Agenda and minutes

1.1 Peter Black declared an interest in Item 6 as a Member of the Assembly Commission.

FIN-05-11 – Paper 1, Annex A, Annex B, Annex C

Jane Hutt Minister for Finance and Leader of the House
Andrew Jeffreys Head of Strategic Budgeting -Strategic Planning, Finance & Performance 
Jeff Andrews Specialist Policy Adviser, SPF&P
Michael Hearty Director General, Strategic Planning, Finance and Performance

2.1 The Committee welcomed Jane Hutt AM, Minister for Finance; Andrew Jeffries, Head of Strategic Budgeting – Strategic Planning, Finance and Performance; Jeff Andrews, Specialist Policy Adviser; and Michael Hearty, Director General, Strategic Planning, Finance and Performance.

2.2 The Committee scrutinised the Minister.

Action points:

The Minister for Finance agreed to provide:

·         Clarification on the additional allocations made to support the Government’s strategic priorities.

·         Figures outlining the number of people in Wales who pay full council tax and the percentage which are receiving a reduction in benefits, including the council tax collection rates.

·         Further details on which capital programmes will be used for the delivery of the 10 year national infrastructure plan and who will be responsible for directing those funds.

FIN(4)-05-11 Paper 2

Welsh Government Draft Budget 2012-2013 - Evidence from Welsh Council for Voluntary Action

Michelle Matheron, Senior Policy Officer, WCVA

Phil Fiander, Director of Programmes, WCVA

Joy Kent, Director, Cymorth Cymru

Catriona Williams, Chief Executive, Children in Wales

3.1 The Committee welcomed Phil Fiander, Director of Programmes WCVA; Michelle Matheron, Senior Policy Officer, WCVA; Joy Kent, Director, Cymorth Cymru; and Catriona Williams, Chief Executive, Children in Wales.

3.2 The Committee questioned the witnesses.

Action point:

The WCVA agreed to provide:

·         A breakdown of funding available for third sector organisations, outlining the effect that it has on the ability of specific third sector organisations to mobilise and lever in additional resources. This would include figures on the proportions of voluntary sector funding originating from grants, competitively procured contracts, etc.

·         Information from the most recent WCVA ‘recession survey’ on the increased demand being experienced by voluntary sector services.

Item 5

Item 6

Item 7

5.1 Members discussed the evidence received on the Welsh Government’s draft budget 2012-2013.

6.1 Peter Black AM did not attend this section of the meeting, as he is an Assembly Commissioner.

6.2 Members commented on and agreed the draft Committee report on the scrutiny of the Assembly Commission Draft Budget 2012-2013.

7.1 The Committee commented on and agreed the scope of an inquiry into devolution funding and the UK Commission.

View the meeting transcript.