Agenda and minutes

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting. No apologies were received.

Jane Dodds attended under Standing Order 17.49.

The Business Committee considered Paper 1 - Procedural work: Prioritisation (“Paper 1”).

The Llywydd noted the interest members of the Business Committee had in this work and the role they will play in engaging with the members of their political groups regarding the procedural work programme.

The Business Committee agreed the prioritisation suggested in Paper 1, subject to the following comments and amendments:

• Jane Dodds and Heledd Fychan stated their concerns regarding the suggested deprioritisation of legislative diversity quotas.
• The Business Committee noted the question of legislative competence in the context of legislative diversity quotas, and the Welsh Government’s publication of Diversity and inclusion guidance for registered political parties in Wales.
• Heledd Fychan suggested that the Finance Committee’s review of budget procedures should be included in the procedural work programme. The Llywydd noted that this work may not be possible in this Senedd term, due to the scale of the work required, but suggested writing to the Finance Committee to seek further information before determining whether or not further work on this item is possible before the end of the Sixth Senedd.

·       In relation to the organisation of business in the Seventh Senedd, time is to be allocated within the work programme to develop a recommended framework for the organisation of business in the Seventh Senedd.

·       Further consideration is to be given to the Legislative consent process item before determining whether or not further work on this item is possible before the end of the Sixth Senedd.

·       The  following items, suggested for deprioritisation in Paper 1, are to be include in the procedural work programme:

• Operation of committees (to be incorporated into the organisation of business item);
• Legislative consent process (to determine whether further work is possible before the end of the Sixth Senedd);
• Finance Committee review of budget procedures (to determine whether further work is possible before the end of the Sixth Senedd); and
• Balance of time allocated to Members within Plenary items (to be incorporated into the organisation of business item).

The Business Committee agreed to publish a report to explain its procedural work programme and the decisions it has taken in terms of prioritisation.

The Business Committee agreed that the additional meetings would continue to be held in private.

The Llywydd stated that her preference is for meetings to be held in person whenever possible, but that hybrid facilities will be made available.

It was noted that if a public session was needed before the completion of the procedural work, this would be arranged.

The Business Committee agreed that Business Managers may bring a non-participating political group official to observe at the additional procedural meetings, and the Trefnydd may bring a non-participating political group official and a Welsh Government official.

The Llywydd indicated that arrangements for Members not in a political group were to be kept in line with current Business Committee meetings.

It was agreed that item 3 would be deferred for consideration at the Business Committee meeting scheduled for Thursday 19 June 2025.