SCECLB21-P Abergavenny Town Council
What are your views on the general principles of the Bill and
the need for legislation to deliver the Welsh Government’s
stated policy objective (to make the Senedd a more effective
legislature by ensuring it is broadly representative of the gender
make-up of the population)?
We agree in principle with the general aim
which is to make the Senedd a more effective legislature by
ensuring it is broadly representative of the gender make up of the
population. The Council unanimously consider that future actions
should be based on achievements in recent times and not on new
legislation.
What are your views on the system of enforcement and potential
sanctions for non-compliance proposed in the Bill?
Are there any potential barriers to the implementation of the
Bill’s provisions? If so, what are they, and are they
adequately taken into account in the Bill and the accompanying
Explanatory Memorandum and Regulatory Impact Assessment?
Are any unintended consequences likely to arise from the
Bill?
Unintended consequences would be that a rigid
closed list system could discourage younger people from engaging in
the democratic process. The closed list system may also discourage
participation in voting.
What are your views on the Welsh Government’s assessment
of the financial and other impacts of the Bill?
What are your views on the balance between the information
contained on the face of the Bill and what is left to subordinate
legislation? Are the powers for Welsh Ministers to make subordinate
legislation appropriate?
Do you have any views on matters relating to the legislative
competence of the Senedd including compatibility with the European
Convention on Human Rights?
Do you have any views on matters related to the quality of the
legislation, or to the constitutional or other implications of the
Bill?
The closed list system is likely to limit
participation across all demographics of society, in particular,
the inability of the electorate to influence the make-up of the
Senedd between elections, and the lack of democratic process to
fill any vacancies that arise.
Are there any other issues that you would like to raise about
the Bill and the accompanying Explanatory Memorandum or any related
matters?
Anything else?
Abergavenny Town Council unanimously agreed on
the comments submitted for this consultation process, across all
parties.