Agenda and minutes

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting

The Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed for publication

Tuesday

The Trefnydd informed Business Managers of the following changes:

·       Statement by the Minister for Climate Change: Second Homes and Affordability (30 mins) Postponed until 12 March

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

·       Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.00pm

Wednesday

Business Committee received a briefing on security arrangements relating to the anticipated protest on Wednesday and the prospect of disruption, including to travel. The Trefnydd and Jane Dodds registered their concern with Senedd business and events continuing in person considering the size of the protest anticipated and raised the prospect of attendance on the Senedd Estate being kept to a minimum with proceedings being held online if required. 

·       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 12 March 2024

·         Statement by the Minister for Climate Change: Second Homes and Affordability (30 mins)

·         The Special School Residential Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2024 (5 mins)

·         The Landfill Disposals Tax (Tax Rates) (Amendment) and Tax Collection and Management (Wales) Act 2016 (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2024 (5 mins)

·         Motion to vary the order of consideration of Stage 3 amendments to the Infrastructure (Wales) Bill (5 mins)

·         Debate: The Second Supplementary Budget 2023-24 (30 mins) postponed until 13 March

Wednesday 13 March 2024

·         Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services (45 mins) postponed until 20 March 2024

·         Questions to the Minister for Education and Welsh Language – brought forward from 20 March 2024

·         Debate: The Second Supplementary Budget 2023-24 (30 mins)

Business Committee agreed to postpone Questions to the Minister for Health and Socials Services for 20 March to bring forward Questions to the Minister for Education and Welsh Language to 13 March.

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

Wednesday 13 March 2024 –

·         Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal (30 mins) Moved to 12 March

Wednesday 20 March 2024 –

• Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv) (60 mins)
• Debate on petition P-06-1367: Fund the removal of quarry rocks and the restoration of sand and groynes to Llandudno North Shore (30 mins)
• Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins)
• Short Debate: Carolyn Thomas (North Wales) (30 mins)
• Short Debate: Peredur Owen Griffiths (South Wales East) (30 mins)

The Business Committee considered the timetable for the Bill proposed by the Government and agreed:

• to refer the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill to the Reform Bill Committee for consideration of the Bill’s general principles;
• to consult with the Reform Bill Committee on the proposed timetable for scrutiny of the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill and to return the matter at the next meeting; and
• also agreed in principle, and subject to the Senedd agreeing the general principles of the Bill, to table a motion at the start of Stage 2 seeking the Senedd’s agreement for Stage 2 proceedings to be undertaken by a Committee of the Whole Senedd.

The Business Committee considered a paper on expedited timetables for Senedd Bills. The Committee noted the experience of the two Bills outlined in the paper and requested that officials draft a decision-making tool that could be used to assist it to make future decisions on timetables for Bills when an expedited timetable has been proposed.

Darren Millar requested that consideration be given to the length of time available to Members to prepare for Stage 2 and Stage 3 proceedings on Bills following the tabling deadlines for amendments. Business Committee asked officials to provide a note concerning these matters, to include the recent experience of the Infrastructure (Wales) Bill.

Business Committee agreed the request to revise the deadline for committees to report on Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Renters (Reform) Bill to 26 April 2024.

Business Committee agreed the request for the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee to hold an additional meeting of the Committee on 14 March 2024.

Business Committee returned to consider the issue of whether to take forward consideration of Committee Chair Job Sharing in advance of the Easter recess, and potential committee chair vacancies which may arise because of the new First Minister appointing their government. A majority on Business Committee agreed that a longer period of time is required to give the relevant matters full consideration.

Business Committee agreed to take that detailed consideration forward over the coming months, recognising that any changes would not be in place for any vacancies that arise following the Easter recess.