Concise Minutes - Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee Room 1 - Senedd

Meeting date: Thursday, 21 March 2019

Meeting time: Times Not Specified
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/5304

------

Attendance

Category	Names
Assembly Members:	John Griffiths AM (Chair) Mohammad Asghar (Oscar) AM Gareth Bennett AM Huw Irranca-Davies AM Mark Isherwood AM Carwyn Jones AM Jenny Rathbone AM
Witnesses:	Emma Williams, Welsh Government Sarah Rhodes, Welsh Government Julie James AM, Minister for Housing and Local Government Miranda Evans, Disability Wales
Committee Staff:	Naomi Stocks (Clerk) Catherine Hunt (Second Clerk) Lisa Griffiths (Deputy Clerk)

<AI1>

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 Leanne Wood AM.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2 Follow-up session with the Minister for Housing and Local Government in relation to rough sleeping in Wales

2.1 The Committee received evidence from:

· Julie James AM, Minister for Housing and Local Government

· Emma Williams, Deputy Director, Housing Policy Division

· Sarah Rhodes, Head of Homelessness Branch, Housing Policy Division

2.2 During the evidence session, the Minister for Housing and Local Government agreed to establish whether they have figures on the Prison Advice and Care Trust’s initiative to meet prisoners upon release to direct them to appropriate services. She also agreed to indicate whether the initative has led to a reduction in the number of prisoners that return to the streets upon release and subsequently return to prison.

</AI2>

<AI3>

3 Inquiry into the Blue Badge Scheme in Wales: Eligibility and Implementation: evidence session 1

3.1. The Committee received evidence from:

· Miranda Evans, Policy and Programmes Manager, Disability Wales.

</AI3>

<AI4>

4 Papers to note

</AI4>

<AI5>

4.1 Letter from the Wales Audit Office in relation to the consultation on a three-year forward programme of work

4.1a The Committee noted the letter from the Wales Audit Office in relation to the consultation on a three-year forward programme of work.

</AI5>

<AI6>

4.2 Letter from the Minister for Housing and Local Government in relation to the Renting Homes (Fees etc.) (Wales) Bill

4.2a The Committee noted the letter from the Minister for Housing and Local Government in relation to the Renting Homes (Fees etc.) (Wales) Bill.

</AI6>

<AI7>

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

5.1 The Committee agreed the motion.

</AI7>

<AI8>

6 Inquiry into rough sleeping in Wales: consideration of the evidence received

6.1 The Committee discussed the evidence received from the Minister for Housing and Local Government.

6.2 The Committee agreed to write to the Minister outlining its observations following the evidence session.

</AI8>

<AI9>

7 Inquiry into the Blue Badge Scheme in Wales: Eligibility and Implementation: consideration of the evidence received

7.1 The Committee discussed the evidence received from Disability Wales.

</AI9>

<TRAILER_SECTION>

</TRAILER_SECTION>

<LAYOUT_SECTION>

1. FIELD_TITLE

FIELD_SUMMARY

</LAYOUT_SECTION>

<TITLE_ONLY_LAYOUT_SECTION>

2. FIELD_TITLE

</TITLE_ONLY_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<HEADING_LAYOUT_SECTION>

FIELD_TITLE

</HEADING_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<TITLED_COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

FIELD_TITLE

FIELD_SUMMARY

</TITLED_COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

FIELD_SUMMARY

</COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>

2.1 FIELD_TITLE

FIELD_SUMMARY

</SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<TITLE_ONLY_SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>

2.2 FIELD_TITLE

</TITLE_ONLY_SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>