Concise Minutes - Petitions Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee room 1

Meeting date: Monday, 15 January 2024

Meeting time: 14.00 - 14.20
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/13676

Hybrid

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Attendance

Category	Names
Members of the Senedd:	Jack Sargeant MS (Chair) Rhys ab Owen MS Joel James MS Peredur Owen Griffiths MS
Witnesses:
Committee Staff:	Gareth Price (Clerk) Mared Llwyd (Second Clerk) Kayleigh Imperato (Deputy Clerk)

<AI1>

1 Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies were received from Buffy Williams Ms.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2 New Petitions

</AI2>

<AI3>

2.1 P-06-1367 Fund the removal of quarry rocks and the restoration of sand and groynes to Llandudno North Shore

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write to the Business Committee to request a debate on the matter.

</AI3>

<AI4>

3 Updates to previous petitions

</AI4>

<AI5>

3.1 P-06-1217 Open Long Covid one stop medical hubs / clinics

The Committee considered the petition and expressed their disappointment that a meeting between Welsh Government officials and the petitioner has not taken place and that no contact has been made.  Members agreed to write to the Minister expressing the Committee’s disappointment and request that contact is made with the petitioner at the earliest opportunity.

</AI5>

<AI6>

3.2 P-06-1253 Ban greyhound racing in Wales

The Committee considered the petition alongside petition P-06-1354 The Welsh Government should support greyhound racing in Wales and welcomed the consultation on Licensing of animal welfare establishments, activities and exhibits which closes on 1 March.

Members agreed to keep a watching brief on the petitions until the outcome of the consultation is published.

</AI6>

<AI7>

3.3 P-06-1354 The Welsh Government should support greyhound racing in Wales

The Committee considered the petition alongside petition P-06-1253 Ban greyhound racing in Wales and welcomed the consultation on Licensing of animal welfare establishments, activities and exhibits which closes on 1 March.

Members agreed to keep a watching brief on the petitions until the outcome of the consultation is published.

</AI7>

<AI8>

3.4 P-06-1368 The Welsh Govt should take steps to save the Environmental Information Regulations in relation to Wales

The Committee considered the petition and noted that since the passing of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 circumstances have changed and there is now no end date for the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. Members also noted that the Minister for Climate Change and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee appreciated the work undertaken by Cardiff University students.

In light of this Members agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioners for their interest and work on this issue.

</AI8>

<AI9>

3.5 P-06-1333 Stop Natural Resources Wales from tree felling that threatens red squirrel survival

The Committee considered the petition and noted that this is the second petition raising concern about Natural Resource Wales’s approach to tree felling and red squirrel protection.

Members agreed to keep the petition open for 12 months and seek updates on the progress of the collaborative working between Natural Resource Wales and partners involved in red squirrel conservation in Gwynedd and Anglesey.

</AI9>

<AI10>

3.6 P-06-1363 Save our Fire and Rescue Service

Jack Sargeant MS declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

He has written to North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority regarding this issue affecting his constituency.

The Committee considered the petition and noted the positive news that the stations of Rhyl and Deeside have not been downgraded following the consultation, and the current level of cover is set to continue.  In light of this Members agreed close the petition and congratulate the petitioner and all those who supported the campaign.

</AI10>

<AI11>

3.7 P-06-1375 Initiate an early senedd election

The Committee considered the petition and agreed that whilst it has gathered the required number of signatures to consider referring the petition for a debate in the Senedd there are no clear benefits to doing so, or to take any further action on the petition. In light of this Members agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner for engaging with the Committee.

</AI11>

<AI12>

4 Papers to Note

The papers were noted.

</AI12>

<AI13>

5 Motion under Standing Order 17.42(ix) to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting

The motion was agreed.

</AI13>

<AI14>

6 Forward work programme

The committee considered its forward work programme.

</AI14>

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