Meeting Venue:
Committee Room 1 - Senedd
Meeting date: Tuesday, 9 January 2018
Meeting time: 09.03 - 10.55
This meeting can
be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/4521
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|
Category |
Names |
|
Assembly Members: |
David J Rowlands AM (Chair) Rhun ap Iorwerth AM Janet Finch-Saunders AM Mike Hedges AM Neil McEvoy AM |
|
Witnesses: |
David Carlin, Cefas Adam Cooper, Natural Resources Wales Kins Leonard, Cefas John Wheadon, Natural Resources Wales |
|
Committee Staff: |
Graeme Francis (Clerk) Kayleigh Imperato (Deputy Clerk) Kath Thomas (Deputy Clerk) Claire O'Sullivan (Legal Adviser) Chloe Corbyn (Secretariat) |
The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. There were no apologies.
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to await the views of the petitioner on the response from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services, before deciding what action to take on the petition.
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to:
· Ceredigion County Council to seek their views on the issues raised by the petition and ask what assessment they have made of the safety of children accessing school buses at this location; and
· The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure to ask, given that the three year Speed Limit Review includes over 600 sites, how the Welsh Government intends to prioritise the work of that Review.
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to:
· BT to highlight the frustrations of the petitioners and ask for clarity over the plans and timescales for connecting properties in Llangenny to broadband; and
· The Leader of the House, to share the concerns raised by the petitioners.
The Committee considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Education together with further comments from the petitioner and agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary to ask:
· the questions proposed by the petitioner, including over the consultation on revised asbestos management in schools guidance planned for early 2018; and
· that she ensures that all Local Authorities respond fully to the school condition survey report.
The Committee considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, together with comments received from the petitioner after the papers had been published, and agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary to seek his response to the petitioner’s comments and, in doing so, express their strong concerns that previous commitments to resurfacing the road have not been delivered.
The Committee considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure and agreed to write back to ask, given that the three year Speed Limit Review includes over 600 sites, how the Welsh Government intends to prioritise the work of that Review.
The Committee considered correspondence from the WLGA and agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport to ask what policy work has been undertaken to explore whether it is possible to strengthen current requirements so that:
· children travelling to and from school on all buses should have a seat and a seat belt;
· all drivers should have relevant DBS checks;
· all buses should be fit for purpose.
In doing so, Members noted that they fully sympathised with the petition and share the ambition for dedicated, purpose-designed, school buses for school children, they recognised that it may not be possible for this policy ambition to be realised at this time.
The Committee considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport, together with further comments from the petitioner, and agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary to ask:
· given that the three year Speed Limit Review includes over 600 sites, how the Welsh Government intends to prioritise the work of that Review.
· for further information about how communities can be included in the three year Speed Limit Review.
Members considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport and agreed to close the petition in light of the confirmation received that the iron ring artwork will not go ahead. In doing so, Members wished to congratulate the petitioners on the success of the campaign.
Members considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure and agreed to await the views of the petitioners on that response before deciding whether to take any further action on the petition.
Members considered correspondence from RSPCA Cymru and agreed:
The Committee considered correspondence from Natural Resources Wales and agreed to await the views of the petitioner before considering further action on the petition.
David Rowlands declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:
He attended a previous meeting between Natural Resources Wales and the petitioners and will be attending a future meeting planned for the Spring.
Members considered correspondence from Natural Resources Wales together with further comments from the petitioners and agreed to request an update from NRW following the public meeting planned for spring 2018, especially in relation to progress made in discussions with the Welsh Government over possible funding options and the planned feasibility study with Caerphilly Council.
The Committee considered correspondence from Cardiff Council and agreed to await the views of the petitioner and ask her to provide an update following any direct discussions she has with Cardiff Council.
The Committee considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs together with comments received from the petitioner and agreed to write to the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee to ask whether they intend to undertake any post-legislative scrutiny of the Building Regulations &c. (Amendment No. 3) and Domestic Fire Safety (Wales) Regulations 2013 during this Assembly.
The Committee considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs together with comments from the petitioner and agreed to write to the local authorities who do not currently routinely scan pet carcasses and ask for details of their current policies and whether they have considered the practicalities of introducing routine scanning. The Committee also indicated that it may wish to close the petition following the receipt of responses.
The Committee considered correspondence from the petitioner and agreed to close the petition given that the proposed location for a new major trauma centre is expected to be put out to public consultation and to encourage the petitioner to provide his views to this.
The Committee considered correspondence from the petitioner and agreed to write to the Welsh Government to ask for further information on the decision making process it will undertake in relation to the sale of the land, should the Ministry of Justice obtain planning permission for the construction of a prison.
The Committee heard evidence from Natural Resources Wales and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS).
The motion was agreed.
The Committee considered the evidence received in previous sessions and agreed to write to Natural Resources Wales to: