Concise Minutes - Local Government and Housing Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee Room 2, Senedd

Meeting date: Thursday, 3 October 2024

Meeting time: 09.31 - 13.18
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/14951

Hybrid

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Attendance

Category	Names
Members of the Senedd:	John Griffiths MS (Chair) James Evans MS Lee Waters MS Lesley Griffiths MS, Virtual Altaf Hussain MS, Virtual Siân Gwenllian MS, Virtual
Witnesses:	Louisa Devonish, GT Wales Ian Bakewell, Monmouthshire County Council Steph Hopkins, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council Dave Jolly, Flintshire County Council Elliw Llyr, Isle of Anglesey County Council John Raine, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council Bob Smith, Pembrokeshire County Council Jane Hutt MS, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip Amelia John, Welsh Government Sarah Melkevik, Welsh Government
Committee Staff:	Manon George (Clerk) Catherine Hunt (Second Clerk) Evan Jones (Deputy Clerk) Osian Bowyer (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     Lesley Griffiths MS declared that she was the Cabinet Secretary from March to July 2024 with responsibility for the area of policy being discussed in today’s meeting.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2 The provision of sites for Gypsy, Roma and Travellers: Follow up - Evidence session 1

2.1     The Committee received evidence from Louisa Devonish, Director of Gypsies and Travellers Wales.

2.2     Apologies were received from Martin Gallagher, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Activist, writer and academic researcher

</AI2>

<AI3>

3 The provision of sites for Gypsy, Roma and Travellers: Follow up - Evidence session 2

3.1     The Committee received evidence from:

Elliw Llyr - Housing Policy Manager, Isle of Anglesey County Council

Ian Bakewell - Head of Housing, Monmouthshire County Council

Dave Jolly - Resettlement Coordinator, Flintshire County Council

Steph Hopkins - Development Manager, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council

John Raine - Development Plans Team Manager, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council

Bob Smith – Principal Planning Officer, Pembrokeshire County Council

</AI3>

<AI4>

4 The provision of sites for Gypsy, Roma and Travellers: Follow up - Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip

4.1     The Committee received evidence from the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip.

4.2     The Cabinet Secretary agreed to provide a note to the Committee on the differences and definitions of sites and pitches.

4.3     The Cabinet Secretary agreed to write to the Committee with examples of the ways in which capital site grant funding is being used.

</AI4>

<AI5>

5 Papers to note

</AI5>

<AI6>

5.1 Letter from the Equality and Human Rights Commission in relation to the provision of gypsy, roma and traveller sites

5.1     The Committee noted the letter.

</AI6>

<AI7>

5.2 Written evidence from Travelling Ahead in relation to the provision of gypsy, roma and traveller sites

5.2     The Committee noted the letter.

</AI7>

<AI8>

5.3 Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip in relation to the provision of gypsy, roma and traveller sites

5.3     The Committee noted the letter.

</AI8>

<AI9>

5.4 Written evidence from Allison Hulmes in relation to the provision of gypsy, roma and traveller sites

5.4     The Committee noted the letter.

</AI9>

<AI10>

6 Motion under Standing Order 17.42(ix) to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting

6.1     The Committee agreed the motion.

</AI10>

<AI11>

7 The provision of sites for Gypsy, Roma and Travellers: Follow up - Consideration of evidence

7.1     The Committee considered the evidence received.

</AI11>

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