Concise Minutes - Petitions Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee Room 1 - Senedd

Meeting date: 19 January 2016

Meeting time: 09.06 - 10.15
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/3348

Attendance

Category	Names
Assembly Members:	William Powell AM (Chair) Elin Jones AM (In place of Bethan Jenkins AM) Joyce Watson AM
Committee Staff:	Steve George (Clerk) Kath Thomas (Deputy Clerk) Gill Eveleigh (Deputy Clerk) Katie Wyatt (Legal Adviser)

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Transcript

View the meeting transcript (PDF 182KB) View as HTML (147KB).

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1 Introduction, apologies and substitutions

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies were received from Bethan Jenkins and Russell George.

Elin Jones substituted for Bethan Jenkins in accordance with Standing Order 17.48.

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2 New petitions

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2.1 P-04-661 Prohibit Online Use and Electronic Voting by Assembly Members in the Chamber

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to forward the petitioners’ comments to the Presiding Officer and the Assembly Commission to seek their views.

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2.2 P-04-662 It is Hard to Conceive What Life Would Have Become Without my Support Worker

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to await the petitioner’s views on the Minister’s letter.

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2.3 P-04-663 Food in Welsh Hospitals

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to:

· The Minister for Health and Social Services seeking his response to the petitioner’s comments; and

· The Local Health Boards seeking their views on the issues raised by the petition.

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2.4 P-04-664 Develop Tynton Farm as a Visitor and Information Centre

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to await the petitioner’s views on the Minister’s letter.

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2.5 P-04-666 Democracy in Local Government

William Powell declared the following interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

He is a member of Powys County Council.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to:

· Ask the petitioner to consider responding to the consultation exercise on the draft Local Government (Wales) Bill so that his views can be taken into account in that process;

· Ask the Communities, Equalities and Local Government (CELG)  to take account of the petitioner’s views when they consider the draft Bill; and

· Close the petition.

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2.6 P-04-667 Roundabout for the A477/ A4075 Junction

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to the Minister seeking a response to the petitioners’ comments.  

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3 Updates to previous petitions

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3.1 P-04-365 Protect Buildings of Note on the Mid Wales Hospital Site

The Committee considered correspondence received from Brecon Beacons National Park Authority and agreed to write to them again to ask for an update on the situation.

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3.2 P-04-544 Ban the Shooting of Greenland White-fronted Geese

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to write to the Minister for Natural Resources to:

· welcome his response;

· ask that he informs the Committee of further details of the proposed consultation so that the petitioners can contribute to it; and

· seek assurances that the consultation will be a public consultation to ensure that all those who have an interest are given the opportunity to contribute.

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3.3 P-04-623 Improve the Provision of Disabled-friendly Housing in Wales

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to close the petition, given the constructive engagement taking place between the Minister and the petitioners.

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3.4 P-04-653 Ban the Use of Wild Animals in Circuses in Wales

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to close the petition as it has essentially achieved its purpose.

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3.5 P-04-500 Call For Regulation of Animal Welfare Establishments in Wales

· The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to close the petition given that the issues that prompted the original petition have been addressed by the relevant authorities.

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3.6 P-04-397 Living Wage

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed given the Government’s acceptance of the petition in principle; the steps being taken through the Workforce Partnership Council; and that the young people who were involved in submitting the petition are no longer involved; to close the petition. 

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3.7 P-04-631 Save Our Service- Large Animal Rescue in North Wales

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to close it.

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3.8 P-04-650 Scrap Local Government Councillors’ Salaries

William Powell declared the following interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

He is a member of Powys County Council.

The Committee considered correspondence from the Minister for Public Services and agreed to close the petition.

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3.9 P-04-468 Road Safety Concerns A48 Chepstow

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to write to the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport asking her to respond to the petitioners’ comments.

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3.10P-04-556 No to Junction 41 Closure

The Committee considered correspondence from the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport and agreed to await further comments from the petitioner.

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3.11P-04-657 Charging for Parking and the Relationship to High Streets and Their Success

The Committee considered correspondence from the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport and agreed to close the petition.

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3.12P-04-492 Diagnosis of Autism in Children

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and, given that the main aims of the petition have been achieved, agreed to close it.

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3.13P-04-523 Protect the Elderly and Vulnerable in Care Homes

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and, at the request of the petitioners, agreed to close the petition.

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3.14P-04-553 A Full and Independent Investigation in to the Health Risks of Wireless and Mobile Phone Technologies in Wales Including all Schools

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to forward the petitioners’ comments, along with the additional material provided, to the Minister and to ask her to share them with the PHE-CRCE, before deciding whether to close the petition. 

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3.15P-04-564 Restoration of Inpatient Beds, Minor Injuries Cover and X-Ray Unit to the Ffestiniog Memorial Hospital

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to share the petitioner’s comments with the Minister and then to consider closing the petition.

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3.16P-04-587 A Dedicated Support Team for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.),Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia Sufferers in South East Wales

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and, given that much of the action requested by the petition has been achieved, agreed:

· to close the petition; and

· in doing so, draw the petitioners’ comments to the Minister’s attention.

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3.17P-04-608  Inquiry into the Welsh NHS

The Committee considered correspondence from the Minister for Health and Social Services and agreed to close the petition.

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3.18P-04-638 Emergency Services - Power of Entry

The Committee considered correspondence from the Chief Executive of the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust and agreed to close the petition.

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3.19P-04-511 Support for Children and Young People Participation Standards

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition from the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty and from Children in Wales and agreed to:

· Close the petition; and

· In doing so, ask Children in Wales to respond to the petitioners’ latest comments.

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3.20P-04-643 Save Croeserw Flying Start

See agreed action under item 3.21.

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3.21P-04-645 Save Glyncorrwg Flying Start

The Committee considered correspondence from Action for Children relating to this petition and P-04-643 Save Croeserw Flying Start and agreed to close both petitions.

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3.22P-04-576 Allow Children in Wales to Have a Family Holiday During Term Time

See agreed action under item 3.23.

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3.23P-04-606 Ensure Schools Exercise Their Statutory Powers Under Regulation 7 of The Education (Pupil Registration) (Wales) Regulations 2010 Without Interference or Bias.

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to write to the Minister to thank him for his engagement so far and to ask to be kept up to date in respect of any responses, particularly from local authorities and regional consortia.

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3.24P-04-651 To Work to Protect Local Government When Determining the Budgets this Autumn

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to:

· Ask the Finance Committee to take account of the petitioners’ further points; and

· Close the petition.

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3.25P-04-656 Establishing a Conscientious Objectors Day in Wales

The Committee considered correspondence from the petitioner and agreed to write to the Presiding Officer and the First Minister in the terms requested by the petitioner.

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