Agenda and minutes

1.1     The Chair welcomed Members to the meeting of the Local Government and Housing Committee.

1.2     Apologies were received from Lesley Griffiths MS. Hannah Blythyn MS attended as a substitute.

Jayne Bryant MS - Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government

Emma Williams - Director of Housing and Regeneration, Welsh Government

Sarah Rhodes - Deputy Director, Housing Policy, Welsh Government

Jo Larner - Head of Building Safety Programme, Welsh Government

2.1     The Committee received evidence from the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government.

2.2     The Cabinet Secretary agreed to keep the Committee updated on the Affordable Homes Taskforce, including the terms of reference for that taskforce.

2.3     The Cabinet Secretary agreed to keep the Committee updated on any potential increase to the Housing Support Grant for 2025-26.

2.4     The Cabinet Secretary agreed to provide information to the Committee on the numbers of homes that will be built on the 68 sites where phosphate issues had held up house building.

2.5     The Cabinet Secretary agreed to provide the Committee with further information on the cross-Government work being carried out looking at how robust the current construction sector is and what needs to be done to support that sector.

2.6     The Cabinet Secretary agreed to provide an update on the impact of the National Empty Homes Grant and further information on why 5 of the 22 Local Authorities have not signed up to the Grant Scheme, including the reasons for them not signing up and what more can be done to help remove potential barriers.

2.7     The Cabinet Secretary agreed to provide further information on the differing levels of council tax premium are being applied by local authorities on empty properties across Wales, and whether the intervention is having an effect.

Jayne Bryant MS - Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government

Reg Kilpatrick - Director, Local Government, Welsh Government

Judith Cole - Deputy Director LG Finance Policy & Sustainability, Welsh Government

Richard Baker – Deputy Director Land Division, Welsh Government

3.1     The Committee received evidence from the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government.

4.1     The Committee noted the letter.

6.1     The Committee considered the evidence received.

7.1     The Committee considered its forward work programme.