Concise Minutes - Petitions Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee room 1

Meeting date: Monday, 24 March 2025

Meeting time: 14.00 - 14.50
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/14871

Hybrid

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Attendance

Category	Names
Members of the Senedd:	Carolyn Thomas MS (Chair) Rhys ab Owen MS Luke Fletcher MS Joel James MS
Witnesses:
Committee Staff:	Gareth Price (Clerk) Lara Date (Second Clerk)

<AI1>

1 Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

Luke Fletcher MS declared a relevant interest in relation to Item 2.1 - he has worked with residents and the lead petitioner over the past few years on their campaign on Arbed/CESP.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2 New Petitions

</AI2>

<AI3>

2.1 P-06-1491 We demand a fair deal for residents affected by the Arbed and CESP scheme

The Committee agreed to: write to the Welsh Government for confirmation of the position regarding the petitioners’ request for a public inquiry;  write to the Equality and Social Justice Committee to ask to what extent it had looked at the situation in Caerau and how that had influenced the Government in its new Warm Homes programme; invite the petitioners and the local councillor supporting their campaign to come and meet with the Committee; and write to Bridgend County Borough Council to ask about progress with the remedial work funded by Welsh Government and the UK Government. In light of those agreed actions the Committee would keep the petition open.

</AI3>

<AI4>

2.2 P-06-1498 Introduce a bus service from Abergavenny Bus Station to The Grange Hospital

In light of the Welsh Government’s forthcoming bus franchising Bill, the Committee agreed to keep the petition open and maintain a watching brief.

</AI4>

<AI5>

3 Updates to previous petitions

</AI5>

<AI6>

3.1 P-06-1352 Approve the construction of the Third bridge over the Menai Strait

The Committee agreed to close the petition and continue to raise the issue as individual Members in the Siambr.

</AI6>

<AI7>

3.2 P-06-1464 Allow Welsh families who have experienced Baby loss before 24 weeks to obtain baby loss certificate

It was agreed that the Chair would write again to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to ask about progress with implementing the scheme in Wales. The Chair also undertook to raise the matter in the Siambr with the Trefnydd under the Business Statement and Announcement.

</AI7>

<AI8>

3.3 P-06-1463 Continue to fund school police officers who educate children and support schools

The Committee agreed to write back to the Finance Secretary to commend the Welsh Government for funding the programme for as long as it had, given that policing is not devolved, but to highlight the concerns of Policing in Wales about the planning and consultation process. The Committee also agreed to write to the Home Office to stress the importance of funding the provision of this work in Wales.

</AI8>

<AI9>

3.4 P-06-1475 Urgently improve the safety of the A458, Middletown, Powys in light of continuous dangerous driving

Joel James MS declared a relevant interest in knowing the petitioner concerned. The Committee agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport to ask for more details of the study; if the time frames for its completion can be provided to the community and the petitioner; will the public, the petitioner and the community council be consulted as part of the study; will the results/options which are then considered be shared with them; and is there an ultimate timeframe for implementing any proposed recommendations or measures. The petition would be kept open pending that response.

</AI9>

<AI10>

3.5 P-06-1476 1000 meter mandatory buffer zone for all new and existing quarries

The Committee agreed to write to the Business Committee and ask for the petition to be debated, highlighting how important it would be to have the debate sooner rather than later, and noting that new information was now available following Heledd Fychan’s Debate on a Member’s Legislative Proposal - A Bill relating to planning processes for quarry developments, held on 16 October 2024.

</AI10>

<AI11>

3.6 P-06-1332 Fund vaccine research to protect red squirrels from deadly Squirrelpox virus

The Committee agreed to close the petition but before doing so to write to the Deputy First Minister to seek a response to the petitioner’s latest questions. The response would be forwarded to the petitioner. Members also agreed to write to the Wales species champion for red squirrels, Darren Millar MS; Alun Davies MS, who had raised the matter in the Siambr; and Senedd Members for North Wales - the area with the highest red squirrel population - to highlight the petition for their awareness.

</AI11>

<AI12>

4 Papers to note

</AI12>

<AI13>

4.1 P-06-1479 Stop the detention of learning disabled and autistic children, young people and adults in hospitals

</AI13>

<AI14>

4.2 P-06-1489 Legislate to ensure swift bricks are installed in all new buildings in Wales

</AI14>

<AI15>

4.3 P-06-1447 Stop Natural Resources Wales closing the visitor centre at Ynyslas National Nature Reserve

</AI15>

<AI16>

4.4 P-06-1474 Stop Natural Resources Wales closing Bwlch Nant yr Arian, Coed y Brenin & Ynyslas visitor centres

</AI16>

<AI17>

5 Motion under Standing Order 17.42(ix) to resolve to exclude the public from the meeting for the remainder of today's business:

</AI17>

<AI18>

6 Draft short report: P-06-1380 Make Blue badge Applications Lifelong for individuals who have a lifelong diagnosis

</AI18>

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