Concise Minutes - Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee Room 2 - Senedd

Meeting date: Wednesday, 29 November 2017

Meeting time: 09.02 - 12.38
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/4405

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Attendance

Category

Names

Assembly Members:

John Griffiths AM (Chair)

Mick Antoniw AM

Gareth Bennett AM

Janet Finch-Saunders AM

Siân Gwenllian AM

Rhianon Passmore AM

Jenny Rathbone AM

Witnesses:

Simon Thomas AM

Gareth Howells

Joanne McCarthy, Research Service

Nick Bennett, Public Services Ombudsman for Wales

Chris Vinestock, Public Services Ombudsman for Wales

Katrin Shaw, Public Services Ombudsman for Wales

Committee Staff:

Naomi Stocks (Clerk)

Elizabeth Wilkinson (Second Clerk)

Chloe Davies (Deputy Clerk)

Osian Bowyer (Researcher)

Gareth David Thomas

Hannah Johnson (Researcher)

Jennifer Cottle (Legal Adviser)

Stephen Davies (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 Bethan Jenkins AM.

1.3 The Chair welcomed Mick Antoniw AM as a new member on the Committee, in place of Joyce Watson AM, and thanked Joyce Watson AM for her contribution to the Committee’s work.

 

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2       Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill: evidence session 1

2.1 The Committee received evidence from:

·         Simon Thomas AM, Member in Charge

·         Gareth Howells, Legal Services, Assembly Commission

·         Joanne McCarthy, Research Service, Assembly Commission

 

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3       Scrutiny of the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales annual report  2016/17

3.1 The Committee received evidence from:

 

3.2 During the session the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales agreed to provide a note to include a breakdown of the themes of complaints about the Ombudsman’s services, from the independent external review that was undertaken.

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4       Papurau i’w nodi

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4.1   Additional information from the Welsh Local Government Association in relation to the Welsh Government draft budget 2018-19

4.1.a The Committee noted the additional information from the Welsh Local Government Association in relation to the Welsh Government draft budget 2018-19.

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4.2   Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance to the Chair of the Finance
Committee in relation to the Welsh Government draft budget 2018-19

4.2.a The Committee noted the letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance to the Chair of the Finance Committee in relation to the Welsh Government draft budget 2018-19.

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4.3   Correspondence with the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public
Services, the Leader of the House and Chief Whip and the Minister for
Housing and Regeneration in relation to the Welsh Government draft budget
2018-19

4.3.a The Committee noted the correspondence with the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services, the Leader of the House and Chief Whip and the Minister for Housing and Regeneration in relation to the Welsh Government draft budget 2018-19.

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4.4   Letter from the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee to the Minister for
Housing and Regeneration in relation to the Welsh Government draft budget
2018-19

4.4.a The Committee noted the letter from the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee to the Minister for Housing and Regeneration in relation to the Welsh Government draft budget 2018-19.

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

5.1 The Committee agreed the motion.

 

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6       Scrutiny of the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales annual report 2016-17: consideration of evidence received under item 3

6.1 The Committee discussed the evidence received under item 3.

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7       Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill: consideration of evidence received under item 2

7.1 The Committee discussed the evidence received under item 2 and agreed to write to the Member in charge on matters raised.

 

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8       Scrutiny of the Welsh Government draft budget 2018-19:consideration of draft report

8.1 The Committee discussed and agreed the draft report

 

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