Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 3 - Senedd. View directions

Contact: Graeme Francis 

Media

Senedd.TV: View the webcast

Transcript: Transcript for 15/11/2022 - Business Committee

Items
No. Item

1.

Introductions, apologies and substitutions

Minutes:

The Llywydd welcomed Members to the meeting.

2.

Minutes of the previous meeting

Minutes:

The Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed for publication.

3.

Organisation of Business

3.1

This week's business

Minutes:

There are no changes to this week’s government business.

 

  • Voting Time will take place as the last item of business.
  • Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.30pm.

 

Wednesday 

The Llywydd drew Business Managers’ attention to the following changes:

  • Motion to approve the Senedd Commission’s Budget for 2023-24 (30 mins) withdrawn and rescheduled for 23 November
  • Motions to elect Members to committees (5 minutes)

 

  • Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate.
  • Plenary is unlikely to run past 7.10pm. 

 

3.2

Three week timetable of Government Business

Minutes:

The Trefnydd drew Business Managers’ attention to the following changes:

 

Tuesday 22 November 2022

 

·         Statement by the Minister for Social Justice: Women’s Justice and Youth Justice Blueprints: Progress report and next steps (30 mins)

 

Tuesday 29 November 2022

 

·         The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (Amendment of Schedule 12 and Consequential Amendment) Regulations 2022 (15 mins)

·         The Marine, Fisheries and Aquaculture (Financial Assistance) Scheme (Wales) Regulations 2022 (15 mins)

 

3.3

Three week timetable of Senedd Business

Minutes:

Business Committee agreed to the following additions to the timetable:

 

Wednesday 23 November 2022

  • Debate on the Standards of Conduct Committee Report - Sixth Report to the Sixth Senedd under Standing Order 22.9 (15 mins)
  • Motion to approve the Senedd Commission’s Budget for 2023-24 (30 mins)rescheduled from 16 November

 

And to schedule the following items of business:

 

Wednesday 7 December 2022

  • Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal (30 mins)
  • Debate on the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee report: Report on operation of the interim environmental protection measures (30 mins)
  • Debate on the Petitions Committee report - Mark Allen’s Law - Water safety and drowning prevention (30 mins)
  • Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)

 

3.4

Member Debates: Selection of Motion for Debate

Minutes:

Business Committee considered the motions tabled and agreed to schedule the following motion for debate on 23 November:

 

Jenny Rathbone

NNDM8130

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes:

a) the publication of MIND Cymru’s Together Through Tough Times report;

b) that community resilience has a positive impact on good mental health.

2. Calls on Welsh Government to:

a) work with the voluntary and community sector to build resilient communities through:

(i) promoting social capital;

(ii) investing in community assets;

(iii) addressing barriers faced by certain groups;

b) include the role played by community assets and networks in any future mental health strategy.

Together through Tough Times

 

 

4.

Legislation

4.1

Update on LCMs

Minutes:

5.

Senedd Business

5.6

The effect of a Member leaving a political group on Committee representation and opposition time in Plenary

Minutes:

Business Committee considered the impact of Rhys ab Owen no longer being a member of the Plaid Cymru group in the Senedd on committees and plenary.

 

Business Committee agreed that the Plaid Cymru group should be invited to fill the vacancies that have arisen on committees, and to propose that the Senedd agrees the following nominations:

 

  • Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee -  Peredur Owen Griffiths;
  • Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee - Mabon ap Gwynfor;
  • Llywydd’s Committee - Llyr Gruffydd.

 

Business Committee also agreed to offer Rhys ab Owen a place on the Petitions Committee, subject to the agreement of the Senedd.

Business Committee agreed not to make any further changes to committee memberships, chairing or the allocation of time in Plenary at this time.

 

6.

Senedd Reform

6.1

Special Purpose Committee on Senedd Reform's recommendations: Business Committee decision aid

Minutes:

1.   The size of the Welsh Government in a larger Senedd (recommendation 4)

 

Business Committee discussed the evidence received and agreed, in principle, to conclude that Senedd Reform legislation should amend the current statutory provisions in the Government of Wales Act 2006 to provide for a different limit on the number of Welsh Ministers.

 

Business Committee agreed to return to a further discussion of the level of any minimum and/or maximum thresholds, and whether or not the legislation should include a range for the number of Welsh Ministers, at a subsequent meeting.

 

2.   The number of Deputy Presiding Officers in a larger Senedd

 

Business Committee concluded that Senedd Reform legislation should amend the current statutory provisions in the Government of Wales Act 2006 to provide for a limit of two Deputy Presiding Officers, instead of one as is currently the case.

 

Business Committee agreed to return to a further discussion on the matter of how the legislation should require there to be a political balance across the Llywydd and deputies, and which titles are used for those posts in the legislation.

 

3.   The number of Senedd Commissioners in a larger Senedd

 

Business Committee concluded that there should not be any change to the current statutory provisions on the number of Senedd Commissioners.

 

4.   The consequences of a Member changing their political party if elected through a closed proportional list system

 

Business Committee concluded that it would not recommend that the Senedd Reform legislation should introduce legislative consequences arising from a Member of the Senedd changing their political party between elections. Business Committee indicated that it would give further consideration to internal Senedd mechanisms relating to group membership when reviewing Standing Orders ahead of the next Senedd term.

 

 

6.2

Background paper: number of office holders

Minutes:

The Committee noted the paper.

6.3

Background paper: consequences of a Member changing their political party

Minutes:

The Committee noted the paper.