Concise Minutes - Petitions Committee


Meeting Venue:

Committee room 3

Meeting date: Monday, 22 September 2025

Meeting time: 14.25 - 16.30
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/15360


Hybrid

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Attendance

Category

Names

Members of the Senedd:

Carolyn Thomas MS (Chair)

Rhys ab Owen MS

Joel James MS

Witnesses:

 

Committee Staff:

Gareth Price (Clerk)

Lara Date (Second Clerk)

Kayleigh Imperato (Deputy Clerk)

Matthew Sutton (Researcher)

 

<AI1>

1       Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

Due to technical difficulties experienced by witnesses joining the meeting virtually from Wrexham, the start of the meeting was delayed by 25 minutes.

Apologies were received from Luke Fletcher and Vaughan Gething, there was no substitute.

There were no declarations of interest at the start of the meeting.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2       Evidence session (Panel 1) - P-06-1510 Direct NRW to revoke the environmental permit and ensure the closure of Enovert’s, Hafod Landfill Site in Wrexham

The Committee heard evidence from Sara Pearson and James McClymont of Natural Resources Wales, as well as Councillor Hugh Jones, Charlie Pope, and Toby Zorn from Wrexham Council.

 

</AI2>

<AI3>

3       Evidence session (Panel 2) - P-06-1510 Direct NRW to revoke the environmental permit and ensure the closure of Enovert’s, Hafod Landfill Site in Wrexham

The Committee heard evidence from Mark Silvester and Ian Craven of Enovert.

</AI3>

<AI4>

4       New Petitions

</AI4>

<AI5>

4.1   P-06-1515 Urgent installation of CCTV at Porth Train Station and bridge

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write directly to British Transport Police to request updated data on anti-social behaviour at this location, and to ask whether the situation has improved since the petition was submitted in January. The petition will remain open pending a response.

 

</AI5>

<AI6>

4.2   P-06-1516 Enable Cardiff University to keep the Nursing degree course

The Committee considered the petition and noted that, although the details of the new plan for nursing provision are not known yet, the issue will be under scrutiny in the relevant Senedd subject committees. The petitioner should be congratulated on the success of their campaign to keep the nursing programme open. The Committee thanked the petitioner and agreed to close the petition.

</AI6>

<AI7>

4.3   P-06-1517 Help Cardiff University to keep their Modern Languages degree courses

Joel James MS declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A: he learned Portuguese at the centre for lifelong learning at the university.

The Committee considered the petition and noted developments since it had opened, and that the issue remains  under review by the Senedd’s Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee.

 

In light of that ongoing scrutiny, Members agreed to close the petition and thanked the petitioner for bringing the matter forward.

</AI7>

<AI8>

4.4   P-06-1519 Implement safety measures at the A477 Red Roses junction to reduce accidents and stop any fatalities

The Committee considered the petition and welcomed the work already undertaken to address safety concerns. Members agreed to raise the petitioner’s additional comments and questions with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales and to keep the petition open pending a response.

 

</AI8>

<AI9>

4.5   P-06-1520 Stop all foreign aid payments from the Welsh Government including to "Size of Wales"

The Committee considered the petition and noted that it was clear from theWelsh Government’s response that it is not going to change its position. In light of this, the Committee agreed there was nothing further it could do but to thank the petitioner and close the petition.

 

Additionally, it was noted that the response had come from the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice rather than the First Minister even though responsibility for the Wales for Africa Programme had moved to the First Minister’s portfolio. Concerns were raised about accountability and the ability to scrutinise this issue as a result of this change, and the Committee agreed to write to the First Minister about this.

 

</AI9>

<AI10>

4.6   P-06-1531 Mandate Comprehensive and Specific Food Labelling to Support Dietary Needs and Allergies

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to raise it with the Food Standards Agency, requesting a response to the petitioner’s specific concerns and information on any additional actions that could be taken.

 

Additionally, it was noted that Becky Gittins MP has been actively working in Westminster on food labelling and allergies, and it was agreed to put the petitioner in touch with her to support efforts to raise the profile of this issue.

 

</AI10>

<AI11>

4.7   P-06-1536 Introduce inflation cap to all Local Authority council tax increases in Wales

The Committee considered the petition, noting that the issue was a subject of frequent Senedd debate. Joel James MS expressed disappointment with the Cabinet Secretary’s response in light of the financial reserves held by some Welsh local authorities. The Committee agreed there was little more it could do on the issue, and to thank the petitioner and close the petition.

</AI11>

<AI12>

4.8   P-06-1539 Use English before (or instead of) Welsh in important public messages in Wales

The Committee considered the petition. Rhys ab Owen MS noted that the issue was raised from time to time but that the Welsh Language Measure 2011 was in place. On this basis, there was no scope for the Committee to do anything more other than to thank the petitioner and close the petition.

 

Joel James MS echoed a concern raised by the petitioner about motorway safety, which had previously been raised in the Siambr, and agreed to raise this with the Cabinet Secretary in a personal capacity.

 

Members agreed to close the petition.

</AI12>

<AI13>

5       Updates to previous petitions

</AI13>

<AI14>

5.1   P-06-1258 Make individuals in Wales with Hidden disabilities eligible for the Blue Badge

The Committee considered this petition alongside the following agenda item – P-06-1380 – noting  ongoing work on Blue Badge eligibility and the survey from STAND North Wales CIC which also raised the issue of hidden disabilities. It was agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretaries for Transport and Social Justice, as it was also a social justice issue, to highlight both petitions and  share the survey results with them. Both petitions would be kept open pending a response.

 

</AI14>

<AI15>

5.2   P-06-1380 Make Blue badge Applications Lifelong for individuals who have a lifelong diagnosis

The Committee considered the petition and agreed that significant outstanding concerns remain, as highlighted in STAND North Wales’ survey findings. Members agreed to keep the petition open, share the survey findings with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, and the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip, and to request an update. The petition would be kept open pending a response.

 

The Committee also expressed thanks to STAND North Wales, the parents, and everyone involved in contributing to this work.

 

In addition, it was agreed to forward the survey findings to the Welsh Local Government Association.

</AI15>

<AI16>

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

The Committee considered the petition again following the plenary debate held in July, noting that campaigners were present in the gallery for the discussion. The Chair noted that the Task and Finish Group meeting had been postponed, as the Deputy First Minister had strong reasons for being unable to attend and wished to Chair the group’s first meeting. Members agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary to request clarification on when the group is expected to meet and would keep the petition open.

</AI16>

<AI17>

6       Papers to note

</AI17>

<AI18>

6.1   P-06-1391 Introduce regulation of the dog grooming sector, to protect the welfare of dogs and rights of owners

The paper was noted.

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<AI19>

6.2   P-06-1527 Review dog walking restrictions on Welsh beaches and issue guidance to relevant bodies

The paper was noted.

</AI19>

<AI20>

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

The paper was noted.

</AI20>

<AI21>

6.4   P-06-1335 Welsh Government should take steps to ensure vulnerable adults without bank cards can pay with cash

The paper was noted.

</AI21>

<AI22>

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

The paper was noted.

</AI22>

<AI23>

6.6   P-06-1528 Prevent Powys patients who are treated in English hospitals from facing increased waiting times

The paper was noted.

</AI23>

<AI24>

6.7   Correspondence to Mark Isherwood MS on Fifth Senedd Petition P-05-784

Members noted the paper and agreed to write to the Welsh Government to seek an update on implementing recommendations accepted in the predecessor Petitions Committee’s report on petition P-05-784 Prescription drug dependence and withdrawal - recognition and support.

 

</AI24>

<AI25>

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

The motion was agreed.

 

Members considered the evidence heard on Petition P-06-1510 Direct NRW to revoke the environmental permit and ensure the closure of Enovert’s, Hafod Landfill Site in Wrexham. It was agreed to consider all the evidence received and produce a report with the Committee’s thoughts.

</AI25>

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