Agenda and minutes

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting. Apologies were received from Jane Dodds.

The Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed for publication

Tuesday 

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

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 5.45pm

Wednesday

·         Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate.  

·         Plenary is unlikely to run past 7.10pm

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

Tuesday 21 January 2025

·         Statement by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Growing the Timber Industry in Wales: Jobs and Green Growth (45 mins)

·         Legislative Consent Motion: The Water (Special Measures) Bill (15 mins) brought forward from 28 January

Tuesday 28 January 2025

·         Legislative Consent Motion: The Water (Special Measures) Bill (15 mins) brought forward to 21 January

Paul Davies enquired whether an oral statement would be scheduled on foot-and-mouth disease following the recent outbreak in Germany. The Trefnydd indicated that she would discuss the issue with the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs.

The following items were agreed to be scheduled on the Three Week Timetable of Senedd Business: 

Wednesday 5 February 2025 –

·         Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal (30 mins)

·         Debate on the Local Government and Housing Committee report: Social Housing Supply (60 mins)

·         Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins)

• Short Debate: Hefin David MS (Caerphilly) (30 mins)

Business Committee considered an update on LCMs and agreed to:

• refer the SLCM (No.2) on the Mental Health Bill to the Health and Social Care Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 28 February 2025.
• note that the Legislative Consent Motion Debate for the Water (Special Measures) Bill will be brought forward to 21 January 2025.
• refer the SLCM (No.5) on the Water (Special Measures) Bill to the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for scrutiny, with a reporting deadline of 20 January 2025, but noted that the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee may be unable to lay its report until the morning of 21 January.
• extend the reporting deadline for the LCMs on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to 28 February 2025.

Business Committee considered the feedback received to two consultations. The Llywydd introduced the item and the evidence received, including a number of questions and practical concerns that were raised in evidence and by members of the Chairs’ Forum during their discussions on the proposal.

The Trefnydd and Heledd Fychan stated that their groups both support the introduction of provisions enabling job-sharing for committee chairs. Paul Davies stated that his group was opposed to the introduction of committee chair job-sharing and would support the development of a Chair and Deputy Chair model instead.

Having considered views received on terminology, a majority of Business Managers agreed that the term ‘job-sharing’ should continue to be used to describe the proposal.

Business Committee agreed to consult with the Standards of Conduct Committee on matters raised by the Standards Commissioner in his submission. The Committee also asked that further advice be provided on options for the terms and length of a proposed trial, including whether the number of committees able to be chaired in a job-share should be limited for the duration of the trial.

Business Managers agreed to consider these matters further at a future meeting and to discuss with their groups, prior to the development of a final proposal.