Agenda and minutes

1.1.      The Chair welcomed Members to the meeting of the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee.

1.2.      In accordance with Standing Order 34.19, the Chair stated that he had determined that the public were excluded from the Committee’s meeting in order to protect public health.

1.3.      The Chair stated that if for any reason he dropped out of the meeting, the Committee agreed that Dawn Bowden MS would become Temporary Chair in accordance with Standing Order 17.22.

Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Finance and Trefnydd

Julie James MS, Minister for Housing and Local Government

Hannah Blythyn MS, Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government

Judith Cole, Deputy Director Local Government Finance & Workforce Partnership Division

Emma Williams, Director of Housing and Regeneration, Welsh Government

Ian Williams, Deputy Director, Homes and Places, Welsh Government

Debra Carter, Deputy Director, Local Government Strategic Finance, Welsh Government

2.1. The Committee received evidence from:

Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Finance and Trefnydd

Julie James MS, Minister for Housing and Local Government

Hannah Blythyn MS, Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government

Judith Cole, Deputy Director Local Government Finance & Workforce Partnership Division

Emma Williams, Director of Housing and Regeneration, Welsh Government

Ian Williams, Deputy Director, Homes and Places, Welsh Government

Debra Carter, Deputy Director, Local Government Strategic Finance, Welsh Government

2.2. During the evidence session the Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government agreed to provide:

·         Updates on decision-making for the Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF) and forecasted demand on the fund;

·         Examples of improvement works carried out by local authorities and town and community councils in response to the pandemic that are likely to have long term positive effects for the communities;

·         Updates to the Committee on the work between the Ministerial Town Centre Action Group and local authorities and town and community councils that aims to create local supply chains using small businesses.

Jane Hutt MS, Deputy Minister and Chief Whip

Alyson Francis, Deputy Director of Communities Division, Welsh Government

Sian Gill, Head of Financial Reporting, Welsh Government

3.1. The Committee received evidence from:

Jane Hutt MS, Deputy Minister and Chief Whip

Alyson Francis, Deputy Director of Communities Division, Welsh Government

Sian Gill, Head of Financial Reporting, Welsh Government

4.1.a. The Committee noted the correspondence from the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip - safer streets and disability equality.

4.2.a. The Committee noted the correspondence from the Minister for Housing and Local Government - Renting Homes (Amendment) (Wales) Bill: Stage 3.

5.1. The Committee agreed the motion.

6.1. The Committee considered the evidence to inform its draft report.