Concise Minutes - Local Government and Housing Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee Room 5, Tŷ Hywel

Meeting date: Thursday, 10 October 2024

Meeting time: 09.31 - 12.34
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/14134

Hybrid

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Attendance

Category	Names
Members of the Senedd:	John Griffiths MS (Chair) James Evans MS Siân Gwenllian MS Lee Waters MS Altaf Hussain MS Hannah Blythyn MS
Witnesses:	Jayne Bryant MS, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government Emma Williams, Welsh Government Judith Cole, Welsh Government Reg Kilpatrick, Welsh Government Jo Larner, Welsh Government Sarah Rhodes, Welsh Government Richard Baker, Welsh Government
Committee Staff:	Manon George (Clerk) Catherine Hunt (Second Clerk) Evan Jones (Deputy Clerk) Osian Bowyer (Researcher) Gwennan Hardy (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 Lesley Griffiths MS. Hannah Blythyn MS attended as a substitute.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2 Ministerial scrutiny session - Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government

2.1     The Committee received evidence from the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government.

2.2     The Cabinet Secretary agreed to keep the Committee updated on the Affordable Homes Taskforce, including the terms of reference for that taskforce.

2.3     The Cabinet Secretary agreed to keep the Committee updated on any potential increase to the Housing Support Grant for 2025-26.

2.4     The Cabinet Secretary agreed to provide information to the Committee on the numbers of homes that will be built on the 68 sites where phosphate issues had held up house building.

2.5     The Cabinet Secretary agreed to provide the Committee with further information on the cross-Government work being carried out looking at how robust the current construction sector is and what needs to be done to support that sector.

2.6     The Cabinet Secretary agreed to provide an update on the impact of the National Empty Homes Grant and further information on why 5 of the 22 Local Authorities have not signed up to the Grant Scheme, including the reasons for them not signing up and what more can be done to help remove potential barriers.

2.7     The Cabinet Secretary agreed to provide further information on the differing levels of council tax premium are being applied by local authorities on empty properties across Wales, and whether the intervention is having an effect.

</AI2>

<AI3>

3 Ministerial scrutiny session - Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government

3.1     The Committee received evidence from the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government.

</AI3>

<AI4>

4 Papers to note

</AI4>

<AI5>

4.1 Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government in relation to the Community Asset Commission

4.1     The Committee noted the letter.

</AI5>

<AI6>

5 Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (ix) to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of this meeting and for the meeting on 23 October

</AI6>

<AI7>

6 Ministerial scrutiny session - consideration of evidence

6.1     The Committee considered the evidence received.

</AI7>

<AI8>

7 Forward work programme

7.1     The Committee considered its forward work programme.

</AI8>

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