Hybrid

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Attendance

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

<AI1>

1 Motion to elect a temporary Chair under Standing Order 17.22

The motion was agreed. Luke Fletcher MS was elected as Temporary Chair.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2 Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

Apologies were received from Vaughan Gething MS and Carolyn Thomas MS.

</AI2>

<AI3>

3 New Petitions

</AI3>

<AI4>

3.1 P-06-1501 Put rugby in the curriculum for Wales from primary schools through to secondary Schools

The Committee discussed the petition. Following the response from the Cabinet Secretary for Education it was agreed that there was little more the Committee could do other than to write to the relevant subject Committees – Children, Young People and Education Committee and Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport and International Relations Committee - to highlight the petition. Having written, it was then agreed to thank the petitioner and close the petition.

</AI4>

<AI5>

3.2 P-06-1502 Scrap Proposals for a Tourism Tax

The Committee noted that the Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill was currently subject to Senedd scrutiny. Members therefore agreed to keep the petition open until that legislative scrutiny process had run its course.

</AI5>

<AI6>

3.3 P-06-1525 Preserve the unique character of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal for the future generations of Wales

The Committee discussed the petition, which with additional paper signatures had gathered over 14,000 signatures, including more than 10,000 from Wales. The Committee agreed to request a debate on the petition. Members also agreed to undertake a visit to the canal in the next scheduled meeting slot on 2 June, subject to agreeing an itinerary with the petitioner and interested parties. The Chair had also informally indicated her support for a visit. A decision on further actions related to the petition was deferred until after that visit had taken place.

</AI6>

<AI7>

4 Updates to previous petitions

</AI7>

<AI8>

4.1 P-06-1373 Stop Welsh Government Wasting £4million on Skyline private development Kilvey Hill, Swansea

Luke Fletcher MS declared an interest as Kilvey Hill is within the region he represents, and he has been supportive of what many of the residents have said in this particular case.

Members discussed the petition and agreed that it was important to encourage the petitioner to continue their dialogue with Swansea Council on the issue. It was agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning to highlight the petitioners’ concerns and ask about the commercial interests of Skyline Enterprises outside the UK, and to copy that correspondence to the council. The Committee would await a response from the Cabinet Secretary before deciding how to proceed further. It was also noted that it would remain a matter for local members to choose to raise the issue directly with the Government.

</AI8>

<AI9>

4.2 P-06-1444 Women of North Wales have the right to have a Menopause Services/Clinic in Ysbyty Gwynedd

Members agreed to forward the petitioners’ latest comments and questions to the Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board for consideration, and to copy in the Health and Social Care Committee which has the scrutiny remit in this policy area. The Committee agreed to await a response before deciding whether to then close the petition.

</AI9>

<AI10>

4.9 P-06-1472 Protect our wildlife...ban plastic grass in Wales!

Members noted the plastics in the environment group established to look at this issue, but could not see how the Committee could take the issue further, so agreed to now thank the petitioner and close the petition.

</AI10>

<AI11>

4.4 P-06-1492 Maintain 24 hour access to the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) at Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli

The Committee agreed that, as the matter was subject to an ongoing public consultation, the petition would be kept open pending the outcome of that consultation.

</AI11>

<AI12>

4.5 P-06-1510 Direct NRW to revoke the environmental permit and ensure the closure of Enovert’s, Hafod Landfill Site in Wrexham

The Committee returned to discussion of the petition as it had been agreed that the clerk would update Members on whether other Committees could take on inquiry work in this area. Both the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee and the Local Government and Housing Committee indicated they were unable to do so due to other commitments including legislative timetables. Further correspondence from the petitioners and Enovert was noted, as was a meeting between Wrexham Council, Enovert and NRW. In light of this, Members agreed to defer a decision on further action given the absence of two Members, including the Chair, who was a local Member with an interest in the issue. Item to be discussed again at the next meeting.

</AI12>

<AI13>

5 Papers to note

</AI13>

<AI14>

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

Members noted the paper.

</AI14>

<AI15>

5.2 P-06-1482 Ban smartphones in all schools in Wales (with exemptions for exceptional circumstances)

Members noted the paper, and that a plenary debate on the Smartphones petition would take place on Wednesday 14 May.

</AI15>

<AI16>

6 Motion under Standing Order 17.42(ix) to resolve to exclude the public from the meeting for the remainder of the meeting, and the next meeting on 2 June.

A motion was proposed to go into private for the remainder of that meeting. The motion was agreed. Members had agreed to a visit in the 2 June meeting slot, therefore the next formal meeting was scheduled for 16 June.

</AI16>

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Concise Minutes - Petitions Committee

Hybrid

Attendance

1 Motion to elect a temporary Chair under Standing Order 17.22

2 Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

3 New Petitions

3.1 P-06-1501 Put rugby in the curriculum for Wales from primary schools through to secondary Schools

3.2 P-06-1502 Scrap Proposals for a Tourism Tax

3.3 P-06-1525 Preserve the unique character of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal for the future generations of Wales

4 Updates to previous petitions

4.1 P-06-1373 Stop Welsh Government Wasting £4million on Skyline private development Kilvey Hill, Swansea

4.2 P-06-1444 Women of North Wales have the right to have a Menopause Services/Clinic in Ysbyty Gwynedd

4.9 P-06-1472 Protect our wildlife...ban plastic grass in Wales!

4.4 P-06-1492 Maintain 24 hour access to the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) at Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli

4.5 P-06-1510 Direct NRW to revoke the environmental permit and ensure the closure of Enovert’s, Hafod Landfill Site in Wrexham

5 Papers to note

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

5.2 P-06-1482 Ban smartphones in all schools in Wales (with exemptions for exceptional circumstances)

6 Motion under Standing Order 17.42(ix) to resolve to exclude the public from the meeting for the remainder of the meeting, and the next meeting on 2 June.

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