Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 3

Contact: Naomi Stocks 

Media

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Transcript: Transcript for 11/01/2018 - Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee - Fifth Senedd

Items
Expected timing No. Item

1.

Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

Minutes:

1.1 The Chair welcomed Members and members of the public to the meeting.

2.

Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) to resolve to exclude the public from items 3, 4 and 8 of the meeting

Minutes:

2.1 The Committee agreed the motion.

(10.35 - 10.50)

3.

Inquiry into rough sleeping in Wales: consideration of scope and approach

Minutes:

3.1 The Committee agreed the terms of reference and the approach to the inquiry.

(10.50 - 11.00)

4.

Consideration of the Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Bill

Minutes:

4.1 The Committee discussed the Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Bill and agreed to draft a report on it.

(11.00 - 12.00)

5.

Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill: evidence session 9

Daniel Hurford, Head of Policy, (Improvement and Governance), Welsh Local Government Association

Davina Fiore, Director of Governance and Legal Services, Cardiff Council

Liz Withers, Head of Policy and Campaigns, Wales, Citizens Advice Bureau

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

5.1 The Committee received evidence from:

 

·         Daniel Hurford, Head of Policy, (Improvement and Governance), Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA)

·         Davina Fiore, Director of Governance and Legal Services, Cardiff Council

·         Liz Withers, Head of Policy and Campaigns, Wales, Citizens Advice Bureau

 

5.2        During the session, the WLGA agreed to provide a note on:

·         The provisions in the Bill for own-initiative investigations in relation to the implications of whistleblowing;

·         The telephone service provided by local authorities for oral complaints, and the proportion of oral complaints made to local authorities, if available;

·         Their view on the financial implications of investigations of complaints, in the context of a public/private pathway.

 

5.3 Following the session, the Committee agreed to request a note from Citizens Advice Bureau on the possible inclusion of Tribunals to Schedule 3 of the Bill, and reasons for highlighting this as a potential gap.

 

(12.00 - 13.00)

6.

Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill: evidence session 10

Mark Drakeford, Cabinet Secretary for Finance

David Richards, Director of Governance, Welsh Government

Nick Howard, Lawyer, Welsh Government

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

6.1 The Committee received evidence from:

 

·         Mark Drakeford, Cabinet Secretary for Finance

·         David Richards, Director of Governance, Welsh Government

·         Nick Howard, Lawyer, Welsh Government

 

6.2 During the session the Cabinet Secretary agreed to provide:

·         Further information on the his view in relation to Section 40;

·         His view on the technical drafting of provisions in relation to oral complaints.

7.

Paper(s) to note

7.1

Additional information from the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman in relation to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.1.a The Committee noted the additional information from the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman in relation to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill.

7.2

Additional information from the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman in relation to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.2.a The Committee noted the additional information from the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman in relation to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill.

7.3

Additional information from Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) in relation to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.3.a The Committee noted the additional information from Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) in relation to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill.

7.4

Additional information from Hospice UK in relation to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.4.a The Committee noted the additional information from Hospice UK in relation to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill.

7.5

Letter to the Chair of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee in relation to Human Rights in Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.5.a The Committee noted the letter to the Chair of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee in relation to Human Rights in Wales.

7.6

Letter to the Chair of the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee in relation to Human Rights in Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.6.a The Committee noted the letter to the Chair of the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee in relation to Human Rights in Wales.

7.7

Letter to the Convener of the Equalities and Human Rights Committee in relation to Human Rights in Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.7.a The Committee noted the letter to the Convener of the Equalities and Human Rights Committee in relation to Human Rights in Wales.

7.8

Letter to the Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights in relation to Human Rights in Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.8.a The Committee noted the letter to the Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights in relation to Human Rights in Wales.

7.9

Letter to the Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee in relation to Human Rights in Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.9.a The Committee noted the letter to the Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee in relation to Human Rights in Wales.

7.10

Letter to the Leader of the House and Chief Whip in relation to Human Rights in Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.10.a The Committee noted the letter to the Leader of the House and Chief Whip in relation to Human Rights in Wales.

7.11

Welsh Women's Aid report on State of the Sector: the state of violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence specialist services in Wales, 2017

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.11.a The Committee noted the Welsh Women's Aid report on State of the Sector: the state of violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence specialist services in Wales, 2017.

(13.00 - 13.15)

8.

Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill: consideration of evidence received under items 5 and 6

Minutes:

8.1 The Committee discussed the evidence received under items 5 and 6.