Meeting Venue:
Y Siambr - Y Senedd
Meeting date:
Wednesday, 25 April 2018
Meeting time: 13.30
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(45 mins)
The Presiding Officer will call Party Spokespeople to ask questions without notice to the Cabinet Secretary after Question 2.
(45 mins)
The Presiding Officer will call Party Spokespeople to ask questions without notice to the Cabinet Secretary after Question 2.
(0 mins)
No topical questions were selected.
(5 mins)
(30 mins)
Supporting documents
Letter from the Chair of the Committee to the First Minister
– 17 April 2018 (PDF, 132KB)
Response from the First Minister to the Chair of the Committee
– 25 April 2018 (PDF, 207KB)
Letter from the Chair of the Committee to the Llywydd – 17
April 2018 (PDF, 727KB)
Response from the Llywydd to the Chair of the Committee – 25
April 2018 (PDF, 172KB)
(45 mins)
(60 mins)
NDM6707 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes that the Welsh Government Green Paper – Strengthening Local Government: Delivering for People – is the third proposal in three years put forward by the Welsh Government on local government reform.
2. Further notes that local authorities were working towards regional arrangements put forward under the Cabinet Secretary Local Government and Public Service’s predecessor.
3. Regrets that the latest proposal has caused sustained periods of uncertainty for councils and their frontline staff.
4. Is concerned by the continual top-down nature of Welsh local government reform, as shown by the lack of meaningful engagement with council leaders and Chief Executives in the preparation of this paper, as well as the absence of strategic cost and benefit analysis taken on all previous local government reform proposals.
The following amendments have been tabled:
Amendment 1. Julie James (Swansea West)
Delete all and replace with:
1. Notes the Welsh Government’s Green Paper - Strengthening Local Government: Delivering for People - which is currently out for consultation.
2. Notes the current configuration of 22 local authorities in Wales is not sustainable.
[If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2 and 3 will be de-selected]
Amendment 2. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)
Add as new point after point 2 and renumber accordingly:
Regrets the austerity that has led to major cuts to local government budgets for many years, and the continuous uncertainty that councils face in terms of their financial situation and possible re-organisation.
Amendment 3. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)
Add as new point after point 3 and renumber accordingly:
Regrets the Cabinet Secretary's lack of acknowledgement of the importance of working constructively and maintaining the relationship between the Welsh Government and local authorities.
Amendment. 4 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)
Add as new point at end of motion:
Believes that any proposals for local government reorganisation should aim to strengthen local democracy, integrate health and care, strengthen the Welsh language and offer more effective services to its users.
(30 mins)
NDM6706 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
Calls on the UK Government to hold a public consultation on the proposed renaming of the Second Severn Crossing.
The following amendment has been tabled:
Amendment 1. Julie James (Swansea West)
Delete all and replace with:
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes the renaming of the Second Severn Crossing by the UK Government, with whom responsibility rests.
2. Welcomes the Welsh Government’s intention to conduct local consultations on the naming of new trunk road bridges in Wales.
(30 mins)
NDM6709 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
Calls on the Welsh Government to reinstate the school uniform grant.
The following amendment has been tabled:
Amendment 1. Julie James (Swansea West)
Delete all and replace with:
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
Notes the Welsh Government’s intention to replace the school uniform grant with a more flexible policy which better suits the needs of disadvantaged learners.
(30 mins)
NDM6708 David Rees (Aberavon)
The social fabric and future wellbeing of our valleys communities
The Assembly will sit again in Plenary at 13.30, Tuesday, 1 May 2018