Meetings

3.2.a The Committee noted the letter from the Minister for Climate Change in relation to implementing recommendations of the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee on Empty Properties.

NDM8084 John Griffiths (Newport East)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Local Government and Housing Committee, 'Second homes', which was laid in the Table Office on 9 June 2022.

Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 28 July 2022.

The item started at 15.43

NDM8084 John Griffiths (Newport East)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Local Government and Housing Committee, 'Second homes', which was laid in the Table Office on 9 June 2022.

Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 28 July 2022.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

4.1.a The Committee noted the response from the Welsh Government to the report on the inquiry into second homes.

5.2.a. The Committee noted the letter from the Minister for Climate Change in relation to second homes.

5.1. The Committee considered the draft report and discussed changes to be made and agreed electronically.

7.10.a. The Committee noted the additional evidence from Dyfodol i'r Iaith in relation to the inquiry into second homes.

7.9.a. The Committee noted the additional evidence from Cymdeithas yr Iaith in relation to the inquiry into second homes.

7.8.a. The Committee noted the additional evidence from the Wales Tourism Alliance, UKHospitality Cymru and PASC UK (Wales branch) in relation to the inquiry into second homes.

8.1. The Committee considered the draft report and discussed a number of changes to be made.

Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change

Debra Carter, Deputy Director Local Government Finance Reform, Welsh Government

Neil Hemington, Chief Planner, Welsh Government

Huw Maguire, Head of Second Homes Policy, Welsh Government

6.1. The Committee received evidence from:

Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change

Debra Carter, Deputy Director Local Government Finance Reform, Welsh Government

Neil Hemington, Chief Planner, Welsh Government

Huw Maguire, Head of Second Homes Policy, Welsh Government

6.2. During the evidence session the Minister for Climate Change agreed to provide:

·         An analysis of the consultation responses in relation to changing the use class Order.

·         A note indicating timescales for policies outlined by the Minister, including white papers to change homelessness legislation; assisting local authorities to identify empty homes; changing the use class Order; holiday lets relating to business rates; building affordable housing that remains affordable.

6.1. The Committee considered the key issues for its inquiry into second homes.

9.1. The Committee considered the evidence received under item 8.

Jeremy Miles MS, Minister for Education and the Welsh Language

Amelia John, Deputy Director, Housing Policy, Welsh Government

Bethan Webb, Deputy Director, Welsh Language, Welsh Government

Iddon Edwards, Head of Language Planning, Project 2050, Welsh Government

8.1. The Committee received evidence from:

Jeremy Miles MS, Minister for Education and the Welsh Language

Amelia John, Deputy Director, Housing Policy, Welsh Government

Bethan Webb, Deputy Director, Welsh Language, Welsh Government

Iddon Edwards, Head of Language Planning, Project 2050, Welsh Government

7.1. The Committee considered the evidence received under items 2, 3 and 4.

Keith Henson, Rural Housing Enabler, Barcud

Ffrancon Williams, Chief Executive, Adra

Shan Lloyd Williams, Chief Executive, Grŵp Cynefin

Karen Holt, Bro Machno Housing Partnership

Douglas Haig, Non-executive Director, National Residential Landlords’ Association

4.1. The Committee received evidence from:

Keith Henson, Rural Housing Enabler, Barcud

Ffrancon Williams, Chief Executive, Adra

Shan Lloyd Williams, Chief Executive, Grŵp Cynefin

Karen Holt, Bro Machno Housing Partnership

Douglas Haig, Non-executive Director, National Residential Landlords’ Association

Jonathan Morrison, Representing the Home Owners of Wales Group

3.1. The Committee received evidence from:

Jonathan Morrison, Representing the Home Owners of Wales Group

Ruth Richards, Chief Executive, Dyfodol i’r Iaith

Mabli Siriol Jones, Chair, Cymdeithas yr Iaith

Lowri Williams, Senior Policy Officer, Welsh Language Commissioner

Professor Rhys Jones, Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University

2.1. The Committee received evidence from:

Ruth Richards, Chief Executive, Dyfodol i’r Iaith

Mabli Siriol Jones, Chair, Cymdeithas yr Iaith

Lowri Williams, Senior Policy Officer, Welsh Language Commissioner

Professor Rhys Jones, Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University

5.1. The Committee considered the evidence received under item 2.

Suzy Davies, Chairman, Wales Tourism Alliance

Daryl Mcintosh, Policy Manager, Propertymark

Sam Rees, Senior Public Affairs Officer – Wales, RICS

David Chapman, Executive Director for Wales, UK Hospitality

Shomik Panda, Director General, UK Short Term Accommodation Association

2.1. The Committee received evidence from:

Suzy Davies, Chairman, Wales Tourism Alliance

Daryl Mcintosh, Policy Manager, Propertymark

Sam Rees, Senior Public Affairs Officer – Wales, RICS

David Chapman, Executive Director for Wales, UK Hospitality

Shomik Panda, Director General, UK Short Term Accommodation Association

5.1. The Committee discussed the evidence received.

3.1.a The Committee noted the letter from Gwynedd Council in relation to second homes.

Councillor Jano Williams, Newport Town Council

Councillor Jeff Smith, Aberystwyth Town Council

Councillor Rhys Tudur, Nefyn Town Council

Councillor Dyfrig Siencyn, Joint Chair of the WLGA Rural Forum and Joint WLGA Spokesperson on Rural Affairs

2.1. The Committee received evidence from:

·         Councillor Jano Williams, Newport Town Council

·         Councillor Jeff Smith, Aberystwyth Town Council

·         Councillor Rhys Tudur, Nefyn Town Council

·         Councillor Dyfrig Siencyn, Joint Chair of the WLGA Rural Forum and Joint WLGA Spokesperson on Rural Affairs

10.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

4.1 The Committee received a technical briefing from Welsh Government officials.

Councillor Dafydd Meurig, Deputy Leader, Gwynedd Council

Heledd Fflur Jones, Planning Policy Team Leader, Anglesey and Gwynedd Joint Planning Policy Unit

Gareth Jones, Assistant Head of Department, Environment Department, Gwynedd Council

Report by Anglesey and Gwynedd Joint Planning Policy Service:

Managing the use of dwellings as holiday homes

5.1 The Committee received evidence from:

Councillor Dafydd Meurig, Deputy Leader, Gwynedd Council

Heledd Fflur Jones, Planning Policy Team Leader, Anglesey and Gwynedd Joint Planning Policy Unit

Gareth Jones, Assistant Head of Department, Environment Department, Gwynedd Council

5.2 The witnesses agreed to provide a note on how the infrastructure of the Well-being and Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 has shaped planning decisions taken by local authorities.

6.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

Professor Nick Gallent, Professor of Housing and Planning, The Bartlett School of Planning, Faculty of the Built Environment, University College London (UCL)

Professor Mark Tewdwr-Jones, Professor of Cities and Regions, Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Faculty of the Built Environment, University College London (UCL)

4.1 The Committee received evidence from:

·         Professor Nick Gallent, Professor of Housing and Planning, The Bartlett School of Planning, Faculty of the Built Environment, University College London (UCL)

·         Professor Mark Tewdwr-Jones, Professor of Cities and Regions, Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Faculty of the Built Environment, University College London (UCL)

2.3.a The Committee noted the letter to the Petitions Committee in relation to second homes.

6.1 The Committee received a briefing from Dr Simon Brooks, Swansea University, in relation to second homes.

7.1 The Committee considered and agreed the scope and approach to the inquiry into second homes.