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.

Julie James MS, Minister for Housing and Local Government

Reg Kilpatrick, Director General, COVID-19 Crisis Coordination, Welsh Government

Emma Williams, Director, Housing and Regeneration, Welsh Government

Claire Bennett, Director, Communities and Tackling Poverty, Welsh Government

2.1. The Committee received evidence from:

·         Julie James MS, Minister for Housing and Local Government

·         Emma Williams, Director, Housing and Regeneration, Welsh Government

·         Claire Bennett, Director, Communities and Tackling Poverty, Welsh Government

Jane Hutt MS, Deputy Minister and Chief Whip

Alyson Francis, Deputy Director of Communities Division, 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

3.2. During the evidence session, the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip agreed to provide:

·         a list of the accessible communications group’s members;

·         the deadline for the violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence (VAWDASV) sustainable funding group to agree the sustainable funding model.

4.1.a. The Committee noted the letter from the Minister for Housing and Local Government to all Committee Chairs in relation to the National Development Framework.

4.2.a. The Committee noted the correspondence from the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd to the Llywydd in relation to the Coronavirus Act 2020 (Residential Tenancies: Protection from Eviction) (Wales) Regulations 2020.

4.3.a. The Committee noted the additional information from the Welsh Government in relation to the Renting Homes (Amendment) (Wales) Bill.

4.4.a. The Committee noted the letter from the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip in relation to the Legislative Consent Memorandum: Domestic Abuse Bill.

4.5.a. The Committee noted the letter from the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee in relation to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

5.1. The Committee agreed the motion.

6.1. The Committee discussed the evidence received and agreed to write to the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip in relation to matters raised during the session.

7.1. The Committee discussed the response from the Welsh Government and agreed to write a joint response with the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee.