Minutes - Business Committee


Meeting Venue:

Tŷ Hywel

Meeting date: 14 January 2025

Meeting time: 09.01 - 09.40


Remote / Private

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Attendance

Category

Names

Committee Members:

Elin Jones MS, Llywydd (Chair)

Paul Davies MS

Heledd Fychan MS

Jane Hutt MS

Committee Staff:

Graeme Francis (Clerk)

Yan Thomas (Deputy Clerk)

Others in attendance

David Rees MS, Deputy Presiding Officer

Manon Antoniazzi, Chief Executive and Clerk

Matthew Richards, Interim Director of Senedd Business

Bethan Davies, Head of Chamber and Committee Service

Julian Luke, Head of Policy and Legislation Committee Service

Helen Carey, Welsh Government

Lisa Griffiths, Procedures Clerk, Chamber and Committee Service

 

<AI1>

1       Introductions, apologies and substitutions

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting. Apologies were received from Jane Dodds.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2       Minutes of the previous meeting

The Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed for publication

</AI2>

<AI3>

3       Organisation of Business

</AI3>

<AI4>

3.1   This week's business

Tuesday 

 

·         Voting Time will take place as the last item of business.

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 5.45pm

 

Wednesday

 

·         Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate.  

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 7.10pm

</AI4>

<AI5>

3.2   Three week timetable of Government Business

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers of the following changes to the Three Week Timetable of Government Business:

 

Tuesday 21 January 2025

·         Statement by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Growing the Timber Industry in Wales: Jobs and Green Growth (45 mins)

·         Legislative Consent Motion: The Water (Special Measures) Bill (15 mins) brought forward from 28 January

 

Tuesday 28 January 2025

·         Legislative Consent Motion: The Water (Special Measures) Bill (15 mins) brought forward to 21 January

 

Paul Davies enquired whether an oral statement would be scheduled on foot-and-mouth disease following the recent outbreak in Germany. The Trefnydd indicated that she would discuss the issue with the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs.

 

</AI5>

<AI6>

3.3   Three week timetable of Senedd Business

The following items were agreed to be scheduled on the Three Week Timetable of Senedd Business:

 

Wednesday 5 February 2025 –

·         Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal (30 mins)

·         Debate on the Local Government and Housing Committee report: Social Housing Supply (60 mins)

·         Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins)

</AI6>

<AI7>

4       Legislation

</AI7>

<AI8>

4.1   Update on LCMs

Business Committee considered an update on LCMs and agreed to:

</AI8>

<AI9>

5       Procedural Work

</AI9>

<AI10>

5.1   Committee chair job-sharing: Summary of phase 2 evidence and agreement of next steps

Business Committee considered the feedback received to two consultations. The Llywydd introduced the item and the evidence received, including a number of questions and practical concerns that were raised in evidence and by members of the Chairs’ Forum during their discussions on the proposal.

 

The Trefnydd and Heledd Fychan stated that their groups both support the introduction of provisions enabling job-sharing for committee chairs. Paul Davies stated that his group was opposed to the introduction of committee chair job-sharing and would support the development of a Chair and Deputy Chair model instead.

 

Having considered views received on terminology, a majority of Business Managers agreed that the term ‘job-sharing’ should continue to be used to describe the proposal.

 

Business Committee agreed to consult with the Standards of Conduct Committee on matters raised by the Standards Commissioner in his submission. The Committee also asked that further advice be provided on options for the terms and length of a proposed trial, including whether the number of committees able to be chaired in a job-share should be limited for the duration of the trial.

 

Business Managers agreed to consider these matters further at a future meeting and to discuss with their groups, prior to the development of a final proposal.

</AI10>

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