Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the Committee. Mike Hedges AM was to substitute for Joyce Watson AM for the latter part of the meeting.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to:

•        the Minister for Local Government and Government Business;

•        the First Minister;

•        Fire Brigades Union; and

•        Fire authorities in Wales

seeking their views on the petition.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to the Minister write to:

·         the Minister for Housing and Regeneration; and

·         the Minister for Natural Resources and Food

seeking their views on the petition.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to:

·         the Minister for Natural Resources and Food; and

·         the Minister for Housing and Regeneration.

seeking their views on the petition.

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to write to the Minister welcoming his response and asking him to notify the Committee of:

·                     the structure and membership of the Task and Finish Group;

·                     whether the Minister would consider a nominee from Coed Cadw for the Task and Finish Group;

·                     the findings of the Task and Finish Group once it has completed its work and any resulting action plan.

The Committee also agreed to forward details of the petition and the Committee’s consideration of it to the Task and Finish Group.

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to write to:

·         the Minister to ask if he will consider working with Hitachi regarding the options for investing in clean coal technology in Wales; and

·         Hitachi regarding their work on developing clean coal technology.

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to write to:

• the Minister asking for his views on how the legislation and guidance around direct payments, which is to be rewritten as a consequence of the Social Care and Well-being (Wales) Bill, will improve the situation and also sharing the petitioner’s further comments on the on-going difficulties still being experienced; and
• Caerphilly Council regarding the concerns over the direct payment issue.

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to:

·         close the petition in light of the petitioner’s indication that the Committee may conclude its work and he will pursue other avenues following the Minister’s decision to endorse the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group recommendation not to recommend Pegvisomant; and

·         monitor the circulation of the Ministerial Statement on the next steps following the review of the appraisal of orphan and ultra orphan medicines in Wales.

The Committee considered correspondence on the petitions and agreed in the light of the petitioner’s comments to:

• write again to the acting Chief Executive of Betsi Cadwaladr seeking confirmation of the situation regarding minor injuries provision in GP practice in Tywyn; and
• Seek the petitioner’s views on the announcement by the Minister for Health and Social Services on the ‘study of the issues and opportunities suited to the specific needs of people living in Mid Wales’.

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to refer the petition to the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee to consider as part of their consideration of the draft ‘National Assembly for Wales (Disqualification) Order’.

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed that points 1, 2 and 4 of the petition had been overtaken by events and should not be pursued further and should be considered for closure.  However, before doing so, the Committee agreed to write to the Minster for Education and Skills about point 3, asking for a timeframe for the introduction of the all-Wales contract for FE lecturers.

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to close the petition in light of the Minister’s clear statement of government policy that local planning should determine local housing needs.

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed seek a legal briefing before proceeding further.

Carl Sargeant, Minister for Housing and Regeneration

Joanne Smith, Senior Planning Manager

Rosemary Thomas, Head of Planning

Carl Sargeant AM, supported by Joanne Smith and Rosemary Thomas answered questions from the Committee.

View the meeting transcript.