Concise Minutes - Local Government and Housing Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee Room 2

Meeting date: Thursday, 18 January 2024

Meeting time: 09.02
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/13825

Hybrid

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Attendance

Category	Names
Members of the Senedd:	John Griffiths MS (Chair) Jayne Bryant MS Adam Price MS (In place of Luke Fletcher MS) Joel James MS Sam Rowlands MS Carolyn Thomas MS
Witnesses:	Lis Burnett, Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) Charlie McCoubrey, Conwy Council Dyfrig Siencyn, Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Finance and Local Government Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change Judith Cole, Welsh Government Sarah Rhodes, Welsh Government Emma Smith, Head of Planning and Performance, Welsh Government Andrea Street, Welsh Government Emma Williams, Welsh Government Jane Gebbie, Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) Jamie Powell, Welsh Government
Committee Staff:	Catherine Hunt (Clerk) Angharad Era (Deputy Clerk) Rachael Davies (Second Clerk) Stephen Davies (Legal Adviser) Osian Bowyer (Researcher) Jennie Bibbings (Researcher)

<AI1>

1 Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

1.1 The Chair welcomed Members to the meeting of the Local Government and Housing Committee.

1.2 Apologies were received from Luke Fletcher MS.  Adam Price MS substituted for Luke Fletcher MS.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2 Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25 - evidence session 1: Welsh Local Government Association

2.1 The Committee received evidence from:

Councillor Lis Burnett, Leader, Vale of Glamorgan Council

Councillor Jane Gebbie, Deputy Leader, Bridgend County Borough Council

Councillor Charlie McCoubrey,Conwy County Borough Council

Councillor Dyfrig Siencyn, Leader, Gwynedd Council

</AI2>

<AI3>

3 Motion under Standing Order 17.42(ix) to resolve to exclude the public from item 4, 8 and 9 of the meeting

3.1 The Committee agreed the motion.

</AI3>

<AI4>

4 Consideration of the evidence received under item 2

4.1 The Committee considered the evidence.

</AI4>

<AI5>

5 Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25 - evidence session 2: Minister for Finance and Local Government

5.1  The Committee received evidence from:

Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Finance and Local Government

Emma Smith – Head of Local Government Finance Policy, Welsh Government

Judith Cole - Deputy Director Local Government Finance Policy & Sustainability, Welsh Government

5.2 The Minster agreed to provide a note to Committee on work with local government to ensure that those entitled to support with council tax receive it

5.3 The Minster agreed to provide a note setting out range of sources of evidence / data to understand public’s views on services

5.4 The Minister agreed to provide an update on discussions between the Minister for Health and Social Services and Deputy Minister for Social Services and local government colleagues in relation to healthcare funding pressures.

</AI5>

<AI6>

6 Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024 - 25 - evidence session 3: Minister for Climate Change

6.1 The Committee received evidence from:

Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change, Welsh Government

Emma Williams, Director of Housing and Regeneration, Welsh Government

Jamie Powell, Deputy Director of Finance, Welsh Government

Sarah Rhodes, Deputy Director, Housing Policy, Welsh Government

Andrea Street, Deputy Director, Housing Safety Regulations & Standards, Welsh Government

</AI6>

<AI7>

7 Papers to note

</AI7>

<AI8>

7.1 Letter from First Minister to Chair of Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee - Inter-Institutional Relations Agreement

7.1a The Committee noted the letter.

</AI8>

<AI9>

7.2 Letter from the Chair of Children, Young People and Education Committee to the Minister for Climate Change - Response to the  Welsh Government's White Paper on ending homelessness in Wales

7.2a The Committee noted the letter.

</AI9>

<AI10>

7.3 Letter from the Minister for Climate Change following the Ministerial scrutiny session on 9 November

7.3a The Committee noted the letter.

</AI10>

<AI11>

7.4 Letter from Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution - Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill

7.4a The Committee noted the letter.

</AI11>

<AI12>

7.5 Letter from Cymorth Cymru - Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25

7.5a The Committee noted the letter.

</AI12>

<AI13>

8 Consideration of evidence received under items 5 and 6

8.1 The Committee considered the evidence under items 5 and 6.

</AI13>

<AI14>

9 Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill - Consideration of the draft report

9.1 The Committee considered the draft report.

</AI14>

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