Minutes - Business Committee


Meeting Venue:

Remote - Digital

Meeting date: 23 September 2025

Meeting time: 09.00 - 09.12


Private, Hybrid

------

------

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

Jane Dodds MS

David Rees MS, Deputy Presiding Officer

Manon Antoniazzi, Chief Executive and Clerk

Gwion Evans, Head of the Llywydd's Private Office

Julian Luke, Director of Senedd Business

Bethan Davies, Head of Chamber and Committee Service

Helen Carey, Welsh Government

 

<AI1>

1       Introductions, apologies and substitutions

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting. No apologies were received.

</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

 

 The Trefnydd informed Business Managers of the following changes:

 

 

Wednesday

 

The Llywydd informed Business Managers of the following changes:

</AI4>

<AI5>

3.2   Three week timetable of Government Business

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

 

Tuesday 7 October 2025

·         Statement by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Winter Flooding Preparedness (45 mins)

</AI5>

<AI6>

3.3   Three week timetable of Senedd Business

Business Managers agreed the following changes to the Three Week Timetable of Senedd Business:

 

Wednesday 15 October 2025 –

·         Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv) (60 mins)

·         Debate on the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee report: Report on Transport for Wales’ performance 2024-25 (60 mins)

·         Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins)

</AI6>

<AI7>

3.4   Members' Legislative Proposals: Selection of Motion for Debate

Business Committee considered the motions and agreed to schedule the following motion to be debated on 1 October:

 

Mick Antoniw

NNDM8981

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on fly-tipping to make polluters pay for clear-up costs and to strengthen deterrents.

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to strengthen legislation and reform the law on fly-tipping in respect of:

a) requiring offenders to meet the full costs of investigations and clear-ups undertaken by the local authority, Natural Resources Wales or private individuals;

b) requiring magistrates to order vehicle confiscations in all instances of proven fly-tipping;

c) providing appropriate training to magistrates to improve understanding of the full impact of fly-tipping on communities, the environment and public health; and

d) placing a statutory requirement on local authorities to investigate all instances of fly-tipping.

</AI7>

<AI8>

4       Legislation

</AI8>

<AI9>

4.1   Correspondence from the Chair of the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee regarding the Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Wales) Bill timetable

Business Committee considered a response from the Chair of the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee on the proposed timetable for the Bill and agreed the timetable.

 

Officials provided an update on the likely position of a potential Judicial Review.

 

The Committee also noted correspondence from the Chair of the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs concerning the Bill.

</AI9>

<AI10>

4.2   Update on LCMs

Business Committee noted that the SLCM (No.4) on the Bus Services (No.2) Bill was laid on 15 September and that it had pre-emptively referred it to the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee at the previous meeting.

</AI10>

<AI11>

5       Committees

</AI11>

<AI12>

5.1   Letter from the Chair of the Finance Committee requesting additional meeting slots

Business Committee agreed a request for the Finance Committee to hold additional meetings outside of its usual timetabled slot for the purpose of scrutinising the Draft Budget 2026-27.

</AI12>

<AI13>

6       Procedural Work

</AI13>

<AI14>

6.1   Open Debates: interim review

Business Committee reviewed the experience of the two open debates held to date, noted their positive views of the format and agreed not to make any adjustments ahead of the final debate to be scheduled as part of the trial.

</AI14>

<TRAILER_SECTION>

</TRAILER_SECTION>

<LAYOUT_SECTION>

1.          FIELD_TITLE

FIELD_SUMMARY

</LAYOUT_SECTION>

<TITLE_ONLY_LAYOUT_SECTION>

2.          FIELD_TITLE

</TITLE_ONLY_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<HEADING_LAYOUT_SECTION>

FIELD_TITLE

</HEADING_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<TITLED_COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

FIELD_TITLE

FIELD_SUMMARY

</TITLED_COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

FIELD_SUMMARY

</COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

 

<SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>

2.1          FIELD_TITLE

FIELD_SUMMARY

</SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>

 

<TITLE_ONLY_SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>

2.2          FIELD_TITLE

</TITLE_ONLY_SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>