Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from the Llywydd. The meeting was chaired by the Deputy Presiding Officer. Russell George attended in the place of Darren Millar.

The Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed for publication

Tuesday 

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers of the following changes:

·         Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural affairs Wales' World Class Recycling (45 mins)

·         Proposal under Standing Order 12.24 to debate the following items together but with separate votes (60 mins)

o   The general principles of The Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill

o   The financial resolution in respect of The Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill Postponed until 16 July

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

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 5.20pm

Wednesday

·         Voting Time will take place after the short debate.  

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 7.10pm

The Deputy Presiding Officer informed Business Managers that live interpretation into BSL has been arranged for the debate on Mark Isherwood’s British Sign Language (BSL) (Wales) Bill. This will be available on the broadcast and visible on screens in the Siambr and the public gallery.

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers of the following changes to the Three Week Timetable of Government Business:

Tuesday 25 June 2024

·         Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: The Welsh food system – producing food sustainably (45 mins)

Tuesday 2 July 2024

·         The Procurement (Wales) Regulations 2024 (15 mins)

·         Motion to vary the order of consideration of Stage 3 amendments for the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill (5 mins)

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

Wednesday 10 July 2024 –

·         Motion to note the annual report on the Senedd Commission's Official Languages Scheme for 2023 – 24 (30 mins) 

·         Debate on the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee Report - Six Nations Rugby Championship broadcasting rights (60 mins) 

·         Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins) 

·         Short Debate: Carolyn Thomas MS (North Wales) (30 mins)

Business Committee considered the proposed motions for debate and agreed to schedule the following proposal on 26 June:  

Adam Price

NNDM8616

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes a proposal for a community energy benefits Bill.

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to:

a) ensure that renewable energy developments have a direct benefit for local communities, and that loss of amenity for communities is a key consideration in determining whether large energy infrastructure projects proceed;

b) require profit from renewable energy developments to be kept in the local area;

c) make local ownership a mandatory element in every energy generation development;

d) mandate the use of renewable technology in all new buildings, significant redevelopments and extensions; and

e) utilise all viable brownfield options before any greenfield site can be considered, especially if remote and diverse habitats are to be affected and or access and infrastructure is limited or non-existent.

The Trefnydd explained that the postponement of the debate on the general principles and financial resolution of the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill is to enable the Government to give due consideration and to respond to the recommendations that have been made by committees. The Trefnydd indicated that the letter would be shared with all Members of the Senedd following the meeting.

Heledd Fychan, Jane Dodds and the Deputy Presiding Officer expressed disappointment with the postponement of the debate in light of the fact that Business Committee had agreed a curtailed period of scrutiny for committees at Stage 1.

Business Committee noted the letter, the revised date of 16 July for the debate and that the Trefnydd will bring forward revisions to the timetable for scrutiny of the Bill for the Business Committee’s consideration.

Business Committee agreed to extend the deadline for responses to its invitation for committees to provide views on their current remits to 28 June 2024.

Business Committee noted the letter.

Business Committee returned to give further consideration to its preferred approach to work on job-sharing and agreed to proceed with a targeted piece of work on job-sharing for committee chairs in the first instance.

Heledd Fychan requested that Business Committee revisit the guidance on remote participation in hybrid plenary proceedings, including the locations from which Members can join proceedings to speak and vote, and to evaluate how it is working in practice. The request was supported by the Trefnydd and Russell George. The Deputy Presiding Officer indicated that he would discuss the proposal with the Llywydd.