Meeting Venue: Remote
Meeting date: Monday, 11 July 2022
Meeting time: 14.00 - 15.30
This meeting can
be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/12899
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Category |
Names |
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Members of the Senedd: |
Jack Sargeant MS (Chair) Luke Fletcher MS Buffy Williams MS Altaf Hussain MS (In place of Joel James MS) |
|
Witnesses: |
Cheney Hamilton, Find Your Flex Professor Abigail Marks, Newcastle University Louisa Neale, The Future Generations Commissioner’s Office Will Stronge, Autonomy |
|
Committee Staff: |
Gareth Price (Clerk) Kayleigh Imperato (Deputy Clerk) |
1 Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest
The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Apologies were received from Joel James MS.
Altaf Hussain MS attended the meeting as substitute for Joel James MS.
2 Evidence session - P-06-1247 We call on the Welsh Government to lead the way by supporting trials of a four-day week in Wales
The Committee heard evidence from Cheney Hamilton, Will Stronge, Louisa Neale and Professor Abigail Marks.
3 New Petitions
3.1 P-06-1281 Urgently stop raw sewage discharges into Barry's Old Harbour and Watchtower Bays
The Committee considered the petition and noted that the growing concerns about the state of our rivers and the actions being taken by Senedd Committees, in plenary sessions and by Welsh Government and Dwr Cymru Welsh Water.
Members agreed to encourage the petitioners to pursue the by the Welsh Government for people to apply to designate new areas of bathing waters and highlight the report recently published by the Climate Change Committee, and in doing so, close the petition and thank the petitioner.
4 Updates to previous petitions
4.1 P-05-924 Ensure that every school in Wales has Wellbeing Ambassadors
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and whilst Members agreed that this is a very important issue, the Welsh Government are already undertaking work to improve the anti-bullying strategy so there is little further the Petitions Committee can do on the issue. In light of this Members agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner for engaging with the petitions process and congratulated them for the work they are doing in their own communities.
4.2 P-06-1251 Secure the Right to Remote Access for Disabled and Neurodivergent People
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to thank Hefcw for their thorough responses to the Committee’s correspondence and noted while there are benefits for some of remote working, there are also negatives for others and universities should work with their students to ensure that they are meeting the needs of all students.
In doing so, Members agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.
4.3 P-06-1268 Review the process for pre-assessed status for onshore turbines, which unfairly disadvantages individuals
The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and given that the Welsh Government has been clear that it believes that the pre-assessed status does not disadvantage individuals and we have received assurance from the Minister that the guidance will be updated later this year, Members agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner
4.4 P-06-1277 Save A&E. Withybush General Hospital must retain 24 hour, 7 days a week, Consultant Led urgent care
The Committee considered the petition and noted the debate on the petition which was held in the Senedd on 29 June wasn’t the first time, nor would it be the last time that this important issue comes before the Senedd. However, there is little more the Committee can do at this time, having already held a debate on this issue. Members agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner for raising this important issue.
4.5 P-05-1086 Create a National Museum for Welsh Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic History and Heritage
The Committee considered the petition and noted that while there has been no progress in the finding a permanent home the collection, it is currently with Glamorgan Archives, and can still be viewed by members of the public. In light of this Members agreed that there is little further they can do as a Committee and agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.
In doing so Members agreed to thank the Heritage Culture Exchange for their thoughtful response and wished them well in seeking a long term home for the collection in the future.
4.6 P-06-1275 Call on the Government to reconsider its decision to withdraw from the Llanbedr bypass scheme
The paper was noted.
5 Motion under Standing Order 17.42(ix) to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting
The motion was agreed.
6 Draft report - P-06-1212 Mark Allen's Law - we want throwline stations around all open water sites in Wales
The Committee agreed the report with some minor changes.
7 Discussion of evidence - P-06-1247 We call on the Welsh Government to lead the way by supporting trials of a four-day week in Wales
The Committee discussed the evidence session and agreed to draft a report on the petition.
8 Ways of working
The Committee reflected on their work this year and discussed the next steps for the Autumn term.