Concise Minutes - Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee Room 3

Meeting date: Thursday, 11 January 2018

Meeting time: 10.30 - 13.22
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/4583

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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 Bethan Jenkins AM Rhianon Passmore AM Jenny Rathbone AM
Witnesses:	Daniel Hurford, Welsh Local Government Association Liz Withers, Citizens Advice Bureau Davina Fiore, Cardiff Council Mark Drakeford AM, Cabinet Secretary for Finance Nick Howard, Welsh Government David Richards, Welsh Government
Committee Staff:	Naomi Stocks (Clerk) Elizabeth Wilkinson (Second Clerk) Chloe Davies (Deputy Clerk) Gareth David Thomas (Researcher)

<AI1>

1 Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

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

</AI1>

<AI2>

2 Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) to resolve to exclude the public from items 3, 4 and 8 of the meeting

2.1 The Committee agreed the motion.

</AI2>

<AI3>

3 Inquiry into rough sleeping in Wales: consideration of scope and approach

3.1 The Committee agreed the terms of reference and the approach to the inquiry.

</AI3>

<AI4>

4 Consideration of the Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Bill

4.1 The Committee discussed the Consideration of the Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Bill

</AI4>

<AI5>

5 Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill: evidence session 9

5.1 The Committee received evidence from:

· Daniel Hurford, Head of Policy, (Improvement and Governance), Welsh Local Government Association

· Davina Fiore, Director of Governance and Legal Services, Cardiff Council

· Liz Withers, Head of Policy and Campaigns, Wales, Citizens Advice Bureau

During the session Liz Withers agreed to provide a note on:

· To expand on the evidence relating to the possible inclusion of Tribunals to Schedule 3 of the Bill, and reasons for highlighting this as a potential gap.

</AI5>

<AI6>

6 Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill: evidence session 10

6.1 The Committee received evidence from:

· Mark Drakeford, Cabinet Secretary for Finance

· David Richards, Director of Governance, Welsh Government

· Nick Howard, Lawyer, Welsh Government

During the session the Cabinet Secretary agreed to provide a note on

- Further information on the Cabinet Secretary’s view in relation to Section 40;

- The Cabinet Secretary’s view on the technical drafting of provisions in relation to oral complaints.

</AI6>

<AI7>

7 Paper(s) to note

</AI7>

<AI8>

7.1 Additional information from the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman in relation to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill

7.1a The Committee noted the additional information from the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman in relation to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill

</AI8>

<AI9>

7.2 Additional information from the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman in relation to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill

7.2a The Committee noted the additional information from the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman in relation to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill

</AI9>

<AI10>

7.3 Additional information from Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) in relation to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill

7.3a The Committee noted the additional information from Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) in relation to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill

</AI10>

<AI11>

7.4 Additional information from Hospice UK in relation to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill

7.4a The Committee noted the Additional information from Hospice UK in relation to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill

</AI11>

<AI12>

7.5 Letter to the Chair of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee in relation to Human Rights in Wales

7.5a The Committee noted the Letter to the Chair of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee in relation to Human Rights in Wales

</AI12>

<AI13>

7.6 Letter to the Chair of the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee in relation to Human Rights in Wales

7.6a The Committee noted the letter to the Chair of the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee in relation to Human Rights in Wales

</AI13>

<AI14>

7.7 Letter to the Convener of the Equalities and Human Rights Committee in relation to Human Rights in Wales

7.7a The Committee noted the letter to the Convener of the Equalities and Human Rights Committee in relation to Human Rights in Wales

</AI14>

<AI15>

7.8 Letter to the Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights in relation to Human Rights in Wales

7.8a The Committee noted the letter to the Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights in relation to Human Rights in Wales

</AI15>

<AI16>

7.9 Letter to the Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee in relation to Human Rights in Wales

7.9a The Committee noted the letter to the Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee in relation to Human Rights in Wales

</AI16>

<AI17>

7.10Letter to the Leader of the House and Chief Whip in relation to Human Rights in Wales

7.10a The Committee noted the letter to the Leader of the House and Chief Whip in relation to Human Rights in Wales

</AI17>

<AI18>

7.11Welsh Women's Aid report on State of the Sector: the state of violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence specialist services in Wales, 2017

7.11a The Committee noted the Welsh Women's Aid report on State of the Sector: the state of violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence specialist services in Wales, 2017

</AI18>

<AI19>

8 Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill: consideration of evidence received under items 5 and 6

8.1 The Committee discussed the evidence received under items 5 and 6

</AI19>

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