Agenda and minutes

Venue: Zoom

Contact: Graeme Francis 

Items
No. Item

1.

Introductions, apologies and substitutions

Minutes:

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting.

2.

Minutes of the previous meeting

Minutes:

The Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed for publication.

3.

Organisation of Business

3.1

This week's business

Minutes:

Tuesday

 

·         Voting Time will take place as the last item of business.

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.40pm.

The Trefnydd drew Business Committee’s attention to the following change to Tuesday’s agenda:

 

·         Statement by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change: Renewable Energy Deep Dive (45 mins) – written statement to be issued this week with an oral statement potentially to follow in the New Year once Members have had an opportunity to read the full report

 

The Llywydd informed Business Managers that an artist will be sketching Plenary from the public gallery as part of a project about ‘what democracy looks like’.  This is not a Commission project.

 

Wednesday 

 

·         Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate.

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.50pm. 

 

3.2

Three week timetable of Government Business

Minutes:

The Trefnydd drew Business Committee’s attention to the following changes:

 

Tuesday 14 December 2021 -

 

·         Statement by the Minister for Social Justice: Shaping Wales Future – Laying national milestones, revised national indicators and publishing a Future Trends report (45 mins)

·         Statement by the Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, and Chief Whip: Update on progress following the publication of ‘The Slave Trade and the British Empire: An audit of commemoration in Wales’ (45 mins) - postponed

·         Statement by the Minister for Climate Change: Building Safety (45 mins)

·         The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 21) Regulations 2021 (30 mins)

 

Business Committee noted that the latest three-week review of coronavirus regulations is due to be held later this week and that there is the possibility of changes to coronavirus regulations as a result. Business Managers raised with the Trefnydd that they would wish there to be an indicative vote in Plenary before Christmas recess in the event of significant changes being made.

 

3.3

Three week timetable of Senedd Business

Minutes:

Business Committee agreed to schedule the following items of business:

 

Wednesday 19 January 2021 –

 

  • Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (120 mins)
  • Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins)

 

4.

Legislation

4.1

The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 21) Regulations 2021

Minutes:

Business Committee agreed that the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee should report on the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 21) Regulations 2021by Monday13 December.

 

4.2

Legislative Consent Memorandums on the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill, the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill, the Professional Qualifications Bill, the Nationality and Borders Bill; and update on current Legislative Consent Memorandums

Minutes:

Business Committee agreed to:

 

·         refer the LCM on the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill to the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee and the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee with a reporting deadline of 10 February 2022;

·         refer the SLCM (No. 3) on the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill for scrutiny to the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee and the Local Government and Housing Committee with a revised reporting deadline of the morning of 14 December 2021;

·         refer the SLCM (No.2) on the Professional Qualifications Bill to the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee and the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee with a reporting deadline of 10 February 2022;

·         refer the LCM on the Nationality and Borders Bill to the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee and the Health and Social Care Committee with a reporting deadline of 10 February 2022;

·         note the latest position on LCMs.

 

5.

Standing Orders

5.1

Proposal to amend Standing Order 23.4 relating to the signature threshold for petitions

Minutes:

Business Committee agreed the draft Business Committee Report on the change requested by the Petitions Committee, and to table a motion to revise Standing Orders for debate in Plenary on Wednesday 15 December 2021.

 

 

5.2

Letter from the Chair of the Standards of Conduct Committee

Minutes:

Business Committee considered the letter from the Standards of Conduct Committee and agreed to invite that Committee to consider the points raised in relation to Standing Orders 2.6 and 2.7 (Declaration of Registerable Interests) as part of its planned review of registration of interests.

 

6.

Senedd Business

6.1

The Co-operation Agreement: Implications for Senedd Business

Minutes:

Sian Gwenllian declared an interest as she has been appointed as a Designated Member.

Business Committee noted the external legal opinion provided by Lord Pannick QC on the Co-operation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru, and that the legal opinion would be shared with all Members. The advice supported the Llywydd’s preliminary view that Plaid Cymru was not a group with an executive role. Business Committee noted that the Llywydd’s view on the matter was therefore unchanged and was final.

Business Committee held an initial discussion on the potential implications for the operation of Senedd Business resulting from the Agreement. Business Managers agreed that they would seek the views of their groups before returning to the matter at the next meeting.