Concise Minutes - Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee Room 2 - Senedd

Meeting date: Wednesday, 27 March 2019

Meeting time: 09.15 - 12.26
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/5305

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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 Leanne Wood AM
Witnesses:	Julie James AM, Minister for Housing and Local Government Lisa James, Welsh Government Gareth Thomas, r, Welsh Government Sophie Howe, Future Generations Commissioner Marie Brousseau-Navarro, Legislation and Innovation
Committee Staff:	Naomi Stocks (Clerk) Catherine Hunt (Second Clerk) Lisa Griffiths (Deputy Clerk) Jonathan Baxter (Researcher) Hannah Johnson (Researcher) Chloe Corbyn (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 Inquiry into voting rights for prisoners: Evidence session with Minister for Housing and Local Government

2.1 The Committee received evidence from:

· Julie James, Minister for Housing and Local Government

· Lisa James, Deputy Director, Local Government Democracy Division

· Gareth Thomas, Policy Adviser, Electoral Reform (Local Government Division)

2.2 During the evidence session, the Minister for Housing and Local Government agreed to provide the Committee with information regarding what actions could be taken if a prison in England decided not to co-operate with any potential change in law to enable Welsh prisoners to vote.   

</AI2>

<AI3>

3 Motion under Standing Order 17.42 to resolve to exclude the public from items 4, 7 and 8

3.1 The Committee agreed the motion.

</AI3>

<AI4>

4 Voting rights for prisoners: consideration of oral evidence

4.1 The Committee discussed the evidence received under item 2.

</AI4>

<AI5>

5 Future Generations Commissioner: annual scrutiny

5.1 The Committee received evidence from:

· Sophie Howe, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales

· Marie Brousseau-Navarro, Director for Policy, Legislation and Innovation

5.2 During the evidence session, the Future Generations Commissioner agreed to provide the following information:

· details of how KeolisAmey has set out how it aims to meet the well-being goals;

· details of work being done by health boards and local government to meet the well-being goals; and

· a copy of the joint programme of work she is preparing with the Auditor General for Wales on priority areas.

</AI5>

<AI6>

6 Papers to note

</AI6>

<AI7>

6.1 Letter from the Chair of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee in relation to the Inter-Institutional relations agreement between the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Government

6.1a The Committee noted the letter from the Chair of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee in relation to the Inter-Institutional relations agreement between the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Government.

</AI7>

<AI8>

6.2 Letter from the Counsel General and Brexit Minister in relation to the Inquiry into voting rights for prisoners

6.2a The Committee noted the letter from the Counsel General and Brexit Minister in relation to the Inquiry into voting rights for prisoners.

</AI8>

<AI9>

7 Future Generations Commissioner annual scrutiny: consideration of oral evidence

7.1 The Committee discussed the evidence received under item 5.
7.2 The Committee agreed to write to the Future Generations Commissioner on issues it wishes to pursue further.

</AI9>

<AI10>

8 Inquiry into empty properties and second homes: scoping paper

8.1 The Committee discussed and agreed the scoping paper.

</AI10>

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