Agenda and minutes

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

1.2.      Joel James MS declared a relevant interest.

Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change

Emma Williams, Director of Housing and Regeneration, Welsh Government

Amelia John, Deputy Director Housing Policy, Welsh Government

Jo Larner, Head of Building Safety Programme, Welsh Government

Tanya Wigfall, Head of Residential Decarbonisation Programme, Welsh Government

Simon White, Head of Housing Legislation, Welsh Government

2.1. The Committee took evidence from:

Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change

Emma Williams, Director of Housing and Regeneration, Welsh Government

Amelia John, Deputy Director Housing Policy, Welsh Government

Jo Larner, Head of Building Safety Programme, Welsh Government

Tanya Wigfall, Head of Residential Decarbonisation Programme, Welsh Government

Simon White, Head of Housing Legislation, Welsh Government

2.2. The Minister for Climate Change agreed to provide a paper outlining the formula for how social rent is set in Wales.

Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Finance and Local Government

Reg Kilpatrick, Director General, Covid Recovery & Local Government Group, Welsh Government

Claire Germain, Deputy Director, Local Gov Performance & Partnerships, Welsh Government

Emma Smith, Head of Local Government Finance Policy, Welsh Government

3.1. The Committee took evidence from:

Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Finance and Local Government

Reg Kilpatrick, Director General, Covid Recovery & Local Government Group, Welsh Government

Claire Germain, Deputy Director, Local Gov Performance & Partnerships, Welsh Government

Emma Smith, Head of Local Government Finance Policy, Welsh Government

3.2. The Minister for Finance and Local Government agreed to provide:

·         A note on the levels of reserves retained to deal with the cost-of-living crisis, following publication of the supplementary budget.

·         A note on the ways in which local authority pension funds could be used to best effect Wales.

·         Details of town and community council clerks that are politically active within councils.

·         Further information on the impact of the removal of the digital democracy fund on local government’s digital needs.

4.1.a The Committee noted the response from the Welsh Government to the report on the inquiry into second homes.

4.2.a The Committee noted the letter from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution in relation to local government electoral pilots.

4.3.a The Committee noted the joint letter from Community Housing Cymru, the Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru and Housing Leadership Cymru in relation to the Welsh Quality Housing Standard.

4.4.a The Committee noted the letter from the Minister for Social Justice in relation to housing Ukrainian refugees.

4.5.a The Committee noted the letter from the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales in relation to complaint handling practices of local authorities in Wales.

4.6.a The Committee noted the further information from the Minister for Climate Change in relation to community assets.

4.7.a The Committee noted the Paper from Dr Sarah Nason, Bangor University: Legislating to Empower Communities: Comparing Community Asset Acquisition Law in the UK.

5.1. The Committee agreed the motion.

6.1. The Committee discussed the evidence received under items 2 and 3 and agreed to write to the Minister for Climate Change and the Minister for Finance and Local Government on a number of matters raised.

7.1. The Committee considered the draft report and agreed a number of changes.

8.1. The Committee considered its approach to homelessness work.

9.1. The Committee considered the approach to council tax reform work.