Meetings

Letter from the Chair of the Finance Committee

Business Committee agreed to an extended meeting for the Finance Committee during week commencing 11 January 2021. This will be incorporated into the committee timetable for the spring term that Business Committee will consider after half term.

The Business Committee agreed to schedule a debate on the petition ‘P-05-1010 An independent inquiry into the 2020 flooding in Rhondda Cynon Taf so that lessons are learned’ in the next half term, with the preference that the debate be 30 minutes long.

The Business Committee noted the letter. The Trefnydd said that Ministers prioritise attendance at committee meetings, but asked that committees give as much notice as possible, particularly for days when Cabinet meetings are held.

Business Committee agreed to the following requests from committees for meeting slots in the final week of the half term:

·         A meeting on the morning of Wednesday 21 October for CYPE committee, for a final Ministerial session with the Minister for Education in relation to the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill.

·        To hold a slot for the Finance Committee in the event that it is needed to accommodate a meeting it is attempting to arrange with the Secretary of State for Wales and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

·        To hold the ELGC Committee meeting scheduled in week 10 on Friday the 27 November as opposed to Monday 23 November, as the committee is undertaking Stage Two proceedings on the Renting Homes (Amendment) (Wales) Bill.

Business Committee also agreed to revise the Monday afternoon slot timing to 13:30 – 17:00.

Business Committee agreed to the proposed approach of the secretariat gathering committee requests for timetable changes and protected week meetings and presenting these in a single paper.

Business Committee agreed to schedule both debates in the autumn term and to be led by the Petitions Committee on the timing of the debates. Business Managers suggested that the Petitions Committee may wish to consider reviewing the number of signatures required for a debate.

Business Committee agreed to schedule a committee-led debate on the National Development Framework in November.

The Business Committee agreed in principle to the establishment of a Llywydd’s Committee, and asked the Secretariat to bring forward a paper with more detailed proposals on its membership.

Business Managers considered the letter and agreed to schedule a debate on the petition.

Business Managers considered the request and agreed the Committee’s request to visit Edinburgh on Monday 23 March.

Business Managers noted the letter and that the Llywydd would be writing to the Remuneration Board informing them of the CWLC committee’s intention.  Business Committee supported the principle of providing additional allowances for Members elected as temporary chairs for an extended period.

Business Managers noted the letter.

Business Managers considered the letter from the CCERA Committee and noted that statutory requirements in relation to policy matters did not usually have corresponding Standing Order provisions.

The Trefnydd indicated that the Minister for Housing and Local Government is content to comply with all three of the committee’s recommendations, without the need for them to be set out in Standing Orders:

·         The Minister will lay the draft NDF a consultation report setting out the issues raised during the consultation and including a response to CCERA’s recommendations and conclusions; a schedule of changes the Minister intends to make following consideration of the consultation responses and committee recommendations, and an updated integrated sustainability appraisal.

·         The Minister will write to all committee chairs once the draft NDF is laid.

·         The Minister welcomes a plenary debate on the NDF and believes it accords with the approach envisaged by the Planning (Wales) Act 2015.  The debate will take place during the Assembly’s 60-day consideration period so the government can reflect on the Assembly’s decision and the recommendations of the committee(s) in a timely manner. 

The Trefnydd indicated she would confirm this response in writing to the Business Committee, so that it can respond to the CCERA committee in those terms.

The Committee agreed that this was an appropriate response that would enable the spirit of the CCERA recommendation to be applied.

Business Managers agreed to revise the Standards of Conduct Committee’s meeting slot within the Committee Timetable so that it can meet weekly on Tuesday mornings.

Business Managers agreed the Committee’s request to hold a meeting outside it’s timetabled slot.

Business Managers considered the options and agreed to schedule a Monday morning slot for the Committee on Assembly Electoral Reform to meet.

Business Managers considered and noted the paper.

Business Managers agreed the request.

Request from the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee to undertake a formal off-site visit

Business Managers agreed the request.

Business Managers discussed the paper and asked that officials draft a note of options for consideration at their respective group meetings later this morning.

Business Managers agreed to change the proportion of Plenary time allocated to the Conservatives, Plaid Cymru and UKIP to 12:10:3 respectively.

Business Managers discussed the Llywydd’s proposals on UKIP’s future participation in Leaders and Spokespeople Questions. The Llywydd said she would consider the views expressed before making a decision.

Business Managers agreed to schedule the debate

Business Managers discussed the request and Rhun ap Iorwerth stated that, as he understood it, NICE guidance has been updated since the letter was sent. Business Managers agreed to look at this further, in consultation with the Petitions Committee, before making a decision on whether to schedule the debate.