Meeting Venue:
Committee Room 1 - Senedd and Zoom
Meeting date: 19 June 2025
Meeting time: 10.32 - 12.16
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Category |
Names |
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Committee Members: |
Elin Jones MS, Llywydd (Chair) Paul Davies MS Heledd Fychan MS Jane Hutt MS |
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Committee Staff: |
Alun Davidson (Clerk) Beth Hales (Deputy Clerk) |
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Officials: |
Bethan Davies, Head of Chamber and Committee Service Julian Luke, Head of Policy and Legislation Committee Service Helen Finlayson, Clerk for Legislative Procedural Review Lisa Griffiths, Procedures Clerk Adam Vaughan, Second Clerk Josh Hayman, Research Catrin Davies, Welsh Government Anthony Cooper, Welsh Labour Jennifer Ramsay, Welsh Conservatives Francess Ifans, Plaid Cymru |
The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting. Apologies were received from Jane Dodds and David Rees.
The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed.
The Business Committee considered the papers relating to Standing Order thresholds and the recommendations made by the Future Senedd Committee previously.
Members discussed the threshold for political groups and groupings and agreed to return to this at a future meeting.
It was agreed that, for the purposes of the Business Committee’s procedural work programme, a threshold of five members for political groups and groupings can be assumed for the time being.
A final decision on the threshold for political groups and groupings will not be sought until further consideration has been given to wider implications, and consultation with political groups has taken place.
The Business Committee agreed all other Standing Order threshold changes recommended by the Future Senedd Committee.
The proposed changes to Standing Orders were agreed, subject to some minor amendments.
The Llywydd noted the need to undertake an editorial review of Standing Orders towards the end of the Business Committee’s procedural work programme, given the number of changes that are likely to be proposed to Standing Orders.
Paul Davies said that whilst the Welsh Conservative group did not agree with the proposed model of committee chair job sharing, as the Welsh Conservative group prefers a Chair and Vice Chair model, they recognised the majority in favour of the proposals and would work constructively to develop them.
The Business Committee agreed the proposals for a trial of committee chair job sharing, and that the temporary Standing Orders needed to implement a trial should limit the trial to a maximum of three committees.
The Trefnydd did not agree the recommended options proposed in the accompanying paper, and proposed alternative options.
Members agreed that further discussions should be held between Senedd Commission and Welsh Government officials before returning to this item at a future meeting.
The Business Committee agreed to publish the evidence presented, alongside a letter received from the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery.
Paul Davies gave his apologies for the next meeting on Thursday 26 June 2025. Darren Millar will attend the meeting as substitute.
The Business Committee agreed that the next meeting would be held virtually.