the voting franchise to 16 and 17 year olds and foreign citizens legally resident in Wales, ensures a duty to encourage local people to participate in local government, and enables councils to scrap the first past the post system to elect councillors;
b) a more proportional system is used in local elections in Scotland, reducing the number of uncontested seats, and ensuring that all votes count.
2. Calls on the Welsh Government to work closely with new councils elected in May 2022 to ensure that a more representative method and a uniform national system is used to elect councillors across Wales by 2027.
Supporters
Rhun Ap Iorwerth
Heledd Fychan
Peredur Owen Griffiths
Mabon ap Gwynfor
Sioned Williams
4 Committees
4.1 Memorandum of Understanding between the UK Government, the Welsh Government, the Senedd Cymru and Ofcom
Business Committee agreed to refer the Memorandum of Understanding to the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee and the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee for consideration and comment. Officials were asked to liaise with Welsh Government about the timetable for this work.
5 Committee Timetable
5.1 Update on the review of the committee timetable
Business Committee noted the paper.
5.2 Committee requests for additional meetings
Business Committee agreed an additional meeting for the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee on Thursday 17 February. Business Committee also agreed two additional meetings for the Finance Committee on Friday 11 March and Friday 28 March.