Agenda and minutes

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

Luke Fletcher declared that he is a member of Greyhound Rescue Wales and have sponsored several events for Hope Rescue as well in the Senedd.

Julie Morgan MS, Deputy Minister for Social Services

Alistair Davey - Deputy Director, Enabling People, Welsh Government

The Committee heard evidence from Julie Morgan, MS and Deputy Minister for Social Services and Allister Davey, Deputy Director, Enabling People in the Welsh Government.

Luke Fletcher MS declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

The petitioner is known to him.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write again to the Minister to ask if she could provide the Committee with an update once officials have discussed the maintenance arrangements and plans for improvements with Bridgend County Borough Council.

Jack Sargeant MS declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

The petitioner is known to him and in the 5^th Senedd he published a report with a number of charities, both in the housing and homelessness sector and in the animal welfare sector, called a pet 'paw-licy'.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write  back to Minister seek further clarification on the points raised by the petitioner including:

• whether there will be guidance as to what would be deemed ‘reasonable’ or whether it refers to any form of dispute resolution if the landlord and tenant cannot or do not agree in relation to pets;
• how the Act addresses the fact that many adverts for rental properties explicitly state ‘no pets’, before any conversations as to whether a prospective tenant having a pet would be ‘reasonable’ can take place; and
• what action is being taken to ensure tenants are informed of their rights under the Consumer Act 2015, which should prevent landlords from unreasonably refusing tenants’ requests to keep pets, and what support will be available to those tenants.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write to Business Committee to request a plenary debate early in the autumn term.

The Committee considered the petition and in light of the Minister’s response which now indicates that the onus is now on schools to identify the life skill lessons that they want to teach their students, agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner for raising awareness of the issue.

Due there being no Covid-19 regulations in place now, and schools able to make decisions about what is appropriate for their community, the Committee agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

The Committee considered the petition and recognised the significant challenges learners, teachers and parents have faced during the pandemic and the ongoing impact. Given that learners began sitting their A and AS levels on 16 May 2022, and in light of the mitigating actions taken by Welsh Government to ease some of the pressure on our young people, Members agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

Lord (David) Lipsey, Chair of Premier Greyhound Racing

Malcolm Tams, The Valley Greyhound Stadium

Mark Bird, Greyhound Board of Great Britain 

Professor Madeleine Campbell, Independent Board member of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain

The Committee heard evidence from, Lord (David) Lipsey, Chair of Premier Greyhound Racing; Malcolm Tams, The Valley Greyhound Stadium; Mark Bird, CEO of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain; Professor Madeleine Campbell, Independent Board member of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain and David Cartwright        

Owner of dogs that race at Valley Greyhounds.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to wait until the Local Government & Housing Committee concludes the work they are currently undertaking on the issue and discuss the petition again at a future meeting.

The Committee considered the petition and noted that the Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill 2021 has now passed Stage 2, and Stage 3 proceedings are scheduled for Tuesday 21 June 2022. Members agreed to discuss the petition again at a future meeting once Stage 3 proceedings have concluded.

Joel James MS declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

He is a member of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC).

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to continue to keep a watching brief until the conclusion of the consultation undertaken as part of the UK Reach work programme which is scheduled to end in November 2022.

The Chair provided an update on the recent work that the Committee has undertaken on the petition. A draft report will now be prepared and written information which is currently being collected from a number of  families, will also feed in to that. Members agreed that a debate in plenary should happen in autumn term.

Members also placed their thanks on record to all the families who have been involved with the work on the petition.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write back to the Minister to seek answers to some of the questions raised in the report recently published by Qualification Wales.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write one final time to the Minister to seek answers to some of the questions raised by the petitioner in their recent correspondence.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed that there is little further they can do on the issue as a Committee, however it is possible for Members to champion the lived-experience of carers in future work and on the floor of the Chamber. Members agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

The Committee considered the petition and in light of the response received from the Llywydd agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

Whilst doing so, the Committee encouraged members of the public to engage with their newly elected local councillors on local issues.

The paper was noted.

The motion was agreed.

The Committee discussed the evidence heard and welcomed the Minister’s commitment to the lived experience of people in care. They agreed that outputs from the inquiry must be produced in ways that are accessible to young people.

The Committee discussed the evidence heard and agreed to seek an update from Caerphilly CBC regarding the proposed developments to the Valley Stadium.