Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

There were no apologies. 

Carolyn Thomas MS declared a relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A in relation to Item 3.3 as the lead petitioner was her employee.

The Committee considered the petition and expressed sympathy with the petitioner regarding the difficulties experienced in accessing GP services. However, it noted that this matter is likely to be addressed in the Seventh Senedd, following the Health and Social Care Committee’s forthcoming report on GP services, which is due to be published before the end of the current Senedd term. In light of this, the Committee agreed to thank the petitioner for raising the issue and to close the petition.

The Committee considered the petition, one of several relating to ALN it had addressed during this Senedd term and a topic of considerable work by the Children, Young People and Education Committee. Members noted that forthcoming policy developments, including the revision of the ALN Code, would prompt early scrutiny in the new term. In light of this, and with the issue to be identified as a priority in the legacy report for the Seventh Senedd, it was agreed to close the petition.

The Committee considered the petition and noted the additional comments and questions submitted by the petitioner. Members agreed to forward these to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs and to share any response with the petitioner. The Committee also noted that lead responsibility on the matter rested with Pembrokeshire Council and hoped that the issue would be progressed locally and a solution found. The Chair acknowledged the question of shared responsibilities, and consideration of flood management issues by the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee of which she was a member. Following discussion the Committee agreed to thank the petitioner and close the petition.

The Committee considered the petition and noted that raising these issues highlighted the importance of this type of care. However, Members acknowledged the sensitivity around discussing a specific location, as this was an operational matter for the local health board and involved assessing local need in consultation with the community. In light of this, the Committee agreed to thank the petitioner and close the petition.

The Committee considered the petition, expressing sympathy with the petitioners and acknowledging their concerns and the significant attention the petition had brought to the issue. It was noted that it was an ongoing issue subject to local consultation and decision-making. The Committee agreed to write to the health board with the petitioners’ questions to seek clarification on the consultation timing, fairness, and whether alternative arrangements had been properly considered. The correspondence would be shared with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care. Having done so, the Committee agreed to thank the petitioners for raising the issue and close the petition.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to forward the further comments received from Merched Cymru to the Cabinet Secretary for Education for her information. Having done so, Members agreed to thank the petitioner for raising the issues and to close the petition.

The Committee thanked the petitioner for highlighting such an important issue, Members noted that, although not called ‘Martha’s Rule’, the Wales-specific Call4Concern follows the same principles and aims.

Members agreed to write to the Health and Social Care Committee and ask that the issue be highlighted in its legacy report, with a view to the successor Health Committee in the Seventh Senedd undertaking a review of the rollout of Call4Concern, after 12 months, including consulting not just health boards but also Llais: to see how complaints and escalations are handled, to check on how consistently it is being applied and the experience of patients and families, and assess what improvements have emerged as early learning. The Committee was grateful to the petitioner for raising patient safety issues and helping highlight the rollout of the Call4Concern escalation system in Welsh hospitals, and agreed to close the petition.

The Committee noted that the petition had recently exceeded the 10,000-signature threshold. However, in light of how close it was to the end of the Senedd term, it agreed it would be better to keep the petition open and refer it to the Seventh Senedd to receive the attention it deserved and allow a successor committee to request a debate at an early stage. This decision would be noted in the Committee’s legacy report. It was also agreed to write to the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport and International Relations Committee, and ask that it also highlight the issue in its own legacy report, with a view to the successor culture committee taking a detailed look at the current rules, how they're dealt with, what changing them would look like, and what it means for the current cohort of students looking to start this autumn, as well as seeking a sustainable answer for future years.

The Committee considered the petition and noted that the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs had called in 12 applications that had been frozen since March 2023. The Committee agreed to ask the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs whether an updated Technical Advice Note on agricultural development will be issued, and for a general update on the issues raised covering river water quality, animal welfare, and sustainable food production, with the response to be shared with the petitioner. Members noted that this is an ongoing issue that future committees will need to consider, and that NRW has a significant responsibility to ensure waste is disposed of correctly. The Committee agreed to keep the petition open for the time being to refer to the successor committee for handling petitions in the Seventh Senedd.

The Committee considered the petition and noted that it has been raised several times and remains a real concern. Members noted the Minister’s response outlining what has been done and further work needed, and recognised the petitioner’s concerns about a lack of detail and perception of a lack of urgency. The Committee agreed to keep the petition open and refer it for follow up in the next Senedd.

Carolyn Thomas MS declared a relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A in relation to Item 3.3 as the lead petitioner was her employee.

The Committee considered the petition and noted it was a worrying issue for the park home residents. It was agreed to keep the petition open and refer it to the successor Committee for handling petitions in the Seventh Senedd, with a view to that committee either writing to the Minister responsible for water reform - to ask what immediate regulatory action or measures can be taken – or for there to be further Ministerial scrutiny. Members also agreed to write to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs to highlight, as part of the Water Reform Green Paper consultation, the petitioner’s views and recommendation that park home residents have their own water meters.

The Committee considered the petition again following debate, noting the views on the decision made by the Board, and the difficult choices required on where and how health services should be provided to deliver the best outcomes for patients. There was confidence that the issue would continue to be subject to scrutiny and challenge, but it was agreed that there was no further action available to the Committee. The petitioners’ additional comments would be highlighted with the Health Board, the Cabinet Secretary, and the Health and Social Care Committee. In agreeing to close the petition, the petitioners’ persistence in campaigning on this issue was recognised.

The Committee discussed the petition, expressing sympathy for the petitioner and differing views on future action. It was noted that there was ongoing involvement from local government and Welsh Government, and that decisions about local funding and regional development, including related to Llanbedr airfield, were for the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee. In light of this, the Committee agreed to close the petition and thanked the petitioner for their campaigning, noting that they could continue to raise the issue with the CJC to ensure it remained a high priority.

The Committee considered the petition and noted that the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government had confirmed Hirwaun was the only area in Wales affected by RAAC in social housing. Members also noted the positive correspondence between the petitioner and the Cabinet Secretary, who had raised the issue with the Housing Minister at Westminster. In light of this, the Committee agreed to thank the petitioner and close the petition.

Members noted the paper. 

Members noted the paper.

Members noted the paper.

The procedural motion was agreed.