Meetings

The Committee considered correspondence from the petitioners and, given the detailed consideration that has been given to the issues raised by the Welsh Government and the anticipated introduction of regulations which will reduce the maximum sales commission level to 5 per cent, agreed to close the petition at this point.

The Committee considered a recent statement by the Minister for Housing and Regeneration and agreed to write to the petitioners to seek their views on the decision taken by the Minister for Housing & Regeneration, and in doing so, explain that the Committee considers there is little further than it can achieve in light of the detailed consideration that has been given to the issue by the Welsh Government.

The Committee considered an update from the Minister for Housing and Regeneration and agreed to await an announcement following the report from independent analysts on the financial information shared by site owners before considering whether to take any further action on the petition.

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to await the outcome of the public consultation on this issue, and the Welsh Government’s decision, before considering whether further action is required on the petition.

The Committee considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children and the petitioner and agreed to:

·         await the announcement of the Cabinet Secretary’s decisions following the research into the park homes industry, before deciding whether to take further action on the petition; and

·         explore whether it would be possible to meet with the petitioners informally to discuss their petition.

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary to ask if he or his officials would be willing to meet with the petitioners to discuss their concerns, and the possible alternative actions suggested by the research.

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and, now that research into the economics of the park homes industry has been published by the Welsh Government, agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children to seek the Government’s reflections on the recommendations in relation to the ability of site owners to charge commission on the sale of park homes.        

Members considered correspondence from the petitioner and, given that the research proposal being developed to look at the economics of the park homes industry is not due for completion until after the Assembly elections, agreed to keep the petition open to allow the 5^th Assembly Committee to consider it should it choose to do so.

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to await comments from the petitioner on the Ministerial correspondence.   

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to ask the Minister to ensure that the petitioners will be included in any consultation on the review that is to start in the spring. 

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to ask the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty if her officials, whose diary commitments may not be so extensive, would be prepared to meet the petitioners as requested.

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to ask the Minister if he will agree to meet the lead petitioner as requested.

The Committee considered correspondence from the Minister for Housing and Regeneration and agreed to ask the Minister to keep the Committee informed of developments on the consultations on Regulations arising from the Mobile Homes (Wales) Act 2013 and to share with him the petitioner’s concerns.

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to ask the Minister for his views on the petitioner’s further comments, in particular the point that the current arrangements provide a perverse incentive to owners to force occupiers to sell.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to:

·         the Minister for Housing and Regeneration seeking his views on the petition; and

·         Peter Black AM seeking his views on the petition, given his particular experience with the Mobile Homes (Wales) Act 2013.