Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 3 - Senedd. View directions

Contact: Gareth Price 

Media

Senedd.TV: View the webcast

Transcript: Transcript for 25/04/2022 - Petitions Committee

Items
No. Item

1.

Introduction, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed Members to the meeting. There were no apologies.

2.

Evidence session - P-06-1161 Routine collection and publication of data of how many babies/children return to their care experienced parents care at the end of a Parent and Child Placement

Sally Jenkins, Newport City Council

 

Annabel Lloyd, Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC

 

Julie Davies, City and County of Swansea

 

 

Minutes:

The Committee heard evidence from Sally Jenkins, Director of Social Services for Newport City Council, Annabel Lloyd, Director of Children’s Services at Rhondda Cynon Taf Council & Julie Davies, Head of Children and Family Service at Swansea Council.

3.

Evidence session - P-06-1161 Routine collection and publication of data of how many babies/children return to their care experienced parents care at the end of a Parent and Child Placement

Deborah Jones, Voices from Care Cymru

 

Francesca Pritchard, Voices from Care Cymru      

 

Minutes:

The Committee heard evidence from Deborah Jones, Chief Executive of Voices from Care Cymru & Francesca Pritchard, Well-being Manager for Voices from Care Cymru.

4.

New Petitions

4.1

P-06-1249 Provide a clinical pathway, medical care, and specialists for people with Tourette’s syndrome in Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write to the Senedd’s Business Committee in order to request a Plenary debate in the Senedd.

4.2

P-06-1258 Make individuals in Wales with Hidden disabilities eligible for the Blue Badge

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to keep a watching brief on the petition, pending the conclusion of the research commissioned by the Government into this issue.

4.3

P-06-1261 Invest to ensure all schools have high quality, effective internet infrastructure and connectivity

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the correspondence received and agreed to write back to the Minister, to ask for more detailed data to see whether there are particular schools or local authorities where the average speed experienced is lagging.

4.4

P-06-1264 For school transport guaranteed for all comprehensive children

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to keep a watching brief on the petition, pending the Welsh Government review into this issue.

4.5

P-06-1265 Amend the name of new electoral ward for Saltney, Flintshire to "Saltney and Saltney Ferry."

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the petition and noted that the upcoming local elections will likely raise awareness of the name, and potentially any proposals to change it. The Committee agreed that no further action could be taken and agreed to close the petition.

4.6

P-06-1266 Age appropriate testing for Covid in Children

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the petition and noted that there are moves underway by the Welsh Government to make less invasive tests available later this year. The Committee agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner, in closing the petition the Committee agreed to provide the petitioner with the information that the Welsh Government is looking to bring in less invasive testing.

4.7

P-06-1267 Create a recall mechanism for poorly performing Members of the Senedd

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to forward the petition to the Special Purpose Committee on Senedd Reform, for them to consider as part of their deliberations, as they are currently considering issues around the future election of MSs. In forwarding the petition on, the Committee agreed close the petition and thank the petitioner.

4.8

P-06-1269 Don't let the plan run out for dying people in Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write back to the Minister in order to seek a response to the proposals put forward by the petitioners in their response to the Committee.

5.

Updates to previous petitions

5.1

P-05-1112 Help Welsh Communities Buy Community Assets: Implement Part 5 Chapter 3 of the Localism Act 2011

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the Petition and agreed to write back to the Minister in order to seek further clarification on the funding available to communities and whether any guidance or support will be made available to those wanting to run and maintain community buildings.

5.2

P-06-1190 Ban the use of peat in horticulture and all growing media by 2023

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the petition and noted that the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are in the process of consulting on this issue, agreeing to keep a watching brief on this issue and return to the petition once the Welsh Government have responded to the findings.

5.3

P-06-1210 Stop the Welsh Government introducing a blanket 20mph speed limit

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the petition and noted that four other petitions had been submitted to the Committee around this issue. The Committee noted that the Welsh Government have clarified the exception process available for local authority to pursue if 20mph is considered inappropriate for a particular road. In light of the fact that the exception process provides a route forward for the petitioners to raise their concerns with their local authority who can review the decision, the Committee agreed close the petition and thank the petitioner.

5.4

P-06-1220 Increase funding available for Women’s Health Services, Education and Awareness

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to keep a watching brief and return to the petition once the Senedd’s Health and Social Care Committee’s consideration of this issue is completed.

5.5

P-06-1226 Remove barriers to entry to Social Work and encourage parity of esteem between Social Care and Health

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the petition and noted that the petition has succeeded in securing access to more funding for future cohorts of postgraduate social work students, which will improve the situation with further options being worked on and a social work workforce plan due to be published. The Committee agreed to congratulate the petitioner on their success and close the petition.

5.6

P-06-1227 To get a specialist mental health mother and baby unit in North Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the petition and noted that the plans to develop a service are progressing, and that The Minister will be providing future updates to the Children, Young People and Education Committee on this issue. The Committee therefore agreed that there was no further action it could take on this petition and agreed to close the petition, thanking the petitioner for coming forward and highlighting this very important issue with the petition.

6.

Motion under Standing Order 17.42(ix) to resolve to exclude the public from item 7 of the meeting

Minutes:

The motion was agreed.

7.

Discussion of evidence - P-06-1161 Routine collection and publication of data of how many babies/children return to their care experienced parents care at the end of a Parent and Child Placement

Minutes:

The Committee discussed the evidence heard and agreed that it would invite the Deputy Minister for Social Services to Committee and take further evidence.