Agenda and minutes

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting.

The Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed for publication.

Tuesday

The Trefnydd drew Business Managers’ attention to the following changes: 

• Statement by the Minister for Climate Change: The Warm Homes programme (30 mins) 
• Statement by the Minister for Climate Change: Securing greater nature, environmental and community benefits through sustainable drainage systems – publication of the Welsh Government review and way forward (30 mins) Postponed 
• Report Stage for the Agriculture (Wales) Bill (90 30 mins) 

• Voting Time will take place after Report Stage of the Agriculture (Wales) Bill
• Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.30pm.

Wednesday

The Llywydd drew Business Managers’ attention to the following change: 

• Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal – Adam Price (30 mins) Postponed until 28 June

• Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate.
• Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.40pm.

The Trefnydd drew Business Managers’ attention to the following change:

Tuesday 4 July 2023

·         Statement by the Minister for Climate Change: Update on Building Safety (30 mins)

·         LCM on the Procurement Bill (15 mins)

The Trefnydd updated the Business Committee on the Stage 3 debate of the Health Service Procurement (Wales) Bill, scheduled to take place on 11 July, indicating that a small number of technical amendments are required to the Bill due to changes that have been made to the UK Procurement Bill. As the timetable for the UK Procurement Bill has changed and it may not complete its scrutiny before the current deadline for tabling amendments to the Health Service Procurement (Wales) Bill at Stage 3, the Trefnydd indicated that the Government will continue to monitor its passage and will further update the Business Committee of any impact this has on the Stage 3 debate as necessary. 

The following additions were agreed to the Three-Week Timetable of Senedd Business:  

Wednesday 28 June 2023 –

Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal – Adam Price (30 mins) – moved from 21 June

Wednesday 12 July 2023 –

• Finance Committee debate on the Welsh Government’s spending priorities for the 2024-25 budget (60 mins)
• Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee debate on the Scrutiny of Common Frameworks (30 mins)
• Debate on Children, Young People and Education report – If not now, then when? Radical reform for care experienced children and young people (60 mins)
• Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins)
• Short Debate: Russell George (Montgomeryshire) (30 mins)

Business Committee agreed the final arrangements for the joint session with the Welsh Youth Parliament on 21 June, including the speaking allocations for Members and the format of questions to the Welsh Government.

Business Committee considered an update on LCMs and agreed to pre-emptively refer the supplementary LCM on the Procurement Bill (Memorandum No. 6) to the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 3 July.

The Trefnydd updated Business Committee on the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, which the Welsh Government no longer anticipates will move to Royal Assent prior to summer recess. Amendments expected to be tabled prior to Parliament’s recess will likely lead to a further SLCM And, consequently, a further consent motion debate is likely to take place in September. The Trefnydd will provide a further update ahead of recess should the situation change.

Business Committee considered and agreed a request for Committee Members to leave Plenary early on 12 July in order to undertake Committee business in Holyhead.

Business Committee considered and agreed a request for Committee Members to leave Plenary early on Wednesday 21 June in order to undertake Committee engagement work.

Business Committee discussed the practical, procedural and legal implications arising from the appointment of Co-Chairs to the Wales Covid-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee.

The Committee agreed in principle that:

• a protocol should be agreed between the Co-Chairs outlining how they will approach their joint procedural and operational/practical functions in practice;
• a Temporary Standing Order for the Covid Special Purpose Committee should be prepared to cover matters that require new provision or clarification in Standing Orders.

Business Committee considered several issues for inclusion within a Temporary Standing Order and agreed in principle that it should include provisions stating that:

·         references in Standing Orders to a “chair” of a committee be interpreted to mean “co-chair” of the Covid Special Purpose Committee;

·         the functions of chairs of committees outlined in Standing Orders must be exercised jointly by the Co-Chairs of the Covid Special Purpose Committee;

·         a protocol must be agreed between the Co-Chairs setting out their joint ways of working;

·         the co-chairing arrangement can comprise no more than two individual Members.

Business Committee considered the impact that a vacancy in one of the two Co-Chairs’ positions would have and concluded that each Co-Chair holds their position independently of the other and this should be covered within the Temporary Standing Order.

Business Committee also considered the impact of a temporary absence of one, or both, of its Co-Chairs, including the arrangements for temporary chairing. They discussed whether a temporary Co-Chair should be appointed from the same group as the absent Co-Chair, and agreed in principle that details of   the practical and operational issues arising from a temporary absence should be considered during the development of a protocol between the Co-Chairs. 

Business Committee also agreed that the proposed Temporary Standing Order should expire if either the Covid Special Purpose Committee is dissolved by a Senedd resolution, or at dissolution of the Sixth Senedd, whichever is the earliest.

Business Managers agreed that they would discuss these matters with the Co-Chairs of the Covid Special Purpose Committee and return to consider a draft Temporary Standing Order at a future meeting, with a view to proposing it to the Senedd prior to the summer recess.

They also agreed to share with the Independent Remuneration Board any relevant procedural details to inform its decisions on matters relating to the Co-Chairs’ remuneration.