Agenda and minutes

Due to technical difficulties experienced by witnesses joining the meeting virtually from Wrexham, the start of the meeting was delayed by 25 minutes.

Apologies were received from Luke Fletcher and Vaughan Gething, there was no substitute.

There were no declarations of interest at the start of the meeting.

Panel 1: Wrexham Council & Natural Resources Wales

Natural Resources Wales:

• Sara Pearson, Operations Manager
• James McClymont, Industry and Waste Regulation Team Leader

Wrexham Council:

• Cllr Hugh Jones – Lead Member for Planning and Public Protection
• Charlie Pope – North Wales Minerals and Waste Planning Service
• Toby Zorn, Environmental Health & Housing Standards Team Lead

The Committee heard evidence from Sara Pearson and James McClymont of Natural Resources Wales, as well as Councillor Hugh Jones, Charlie Pope, and Toby Zorn from Wrexham Council.

Panel 2: Enovert

• Mark Silvester, Chief Executive Officer
• Ian Craven, Regional Manager

The Committee heard evidence from Mark Silvester and Ian Craven of Enovert.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write directly to British Transport Police to request updated data on anti-social behaviour at this location, and to ask whether the situation has improved since the petition was submitted in January. The petition will remain open pending a response.

The Committee considered the petition and noted that, although the details of the new plan for nursing provision are not known yet, the issue will be under scrutiny in the relevant Senedd subject committees. The petitioner should be congratulated on the success of their campaign to keep the nursing programme open. The Committee thanked the petitioner and agreed to close the petition.

Joel James MS declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A: he learned Portuguese at the centre for lifelong learning at the university.

The Committee considered the petition and noted developments since it had opened, and that the issue remains  under review by the Senedd’s Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee.

In light of that ongoing scrutiny, Members agreed to close the petition and thanked the petitioner for bringing the matter forward.

The Committee considered the petition and welcomed the work already undertaken to address safety concerns. Members agreed to raise the petitioner’s additional comments and questions with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales and to keep the petition open pending a response.

The Committee considered the petition and noted that it was clear from theWelsh Government’s response that it is not going to change its position. In light of this, the Committee agreed there was nothing further it could do but to thank the petitioner and close the petition.

Additionally, it was noted that the response had come from the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice rather than the First Minister even though responsibility for the Wales for Africa Programme had moved to the First Minister’s portfolio. Concerns were raised about accountability and the ability to scrutinise this issue as a result of this change, and the Committee agreed to write to the First Minister about this.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to raise it with the Food Standards Agency, requesting a response to the petitioner’s specific concerns and information on any additional actions that could be taken.

Additionally, it was noted that Becky Gittins MP has been actively working in Westminster on food labelling and allergies, and it was agreed to put the petitioner in touch with her to support efforts to raise the profile of this issue.

The Committee considered the petition, noting that the issue was a subject of frequent Senedd debate. Joel James MS expressed disappointment with the Cabinet Secretary’s response in light of the financial reserves held by some Welsh local authorities. The Committee agreed there was little more it could do on the issue, and to thank the petitioner and close the petition.

The Committee considered the petition. Rhys ab Owen MS noted that the issue was raised from time to time but that the Welsh Language Measure 2011 was in place. On this basis, there was no scope for the Committee to do anything more other than to thank the petitioner and close the petition.

Joel James MS echoed a concern raised by the petitioner about motorway safety, which had previously been raised in the Siambr, and agreed to raise this with the Cabinet Secretary in a personal capacity.

Members agreed to close the petition.

The Committee considered this petition alongside the following agenda item – P-06-1380 – noting  ongoing work on Blue Badge eligibility and the survey from STAND North Wales CIC which also raised the issue of hidden disabilities. It was agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretaries for Transport and Social Justice, as it was also a social justice issue, to highlight both petitions and  share the survey results with them. Both petitions would be kept open pending a response.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed that significant outstanding concerns remain, as highlighted in STAND North Wales’ survey findings. Members agreed to keep the petition open, share the survey findings with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, and the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip, and to request an update. The petition would be kept open pending a response.

The Committee also expressed thanks to STAND North Wales, the parents, and everyone involved in contributing to this work.

In addition, it was agreed to forward the survey findings to the Welsh Local Government Association.

The Committee considered the petition again following the plenary debate held in July, noting that campaigners were present in the gallery for the discussion. The Chair noted that the Task and Finish Group meeting had been postponed, as the Deputy First Minister had strong reasons for being unable to attend and wished to Chair the group’s first meeting. Members agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary to request clarification on when the group is expected to meet and would keep the petition open.

The paper was noted.

The paper was noted.

The paper was noted.

The paper was noted.

The paper was noted.

The paper was noted.

Members noted the paper and agreed to write to the Welsh Government to seek an update on implementing recommendations accepted in the predecessor Petitions Committee’s report on petition P-05-784 Prescription drug dependence and withdrawal - recognition and support.

The motion was agreed.

Members considered the evidence heard on Petition P-06-1510 Direct NRW to revoke the environmental permit and ensure the closure of Enovert’s, Hafod Landfill Site in Wrexham. It was agreed to consider all the evidence received and produce a report with the Committee’s thoughts.