Concise Minutes - Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee room 5 - Tŷ Hywel

and video conference via Zoom

Meeting date: Thursday, 13 November 2025

Meeting time: 09.16 - 13.05
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/15416

Hybrid

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Attendance

Category	Names
Members of the Senedd:	Andrew RT Davies MS (Chair) Hannah Blythyn MS Luke Fletcher MS Samuel Kurtz MS Jenny Rathbone MS
Witnesses:	Glenn Evans, North Wales Tourism Bethan Jones, Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) Heidi Neil, Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) Rowland Rees-Evans, Wales Tourism Alliance Charlie Reith, Short Term Accommodation Association Katherine Squires, British Holiday and Home Park Association Huw Thomas, Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) Llyr ap Gareth, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) David Chapman, UK Hospitality Cymru
Committee Staff:	Robert Donovan (Clerk) Rachael Davies (Second Clerk) Nicole Haylor-Mott (Deputy Clerk) Claire Butterworth (Legal Adviser) Ben Harris (Legal Adviser) Ben Stokes (Researcher)

<AI1>

1 Introductions, apologies, substitutions, and declarations of interest

1.1     The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

1.2     Alun Davies MS sent apologies for the first half of the meeting, however was unable to join and so was absent for the duration of proceedings. 

1.3     Under SO 17.24A, Samuel Kurtz MS declared an interest.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2 Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill: Evidence Session 4

2.1     The Committee heard evidence from the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA), represented on the panel by Councillor Huw Thomas (Leader of Cardiff Council, and Spokesperson for Economy and Energy), Heidi Neil (Directors of Public Protection Wales’s Licensing Lead), and Bethan Jones (Operational Manager, Rent Smart Wales and Chair of Environmental Health Wales’s Housing Expert Panel).

</AI2>

<AI3>

3 Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill: Evidence Session 5

3.1     The Committee heard evidence from David Chapman (UKHospitality Cymru), Rowland Rees-Evans (Wales Tourism Alliance), and Dr Llŷr ap Gareth (FSB Wales (Federation of Small Businesses)).

</AI3>

<AI4>

4 Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill: Evidence Session 6

4.1     The Committee heard evidence from Glenn Evans (North Wales Tourism), Charlie Reith (Short Term Accommodation Association), and Katherine Squires (British Holiday and Home Park Association).

</AI4>

<AI5>

5 Papers to note

5.1     The Committee noted the papers.

</AI5>

<AI6>

5.1 Future of Welsh Steel: Follow-up information after evidence session on 9 October 2025

</AI6>

<AI7>

5.2 Inter-Institutional Relations Agreement

</AI7>

<AI8>

5.3 Holyhead Port storm damage and closure: Freight and Logistics

</AI8>

<AI9>

5.4 Future of Welsh Steel: Trade Defence

</AI9>

<AI10>

5.5 Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill: Invitation to provide written evidence

</AI10>

<AI11>

5.6 Agricultural Support Regulations

</AI11>

<AI12>

5.7 Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill: follow-up to evidence session - 5 November 2025

</AI12>

<AI13>

5.8 Future of Welsh Steel: Transition Board

</AI13>

<AI14>

5.9 Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill: Statement of policy intent

</AI14>

<AI15>

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.

</AI15>

<AI16>

7 Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill: Consideration of evidence

7.1     The Committee discussed the evidence heard during items 2,3 and 4.

</AI16>

<AI17>

8 Business Committee review of the Public Bill and Member Bill processes: publication of pre-introduction Bills - consideration of draft response

8.1     The Committee considered and agreed the draft letter.

</AI17>

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