Agenda and minutes

Venue: Zoom

Contact: Graeme Francis 

Items
No. Item

1.

Introductions, apologies and substitutions

Minutes:

The Llywydd welcomed the Members to the meeting. Darren Miller sent his apologies and Russell George attended in his place.

 

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 7.15pm.

 

The Trefnydd drew Business Committee’s attention to the following additions to today’s agenda:

 

  • Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services – Update on Covid-19 (45 mins)
  • Statement by the Minister for Social Justice - International Day of Disabled People (45 mins)

 

The statement on ‘A Healthier Wales’ and the LCM on the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill have both been postponed to 11 January.

 

Wednesday 

 

  • Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate.
  • Plenary is unlikely to run past 7.20. 

 

The Llywydd informed Business Managers of her intention to announce the Welsh Youth Parliament election results at the start of Plenary on Wednesday, before formal business is called.

 

The Llywydd noted that the Co-operation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru is due to begin on 1 December. The Llywydd informed Business Managers that she has been in correspondence with the First Minister about the details of the agreement and has requested that information about how it will work in practice be shared with Members of the Senedd at the earliest opportunity. Once this information is available, the Llywydd stated her intention to make a statement to Plenary on any impact that the arrangements may have on the operation of Senedd Business.

 

3.2

Three week timetable of Government Business

Minutes:

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

 

Tuesday 7 December 2021 -

 

  • Statement by the First Minister: Programme for Government – Update (45 mins)
  • Statement by the Minister for Finance and Local Government: Reforming Council Tax in Wales (45 mins)
  • Statement by the Minister for Social Justice: The Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Strategy (45 mins)
  • Statement by the Minister for Finance and Local Government: Conclusion of the Electoral Boundary Review (45 mins)written statement

 

Tuesday 14 December 2021 -

 

  • Statement by the Minister for Economy: Supporting the creation of a Community Bank for Wales (45 mins)
  • The Curriculum for Wales – Relationships and Sexuality Education Code (30 mins)

 

Tuesday 11 January 2022 -

 

  • Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: A Healthier Wales (45 mins) – postponed from 30 November 2021

 

3.3

Three week timetable of Senedd Business

Minutes:

Business Committee agreed to schedule the following items of business:

 

Wednesday 12 January 2022 –

 

  • Debate on the Equality and Social Justice Committee report: Debt and the pandemic (60 mins)
  • Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins)

 

 

4.

Legislation

4.1

Timetable for the Welsh Tax Acts etc. (Power to Modify) Bill

Minutes:

 

Business Committee agreed the timetable with an amended Stage 1 reporting deadline of 8 April 2022 at the request of the Finance Committee.

 

4.2

Legislative Consent Memorandums on the Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill and Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill and update on current Legislative Consent Memorandums

Minutes:

Business Managers agreed to refer the SLCM (No. 2) on the Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill to the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee, the Children, Young People and Education Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee.

 

Business Managers noted the exceptionally tight window for scrutiny and agreed that, given that committees were unlikely to be able to meet the reporting deadline proposed by the Welsh Government of 2 December, it would be possible for committee reports to be laid at any point before the Plenary debate takes place on 7 December.

 

Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill

 

Business Committee agreed to refer the SLCM (No. 2) on the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill to the Local Government and Housing Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee with a reporting deadline of 9 December 2021. Business Managers noted the condensed window for scrutiny.

 

Update on current Legislative Consent Memorandums

 

Business Committee noted the latest update on LCMs from the Welsh Government.

 

 

5.

Plenary

5.1

Letter from the Special Purpose Committee on Senedd Reform

Minutes:

Business Committee agreed the request for Members of the Committee to be excused from Plenary at the times requested and noted reasons why the committee had been unable to find an alternative meeting slot on this occasion.

 

 

6.

Committees

6.1

Letter from the Chair of the Petitions Committee - Request for a debate in Plenary

Minutes:

Business Managers requested that further information on the current status of decisions relating to the future of the building be provided before they reach a decision on whether to agree to schedule a debate.

 

Any Other Business

Jane Dodds MS asked for clarity on the position of Members wearing face coverings in the Chamber when not speaking, noting that the wearing of masks has become more important and widespread in light of the new Covid-19 variant. The Llywydd asked Business Managers to remind all Members of the current advice that face coverings should be worn in the Chamber when Members are not speaking and stated that she would reflect further on current advice and issue an update to Members if required.