Concise Minutes - Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee Room 3

Meeting date: Thursday, 16 February 2017

Meeting time: 09.05 - 14.45
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/3848

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Attendance

Category	Names
Assembly Members:	John Griffiths AM (Chair) Janet Finch-Saunders AM Siân Gwenllian AM Bethan Jenkins AM Rhianon Passmore AM Jenny Rathbone AM Joyce Watson AM
Witnesses:	Carl Sargeant AM Jo-Anne Daniels, Welsh Government Amelia John, Welsh Government Steve Thomas, Welsh Local Government Association Jonathan Lloyd, Welsh Local Government Association Dr Stephen Monaghan, British Medical Association Cymru Wales Andrew Cross, British Medical Association Lisa Turnbull, Royal College of Nursing Peter Meredith-Smith, Royal College of Nursing Wales Lien Watts, The Social Workers Union Margaret Thomas, Wales TUC Martin Mansfield, Wales TUC
Committee Staff:	Naomi Stocks (Clerk) Elizabeth Wilkinson (Second Clerk) Chloe Davies (Deputy Clerk) Osian Bowyer (Researcher) Hannah Johnson (Researcher) Gwyn Griffiths (Legal Adviser)

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Transcript

View the meeting transcript (PDF 999KB) View as HTML (999KB)

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1 Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

1.1. The Chair welcomed Members and members of the public to the meeting.

1.2. Apologies for absence were received from Gareth Bennett AM.

1.3. The following Members declared relevant interests as members of unions:

· John Griffiths AM;

· Jenny Rathbone AM;

· Joyce Watson AM;

· Rhianon Passmore AM;

· Siân Gwenllian AM.

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2 Scrutiny of the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children

2.1. The Committee received evidence from:

· Carl Sargeant AM, Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children

· Jo-Anne Daniels, Director of Communities & Tackling Poverty

· Amelia John, Deputy Director of Communities Division

2.2. The Cabinet Secretary agreed to provide:

· The approximate figures for how the Communities First legacy fund will be distributed between local authorities and clarity on the analysis used to reach the figures;

· A note on Wales’ performance at tackling poverty compared with other nations, specifically Scotland;

· To clarify the detail of the reporting structures of the statutory indicators outlined in the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act;

· A note on the data used to evaluate the success of Communities First and to inform the transition period and new approach, including the current and future indicators.

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3 Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) to resolve to exclude the public from item 4

3.1. The Committee agreed the motion.

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4 Scrutiny of the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children - consideration of evidence under item 2

4.1. The Committee discussed the evidence received under item 2 and agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children on matters raised during the session.

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5 Trade Union (Wales) Bill - evidence session 2

5.1. The Committee received evidence from

· Steve Thomas, Chief Executive, Welsh Local Government,

· Jonathan Lloyd, Head of Employment, Welsh Local Government Association

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6 Trade Union (Wales) Bill - evidence session 3

6.1. The Committee received evidence from:

· Dr Stephen Monaghan, Chair of the BMA Welsh Council’s Legislation Subcommittee

· Andrew Cross, Assistant Secretary, BMA Cymru Wales

· Peter Meredith-Smith, Associate Director

· Lisa Turnbull, Policy & Public Affairs Adviser, Royal College of Nursing,

· Lien Watts, Assistant General Secretary, The Social Workers Union

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7 Trade Union (Wales) Bill - evidence session 4

7.1. The Committee received evidence from:

· Margaret Thomas, Vice President, Wales TUC Cymru

· Martin Mansfield, General Secretary, Wales TUC Cymru

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8 Papers to note

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8.1 Correspondence to the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales following the scrutiny session on 2 February 2017

8.1. The Committee noted the correspondence to the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales following up on matters raised the scrutiny session on 2 February 2017.

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8.2 Additional information regarding Clearsprings Ready Homes Ltd in relation to refugees and asylum seekers

8.2. The Committee noted the additional information regarding Clearsprings Ready Homes Ltd in relation to refugees and asylum seekers.

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

9.1. The Committee agreed the motion.

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10 Trade Union (Wales) Bill - consideration of evidence received under items 5, 6 and 7

10.1. The Committee discussed the evidence received under items 5,6 and 7.

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