Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies were received from Rhys ab Owen MS.

Apologies were received from Buffy Williams Ms.

Mike Hedges MS attended the meeting as substitute for Buffy Williams MS.

The Committee considered the petition and noted that the Welsh Government are clear about their plans. There are

are no imminent plans to introduce universal charges for motorists, and that such schemes would only be introduced to tackle persistent air pollution hot spots.  Joel James MS noted concerns about the impact any future charges in Cardiff may have on his constituents who commute to the city. However, Members agreed to close the petition, given that there was nothing further they could do, and thank the petitioner.

The Committee considered the petition and noted the Welsh Government are working with organisations to encourage cultural and behavioural change, rather than an outright ban. In light of this response it is unclear what else the Committee can do to take the petition forward. Members agreed to thank the petitioner for highlighting this important issue and closed the petition.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write back to the Minister to confirm whether, in the event the DEC does launch an appeal, she would consider providing humanitarian aid. Members also encouraged the Minister to meet with the humanitarian charities involved in the DEC appeal in Wales.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write to the Chair of the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee and the Chair of the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee highlighting this petition and to request whether this can be considered as part of any future work on the Sustainable Farming Scheme.

Members also noted that the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee will be undertaking a one-day inquiry on Farming Connect on 22 February.

In light of the work that is likely to be undertaken by other Committees on the issue, Members agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write back to the Deputy Minister sharing the petitioner’s detailed response and:

• seek an explanation of why the current concerns cannot be addressed under the current policy as highlighted by the petitioner; and

ask about the timescale for publication of the new Setting Local Speed Limits in Wales guidance and whether priority will be given to review the speed limit in Eglwys Fach and Ffwrnais.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to

write to the Senedd Commission and the Welsh Government to seek their views on the petition.

The Committee considered the petition and acknowledged parents’ genuine concerns but noted the RSE curriculum has been extensively consulted upon by Welsh Government and scrutinised in depth in the Senedd. In light of this Members do not believe that it is appropriate to take any further action on the petition and agreed to close it.

In addition to closing the petition Members suggested that parents liaise with their individual schools, Boards of Governors and local authorities regarding concerns about effective and informative communication about the delivery of the curriculum.

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

The petitioner is known to him.

The Committee considered the petition and noted the Minister is clear in his response that there are no plans to devolve responsibilities to North Wales. In light of this the Committee agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

The Committee considered the petition and noted the petitioners have now secured a successful outcome with CADW agreeing to fund vital survey work at Ruperra Castle.

As a result  Members agreed to close the petition at this stage and congratulate the petitioners on their successful campaign, wishing them well with their future attempts to save this historic building.

Mike Hedges MS declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

He chairs the Cross-party group on rare diseases.

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

He has family members with the condition.

The Committee considered the petition and noted that whilst the petitioners welcome the progress and opportunity to work with the National Strategic Network for musculoskeletal conditions and the rare disease implementation network, they have some further questions they would like to be answered. In light of this Members agreed to write back to the Minister for Health and Social Services to seek answers to the questions raised by the petitioners.

Peredur Owen Griffiths MS declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

He has family members who reside in the area.

Mike Hedges MS declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

His daughter crosses the bridge on a daily basis.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to keep it open pending the Minister’s response to the report.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to keep it open and ask the petitioner to provide the Committee with an update after they meet with Welsh Government officials.

The Committee considered the petition and noted that the  local authority has made arrangements to reinstate some of the services that were feared to be lost.

Members also noted that the Committee will be talking to public transport operators after half term, in relation to other petitions and will be raising some of the challenges facing the bus sector. In light of this the Committee agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

The Committee considered the petition and noted the decision of the Health Board, and that this effectively brings the petition to a natural close. Members agreed to thank the petitioners for their strong campaign, and their kind words about the Committee and closed the petition.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to keep it open and await the outcome of the planning application.

The motion was agreed.