Agenda and minutes

Acting temporary Chair, Rhianon Passmore MS welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies were received from Committee Chair Jack Sargeant MS.

The Committee considered the petition and noted the clear response from the Cabinet Secretary stating that the National Transport Delivery Plan will not be scrapped and expressing the rational for the approach. He also noted that it was subject to public consultation and there is a current listening exercise regarding roads. In light of this Members agreed that their options to take this forward are limited, and therefore noted the petitioners string views, closed the petition and thanked the petitioner.

The Committee considered the petition and noted the Cabinet Secretary’s clear response stating that there will be no change to the speed limit until the guidance has been updated to reflect the current policy and the review of the trunk road network speed limits.

Members acknowledged the villagers’ concerns and agreed to write back to the Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport asking for the timescale of the Go Safe data review on the A479 by officials and when and where they will be published.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write back to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care in six months’ time asking for an update on progress made including further developments regarding a satellite option in Wales. Members also wanted to provide the petitioner with a further opportunity to ask questions.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write to the Chair of the Finance Committee to ask whether the petition can be highlighted during their forthcoming budget priority debate.

Given the concerns regarding the impact on culture, children and young people’s opportunities and potential economic impact, Members also agreed to highlight the petition to the;

• Cabinet Secretary for Education;
• Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice; and
• the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language.

Members also agreed to request a debate in plenary.

Written Statement: Update on council tax reform (15 May 2024) | GOV.WALES

The Committee considered the petition and noted that the Welsh Government has given a clear steer on its next steps, and the delayed timescale. Given that there have been two fairly comprehensive Welsh Government consultations, and there will be a Senedd election before any radical change goes live it’s not clear what more the Committee could do to take the petition further. In light of this Members agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to:

• share the correspondence received by the Unions with the Chair of the Finance Committee;
• encourage the unions, and original petitioners to take part in the Finance Committee’s consultation on the 25-26 budget in the autumn; and in doing so
• close the petition and thank the petitioner.

The Committee considered the petition and noted the debate that took place in the Chamber on 20 March.

Members agreed that the petitioners succeeded in ensuring a thorough debate was held in the Senedd and had the opportunity to challenge the Minister and be given a detailed explanation of the reasons why this can’t be done. In light of this Members agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner and all those who campaigned to restore sand on north shore in Llandudno.

Written Statement: Future of Farming in Wales (14 May 2024) | GOV.WALES

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs to establish whether small scale and market gardeners are represented on the Round table discussions and if not, how are their views being sought.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care for further clarity on the guidance being developed on the control and spending of direct payments and the role of third party intermediates or advocate within this system.

The Committee noted the strength of feeling regarding this issue as highlighted by the numbers in support of this petition. Members noted that the issue has been debated in the Senedd on 22 May, and the petitioner’s dissatisfaction with the Welsh Government’s change of approach and listening exercise.

In light of the change of approach and Welsh Government’s stance, it is clear that concerns regarding individual roads should made to the relevant local authority. Therefore, Members agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.

The Committee noted the debate that took place in the Senedd on 22 May and the Welsh Government’s change of approach and listening exercise. However, the 20mph policy will remain with concerns regarding individual roads being considered by the relevant local authority. Therefore, Members agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.