Agenda and minutes

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

1.2.      Mabon ap Gwynfor MS declared a relevant interest.

Bonnie Williams, Director, Housing Justice Cymru

2.1. The Committee received a briefing from Bonnie Williams, Director, Housing Justice Cymru.

2.2. Bonnie Williams, Director, Housing Cymru, agreed to provide a note on the work being done to provide information and training to teachers, staff and pupils to welcome and accommodate refugees into their schools.

3.1. The Committee agreed the motion.

4.1. The Committee considered the briefing received and agreed to write to the Minister for Social Justice on the matters raised.

Responses received from stakeholders

5.1. The Committee discussed the responses received from stakeholders and considered the next steps for its work.

Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change

Debra Carter, Deputy Director Local Government Finance Reform, Welsh Government

Neil Hemington, Chief Planner, Welsh Government

Huw Maguire, Head of Second Homes Policy, Welsh Government

6.1. The Committee received evidence from:

Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change

Debra Carter, Deputy Director Local Government Finance Reform, Welsh Government

Neil Hemington, Chief Planner, Welsh Government

Huw Maguire, Head of Second Homes Policy, Welsh Government

6.2. During the evidence session the Minister for Climate Change agreed to provide:

·         An analysis of the consultation responses in relation to changing the use class Order.

·         A note indicating timescales for policies outlined by the Minister, including white papers to change homelessness legislation; assisting local authorities to identify empty homes; changing the use class Order; holiday lets relating to business rates; building affordable housing that remains affordable.

7.1.a. The Committee noted the letter from the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee to the Minister for Finance and Local Government in relation to electoral pilots in the local government elections held on 5 May 2022.

7.2.a. The Committee noted the letter from the Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee in relation to its inquiry into mental health inequalities.

7.3.a. The Committee noted the letter from the Chair of the Finance Committee in relation to the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24: Engagement.

7.4.a. The Committee noted the letter from the Chair of the Equality and Social Justice Committee in relation to its annual scrutiny of the Future Generations Commissioner's report.

7.5.a. The Committee noted the letter from the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee to the Llywydd in relation to the Welsh Government’s Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 2) on the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill.

7.6.a. The Committee noted the letter from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution in relation to the Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Elections Bill.

7.7.a. The Committee noted the letter from Jane Dodds MS in relation to building safety.

7.8.a. The Committee noted the additional evidence from the Wales Tourism Alliance, UKHospitality Cymru and PASC UK (Wales branch) in relation to the inquiry into second homes.

7.9.a. The Committee noted the additional evidence from Cymdeithas yr Iaith in relation to the inquiry into second homes.

7.10.a. The Committee noted the additional evidence from Dyfodol i'r Iaith in relation to the inquiry into second homes.

7.11.a. The Committee noted the letter from the Minister for Climate Change in relation to building safety.

8.1. The Committee considered the draft report and discussed a number of changes to be made.