Meeting Venue:
Committee Room 3 - Senedd
Meeting date: 15 November 2022
Meeting time: 08.46 - 10.04
------
------
|
Category |
Names |
|
Committee Members: |
Elin Jones MS, Llywydd (Chair) Lesley Griffiths MS Darren Millar MS Siân Gwenllian MS |
|
Committee Staff: |
Graeme Francis (Clerk) Yan Thomas (Deputy Clerk) |
|
Others in attendance |
Jane Dodds MS David Rees MS, Deputy Presiding Officer Manon Antoniazzi, Chief Executive and Clerk Siwan Davies, Director of Senedd Business Julian Luke, Head of Policy and Legislation Committee Service, Head of Policy and Legislation Committee Service Helen Carey, Welsh Government Matthew Richards, Head of the Legal Service, Head of the Legal Service Richard Thomas, Strategic Transformation Tom Jackson, Welsh Government |
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
There are no changes to this week’s government business.
Wednesday
The Llywydd drew Business Managers’ attention to the following changes:
3.2 Three week timetable of Government Business
The Trefnydd drew Business Managers’ attention to the following changes:
Tuesday 22 November 2022
· Statement by the Minister for Social Justice: Women’s Justice and Youth Justice Blueprints: Progress report and next steps (30 mins)
Tuesday 29 November 2022
· The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (Amendment of Schedule 12 and Consequential Amendment) Regulations 2022 (15 mins)
· The Marine, Fisheries and Aquaculture (Financial Assistance) Scheme (Wales) Regulations 2022 (15 mins)
3.3 Three week timetable of Senedd Business
Business Committee agreed to the following additions to the timetable:
Wednesday 23 November 2022
And to schedule the following items of business:
Wednesday 7 December 2022
3.4 Member Debates: Selection of Motion for Debate
Business Committee considered the motions tabled and agreed to schedule the following motion for debate on 23 November:
Jenny Rathbone
NNDM8130
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes:
a) the publication of MIND Cymru’s Together Through Tough Times report;
b) that community resilience has a positive impact on good mental health.
2. Calls on Welsh Government to:
a) work with the voluntary and community sector to build resilient communities through:
(i) promoting social capital;
(ii) investing in community assets;
(iii) addressing barriers faced by certain groups;
b) include the role played by community assets and networks in any future mental health strategy.
4 Legislation
4.1 Update on LCMs
5 Senedd Business
5.1 The effect of a Member leaving a political group on Committee representation and opposition time in Plenary
Business Committee considered the impact of Rhys ab Owen no longer being a member of the Plaid Cymru group in the Senedd on committees and plenary.
Business Committee agreed that the Plaid Cymru group should be invited to fill the vacancies that have arisen on committees, and to propose that the Senedd agrees the following nominations:
Business Committee also agreed to offer Rhys ab Owen a place on the Petitions Committee, subject to the agreement of the Senedd.
Business Committee agreed not to make any further changes to committee memberships, chairing or the allocation of time in Plenary at this time.
6 Senedd Reform
6.1 Special Purpose Committee on Senedd Reform's recommendations: Business Committee decision aid
1. The size of the Welsh Government in a larger Senedd (recommendation 4)
Business Committee discussed the evidence received and agreed, in principle, to conclude that Senedd Reform legislation should amend the current statutory provisions in the Government of Wales Act 2006 to provide for a different limit on the number of Welsh Ministers.
Business Committee agreed to return to a further discussion of the level of any minimum and/or maximum thresholds, and whether or not the legislation should include a range for the number of Welsh Ministers, at a subsequent meeting.
2. The number of Deputy Presiding Officers in a larger Senedd
Business Committee concluded that Senedd Reform legislation should amend the current statutory provisions in the Government of Wales Act 2006 to provide for a limit of two Deputy Presiding Officers, instead of one as is currently the case.
Business Committee agreed to return to a further discussion on the matter of how the legislation should require there to be a political balance across the Llywydd and deputies, and which titles are used for those posts in the legislation.
3. The number of Senedd Commissioners in a larger Senedd
Business Committee concluded that there should not be any change to the current statutory provisions on the number of Senedd Commissioners.
4. The consequences of a Member changing their political party if elected through a closed proportional list system
Business Committee concluded that it would not recommend that the Senedd Reform legislation should introduce legislative consequences arising from a Member of the Senedd changing their political party between elections. Business Committee indicated that it would give further consideration to internal Senedd mechanisms relating to group membership when reviewing Standing Orders ahead of the next Senedd term.
6.2 Background paper: number of office holders
The Committee noted the paper.
6.3 Background paper: consequences of a Member changing their political party
The Committee noted the paper.