Concise Minutes - Equality and Social Justice Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee Room 3 (Senedd)

Meeting date: Monday, 4 March 2024

Meeting time: 11.00 - 17.00
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/14015

Hybrid

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Attendance

Category	Names
Members of the Senedd:	Jenny Rathbone MS (Chair) Jane Dodds MS Sarah Murphy MS Sioned Williams MS Ken Skates MS Joel James MS
Witnesses:	Cerith Griffiths, Fire Brigades Union Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union Tristan Ashby, Fire and Rescue Services Association Mark Hardingham, National Fire Chiefs Council Baroness Wilcox of Newport, Fire Commissioner for South Wales Vij Randeniya, Fire Commissioner for South Wales Kirsty Williams, Fire Commissioner for South Wales Peter Crews, Unison
Committee Staff:	Rhys Morgan (Clerk) Angharad Roche (Deputy Clerk) Sam Mason (Legal Adviser) Claire Thomas (Researcher)

<AI1>

1 Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

Apologies were received from Altaf Hussain.

Joel James attended the meeting as a substitute for Altaf Hussain.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2 Governance of Fire and Rescue Services: panel one

Members heard evidence from:

Matt Wrack, General Secretary, Fire Brigade Union

Cerith Griffiths, Executive Council member for Wales, Fire Brigade Union

</AI2>

<AI3>

3 Governance of Fire and Rescue Services: panel two

Members heard evidence from Peter Crews, Branch Secretary Cwm Taff Local Government Branch (covering South Wales Fire & Rescue), UNISON

Apologies were received from Michelle Edwards, Assistant Branch Secretary and Health and Safety Officer, UNISON

</AI3>

<AI4>

4 Governance of Fire and Rescue Services: panel three

Members heard evidence from:

Tristan Ashby, Chief Executive Officer of the Fire and Rescue Services Association

Mark Hardingham, Chair, National Fire Chiefs Council

</AI4>

<AI5>

5 Papers to note

Members noted the papers.

</AI5>

<AI6>

5.1 Correspondence from the Equality and Human Rights Commission to the Chair regarding 'Menopause at work resources'

</AI6>

<AI7>

5.2 Correspondence from Councillor Gwynfor Thomas to the Chair regarding attendance at the Equality and Social Justice Committee meeting on 4 March 2024

</AI7>

<AI8>

5.3 Correspondence from the Counsel General to the Chair of Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee regarding the Inter-Institutional Relations Agreement: Inter-Ministerial Standing Committee

</AI8>

<AI9>

5.4 Correspondence from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (Wales) to the Chair regarding "Worried and waiting: A review of paediatric waiting times in Wales"

</AI9>

<AI10>

6 Motion under SO17.42 (vi) to exclude the public from the rest of today's meeting

Members agreed the motion.

</AI10>

<AI11>

7 Governance of Fire and Rescue Services: private briefing

Members received a private briefing from the following Fire Commissioners:

Vij Randeniya (former Chief Fire Officer for the West Midlands)

Baroness Wilcox of Newport (former Leader of Newport City Council)

Kirsty Williams (former Member of the Senedd and Minister for Education)

</AI11>

<AI12>

8 Governance of Fire and Rescue Services: consideration of evidence

Members considered the evidence.

</AI12>

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