Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 1 - Senedd. View directions

Contact: Naomi Stocks 

Media

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Transcript: Transcript for 03/07/2019 - Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee - Fifth Senedd

Items
Expected timing No. Item

(09.00)

1.

Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

Minutes:

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

(9.00 - 10.00)

2.

Inquiry into benefits in Wales: options for better delivery - evidence session 6

Hannah Blythyn AM, Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government

Jo-Anne Daniels, Director of Communities & Tackling Poverty, Welsh Government

Linda Davis, Head of Tackling Poverty and DWP Relations, Welsh Government

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

2.1 The Committee received evidence from:

·       Hannah Blythyn AM, Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government

·       Jo-Anne Daniels, Director of Communities & Tackling Poverty, Welsh Government

·       Linda Davis, Head of Tackling Poverty and DWP Relations, Welsh Government

 

 

 

(10.00)

3.

Motion under Standing Order 17.42 to resolve to exclude the public from the meeting for items 4,8 and 9

Minutes:

3.1 The Committee agreed the motion.

 

(10.00 - 10.05)

4.

Inquiry into benefits in Wales: options for better delivery - consideration of evidence received

Minutes:

4.1 The Committee discussed the evidence received under item 2 and agreed to write to the Minister to ask for clarity on a number of issues.

(10.10 - 11.25)

5.

Inquiry into empty properties - evidence session 1

Leighton Evans, Carmarthenshire County Council 

Paula Livingstone, Swansea Council

Sion Wynne, Wrexham County Borough Council

Gaynor Toft, Ceredigion County Council

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

5.1 The Committee received evidence from:

·         Leighton Evans, Carmarthenshire County Council

·         Paula Livingstone, Swansea Council

·         Sion Wynne, Wrexham County Borough Council

·         Gaynor Toft, Ceredigion County Council

 

5.2 During the evidence session, the witnesses agreed:

·         To provide data on the location of empty properties within local authority areas and whether there is a link with areas of social deprivation.

·         To write to the Committee with further information on the effectiveness of the enforcement powers available to local authorities in dealing with empty properties.

(11.25 - 12.10)

6.

Inquiry into empty properties - evidence session 2

Lisa Hayward, Welsh Local Government Association

Dewi Morgan, Gwynedd Council

Deb Smith, Torfaen County Borough Council

Minutes:

6.1 The Committee received evidence from:

·       Lisa Haywood, Welsh Local Government Association

·       Dewi Morgan, Gwynedd Council

·       Deb Smith, Torfaen County Borough Council

(12.10- 12.15)

7.

Papers to note

7.1

Correspondence from Mark Isherwood AM regarding the Social Fund for funeral payments - 21 June 2019

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.1a The Committee noted the letter from Mark Isherwood AM regarding the Social Fund for funeral payments

7.2

Correspondence from the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales regarding the request for further information following annual scrutiny - 26 June 2019

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.2a The Committee noted the correspondence from the Future

Generations Commissioner for Wales regarding the request for further

information following annual scrutiny.

7.3

Inquiry into empty properties - survey analysis

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.3a The Committee noted the survey analysis on empty properties. 

(12.15 - 12.20)

8.

Inquiry into empty properties - consideration of evidence received

Minutes:

8.1 The Committee discussed the evidence received under items 5 and 6.

(12.20 - 12.30)

9.

Approach to follow up work into rough sleeping in Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

9.1 The Committee agreed the approach to the follow up work into rough sleeping in Wales.