Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 3 - Senedd

Contact: Michael Kay 

Media

Senedd.TV: View the webcast

Items
Expected timing No. Item

Transcript

View the meeting transcript.

(09:00)

1.

Introductions, apologies and substitutions

Minutes:

1.1 The Chair welcome the Members to the meeting.

 

1.2 There were no apologies.

 

1.3 Sandy Mewies declared an interest as a member of the Assembly Commission (item 2.4) and Julie Morgan advised that her daughter works for Shelter Cymru (Item 4).

(09:00-09:05)

2.

Papers to note

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

2.1 The papers were noted. The Committee agreed that the Chair should reply to the Assembly Commission (Item 2.4) seeking further clarification on the 1% target underspend of the operational budget.

2.1

Covering Teachers’ Absence: Letter from the Auditor General for Wales on Covering Teachers' Absence (30 April 2015)

Supporting documents:

2.2

Inquiry into value for money of Motorway and Trunk Road Investment: Letter from James Price Welsh Government (29 April 2015)

Supporting documents:

2.3

Young people not in education, employment or training: Letter from William Graham AM, Chair of Enterprise and Business Committee (1 May 2015)

Supporting documents:

2.4

Scrutiny of Commissioners’ Accounts 2013-14: Letter from David Melding AM, Deputy Presiding Officer (7 May 2015)

Supporting documents:

(09:05-09:50)

3.

Welfare Reform: Evidence Session 1

PAC(4)-13-15 paper 1 – Community Housing Cymru

PAC(4)-13-15 paper 2 – Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru (CIHC)

Research Briefing

 

Sioned Hughes – Director of Policy and Regeneration, Community Housing Cymru

Paul Langley – Senior Adviser, Community Housing Cymru

Helen Northmore – Director, Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru (CIHC)

Hayley Selway - Head of Housing & Building Services for Vale of Glamorgan Council (Member CIHC Board)

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.1 The Committee took evidence from Sioned Hughes, Director of Policy and Regeneration, and Paul Langley, Senior Adviser at Community Housing Cymru; Helen Northmore, Director, Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru (CIHC) and Sandra Alexander, Housing Income Manager, Vale of Glamorgan Council on its inquiry into welfare reform.

 

3.2 Sioned Hughes agreed to send further information on:

·       the different approach taken in England to appeals

·       the number of homes in the rented sector that have been sublet in Wales

·       the number of people with disabilities affected by the spare room subsidy

·       evidence of how housing associations have still not updated their transfer policies to ensure that arrears relating to welfare reform are not a barrier to downsizing.

 

 

 

(09:50-10:40)

4.

Welfare Reform: Evidence Session 2

 

PAC(4)-13-15 Paper 3 – Shelter Cymru

PAC(4)-13-15 Paper 4 – Citizens Advice Cymru

 

John Puzey – Director, Shelter Cymru

Jennie Bibbings - Policy and Research Manager, Shelter Cymru

Lindsey Kearton - Policy Officer, Citizens Advice Cymru 

Elle McNeil, Policy Officer, Citizens Advice Cymru

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

4.1 The Committee took evidence from John Puzey, Director and

Jennie Bibbings, Policy and Research Manager, Shelter Cymru; and

Lindsey Kearton, Policy Officer and Elle McNeil, Policy Officer, Citizens Advice Cymru on its inquiry into welfare reform.

 

(10:40)

5.

Motion under Standing Order 17.42 to resolve to exclude the public from the meeting for the following business:

Items 6 & 7

Minutes:

5.1 The motion was agreed.

(10:40-10:50)

6.

Welfare Reform: Consideration of evidence received

Minutes:

6.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

(10:50-11:00)

7.

Financial Resilience of Councils in Wales: Briefing from the Wales Audit Office

PAC(4)-13-15 paper 5 – Letter from the Auditor General for Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.1 Alan Morris highlighted the letter from the Auditor General for Wales regarding the Financial Resilience of Councils in Wales.

 

7.2 Members noted that a draft letter from the Chair to June Milligan, Director General, Local Government and Communities, Welsh Government would be circulated for their comments and agreement later today.