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Finance Committee |
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Meeting Venue: |
Committee Room 2 - Senedd |
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Meeting date: |
Wednesday, 28 September 2011 |
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Meeting time: |
09:30 - 11:45 |
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This meeting can be viewed on Senedd
TV at: |
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Concise Minutes: |
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Assembly Members: |
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Jocelyn Davies (Chair) Peter Black Christine Chapman Paul Davies Mike Hedges Ann Jones Julie Morgan Ieuan Wyn Jones |
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Witnesses: |
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Cllr Rodney Berman, WLGA Finance Spokesperson Vanessa Phillips, Director of Resources, WLGA Steve Thomas, Chief Executive, WLGA |
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Committee Staff: |
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Tom Jackson (Clerk) Daniel Collier (Deputy Clerk) Martin Jennings (Researcher) Eleanor Roy (Researcher) Susan Morgan (Legal Advisor) |
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1. Introduction and apologies
2. Draft budget motion 2012-2013
2.1 The Committee welcomed Jane Hutt AM, Minister for Finance; Andrew Jeffreys, Head of Strategic Budgeting; Jo Salway, Head of Budget Policy; and Jeff Andrews, Specialist Policy Adviser – Finance to the meeting.
2.2 The Committee scrutinised the Minister.
2.3 The Committee requested that the Clerk produce a report on its consideration of the Minister’s proposals for amending the Welsh Government Annual Budget Motion.
3. Draft budget motion 2012-2013
3.1 The Committee welcomed Steve Thomas, Chief Executive, WLGA; Cllr Rodney Berman, WLGA Finance Spokesperson and Leader, Cardiff County Council; and Vanessa Phillips, Director of Resources WLGA.
3.2 The Committee questioned the witnesses.
Action points:
The Welsh Local Government Association agreed to provide:
· Further details on efficiency savings made by the Welsh Government’s efficiency and innovation and invest to save programmes.
· Figures highlighting the level of reserves in place for local authorities and the implications of the reduction in those reserves.
· A note on how Cymorth and other specific grants within last year’s local government settlement have helped reduce the administrative burden of hypothecated grants.
· A note on the outcome of the meeting between the WLGA and Welsh Fire and Rescue Services regarding the pension abatement service.
4. Members' consideration of evidence
4.1 The Committee considered the evidence provided by the witnesses.
5. Potential inquiry into devolution funding
5.1 The Committee discussed its potential inquiry into devolution funding.
6. Potential inquiry into effectiveness of European Structural Funding in Wales
6.1 The Committee discussed its potential inquiry into the effectiveness of European Structural Funds in Wales.
Transcript
View the meeting transcript.