Meeting Venue: Committee Room 1 - Senedd
Meeting date: Monday, 27 March 2023
Meeting time: 14.00 - 15.50
This meeting can
be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/13255
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Category |
Names |
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Members of the Senedd: |
Jack Sargeant MS (Chair) Rhys ab Owen MS Luke Fletcher MS Joel James MS Buffy Williams MS |
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Witnesses: |
Ben Saltmarsh, Secretariat, NEA Cymru Luke Young, Citizens Advice Dean Kirby, Journalist Bethan Sayed, Climate Cymru |
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Committee Staff: |
Gareth Price (Clerk) Mared Llwyd (Second Clerk) Kayleigh Imperato (Deputy Clerk) Samiwel Davies (Legal Adviser) Lorna Scurlock |
1 Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest
The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. There were no apologies.
2 Evidence session 1 - P-06-1326 The Senedd should scrutinise the prepayment meter scandal in Wales
The Committee heard evidence from Bethan Sayed, petitioner & campaigns co-ordinator for the Warm this Winter campaign for Climate Cymru, Ben Saltmarsh, Head of National Energy Action Cymru and Luke Young, Assistant Director of Citizens Advice Cymru.
3 New Petitions
3.1 P-06-1325 Lower the speed limit on the A5 through Glasfryn
The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write back to the Deputy Minister for Climate Change to:
4 Updates to previous petitions
4.1 P-05-1112 Help Welsh Communities Buy Community Assets: Implement Part 5 Chapter 3 of the Localism Act 2011
The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write back to the Minister to seek further clarification around timescale for the establishment of a Commission to take most of the recommendations forward.
4.2 P-06-1190 Ban the use of peat in horticulture and all growing media by 2023
The Committee considered the petition and in light of the fact that there has been commitment from both the UK and Welsh Governments to ban the sale of peat compost, the Committee agreed to close the petitions and congratulate the petitioner on a successful campaign and outcome.
4.3 P-06-1272 Ban the use of 'no pet clauses' in tenancy
The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write back to the Minister for Climate Change in order to seek a response to the further questions raised by the petitioner.
4.4 P-06-1275 Call on the Government to reconsider its decision to withdraw from the Llanbedr bypass scheme
The Committee considered the petition and noted the frustrations felt by the local community. However, in light of the fact that the Roads Review report is clear that the Llanbedr bypass scheme won’t progress and the fact that The Welsh Government have noted their willingness to work with Gwynedd County Council and meetings scheduled with the local community to explore alternative solutions, the Committee agreed there was little further they could do and agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner for highlighting this issue.
4.5 P-06-1299 Welsh Government 'Freeze on road building" to include a clause for cases that pose a danger to life
The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write to Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council to bring their attention to the petition and to ask what action, if any, they are taking to ameliorate the issue raised in the petition.
4.6 P-06-1286 To ensure treatment and screening for cancer continues during COVID19
The Committee considered the petition and in light of the publication of the Cancer Improvement Plan which acknowledges the challenges ahead and provides focus for improvement, members agreed to close the petition.
4.7 P-06-1297 Stop "Controlled Burning" in Wales
The Committee considered the petition and in light of the response from the RSPB and the petitioner, the Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Climate Change to ask if there are any plans to review the statutory code and regulations on controlled burning, ensuring that they align with and support the objectives of Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and Sustainable Land Management.
5 Evidence session 2 - P-06-1326 The Senedd should scrutinise the prepayment meter scandal in Wales
The Committee heard evidence from Dean Kirby, Journalist at the i newspaper.
6 Motion under Standing Order 17.42(ix) to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting
The motion was agreed.
7 Discussion of evidence - P-06-1326 The Senedd should scrutinise the prepayment meter scandal in Wales
The Committee considered the evidence and agreed that it would invite Ofgem, British Gas, Scottish Power and Energy UK to give evidence at its next meeting on 24 April.