Agenda and draft minutes
Venue: Conference Room 4B - Tŷ Hywel. View directions
Contact: Chris Warner
No. | Item |
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Introductions, Apologies and Substitutions - (12:15) |
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Brexit (12:15 - 12:25) David
Rees – Chair of External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee Minutes: The Forum discussed the need for work on Brexit to be joined up to avoid
duplication and ensure all areas of policy were covered. They agreed that the role of the chair of
EEAL was key in this. They noted that
while it was for EAAL to lead on high level issues there was a role for most
committees over the coming years and that it was important that nothing was
missed as a result. There have been some informal discussions between chairs, for example
with CLA on constitutional matters and other chairs flagged up areas they were
likely to be looking at shortly. The forum agreed that officials should
prepare a paper on the full range of activity planned in this area and that it
should be circulated to all Members. They also agreed that this should be a
standing item on the Forum agenda. [UPDATE: A paper has been tabled for
discussion on 5 April 2017.] During the discussion it was agreed that work should be done on pursuing
a closer relationship with individual Cabinet Secretaries’ private offices
and/or departmental officials in Welsh Government. It was noted that this works
well in Westminster but had not been a feature at the Assembly since the formal
separation in 2007. A note would be
prepared for the next meeting on the existing protocols. [UPDATE: A paper to note has been
circulated with the papers for 5 April 2017.] |
|
Continuous Professional Development (CPD) - (12:25 - 12:40) Abi
Phillips - Assembly Commission Staff, Professional Development Project Manager Minutes: Abi
Phillips outlined the contents of the paper and asked Chairs to comment on the
effectiveness of CPD delivered to committees since May, their appetite for
further sessions and feedback on the facilitators used. The
Llywydd expressed a wish for more support for Members in asking questions
noting that simply reading out prepared, suggested, questions was not
effective. More detailed questioning
techniques were needed to enhance scrutiny.
It
was noted that PAC had requested a follow-up session after the initial work
with Kate Faragher. They had received
candid feedback on earlier scrutiny sessions. The Committee had also agreed a
further session in 6 months’ time. It was agreed that officials would prepare
a note for chairs on how the PAC sessions had been run to enable them to
consider their wider application. [UPDATE: Completed.] |
|
Engagement (12:40 - 13.10) Kevin
Davies - Assembly Commission Staff, Senior Public Engagement Manager Minutes: Kevin Davies outlined the various methods
of engagement currently happening as well as the different ways of engaging
recognising the need to inform, involve and empower. He outlined the benefits
of planning engagement work early and the work that some committees had done in
involving the public in planning their work programme or the scope of an
enquiry. The Llywydd noted the range of good work
happening at the moment. The Forum
discussed the need to take committees outside of Cardiff Bay noting that
doesn’t always mean that far away. It
was noted that a recent event in Merthyr had attracted people from the Swansea
area possibly giving access to different groups. Chairs noted the
success of the @Senedd weeks that had been held previously and asked for more
information on plans for this Assembly. [UPDATE: A paper to
note has been circulated with the papers for 5 April 2017.] |
|
Chairs' items (13:10 - 13:15) Minutes: Climate Change Mark Reckless noted the importance of a cross-cutting
approach to scrutiny of climate change recognising that the levers sit with a
number of Government departments. He advised Chairs that CCERA was setting up
an expert reference group and intended to establish an annual process for
enabling other committees to feed into this work, as well as an annual Plenary
debate. Future Generations
Commissioner The Forum discussed the approach to
scrutiny of the work of the Future Generations Commissioner. They noted that
implementation of the Act lies with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local
Government but agreed that there is a strong interest in the work of the
Commissioner for a number of committees, in particular ELGC and Finance, which
could potentially establish a dual system for general and financial scrutiny of
the Commissioner. They asked for
proposals to be worked up for consideration at the next Forum meeting. [UPDATE: Clerks
will discuss this further with the Chairs of the ELGC and Finance Committees.] |
|
Climate change - cross cutting scrutiny Mark
Reckless – Chair of Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee |
|
Future Generations Commissioner - Committee Scrutiny John
Griffiths – Chair of Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee |