Concise Minutes - Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee Room 1 - Senedd

Meeting date: Thursday, 6 February 2020

Meeting time: 09.00 - 12.33
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/5959

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Attendance

Category	Names
Assembly Members:	John Griffiths AM (Chair) Dawn Bowden AM Huw Irranca-Davies AM Mark Isherwood AM Delyth Jewell AM Caroline Jones AM
Witnesses:	Eleri Butler MBE, Welsh Women’s Aid Huw Rees, Performance Audit Manager, Wales Audit Office Philippa Dixon, Wales Audit Office Nick Selwyn, Wales Audit Office
Committee Staff:	Naomi Stocks (Clerk) Chloe Davies (Deputy Clerk) Hannah Johnson (Researcher) Stephen Davies (Legal Adviser)

<AI1>

1 Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill: consideration of key issues

1.1 The Committee considered and agreed its key issues.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2 Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

2.1 The Chair welcomed Members and members of the public to the meeting.

</AI2>

<AI3>

3 Post legislative inquiry into the Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015: follow-up work - evidence session 1

3.1 The Committee received evidence from:

· Eleri Butler, Chief Executive Officer, Welsh Women’s Aid

3.2 During the evidence session Welsh Women’s Aid agreed to provide:

· Further detail on suggested ways in which the Act could be adapted, following the introduction of a UK Domestic Abuse Bill.

· Information about recent pilot approaches which have focussed on prevention (for example Change that Lasts).

· Expand on how Welsh Government could improve provision for women with no recourse to public funds.

· A note on WWA’s vision for an outcomes framework structure.

· A note on opportunities for the Act to align with work relating to the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

· Expand on what the 2021 National Strategy should include, and what can be learnt from the last five years.

</AI3>

<AI4>

4 Post legislative inquiry into the Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015: follow-up work - evidence session 2

4.1 The Committee received evidence from:

· Huw Rees, Audit Director, Wales Audit Office

· Philippa Dixon, Senior Auditor, Wales Audit Office

· Nick Selwyn, Audit Manager, Wales Audit Office

4.2 During the evidence session the Wales Audit Office agreed to provide:

· A copy of their December 2018 report on the use of data.

· Further information on the Resilient Families programme in Rhondda Cynon Taff.

</AI4>

<AI5>

5 Paper(s) to note

</AI5>

<AI6>

5.1 Update from the National Advisers for Violence against Women, Gender-based Violence, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (December 2019)

5.1.a The Committee noted the update from the National Advisers for Violence against Women, Gender-based Violence, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (December 2019).

</AI6>

<AI7>

5.2 Written submission from the NSPCC Wales in relation to the post legislative inquiry into the Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015

5.2.a The Committee noted the written submission from the NSPCC Wales in relation to the post legislative inquiry into the Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015.

</AI7>

<AI8>

5.3 Written submission from the Gwent VAWDASV Partnership Board in relation to the post legislative inquiry into the Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015

5.3.a The Committee noted the written submission from the Gwent VAWDASV Partnership Board in relation to the post legislative inquiry into the Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015.

</AI8>

<AI9>

5.4 Letter from the First Minister to the Llywydd in relation to the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill

5.4.a The Committee noted the letter from the First Minister to the Llywydd in relation to the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill.

</AI9>

<AI10>

6 Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting

6.1 The Committee agreed the motion.

</AI10>

<AI11>

7 Post legislative inquiry into the Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015: follow up work - consideration of evidence

7.1 The Committee discussed the evidence received.

</AI11>

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