Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 1 - Senedd

Contact: Graeme Francis 

Media

Senedd.TV: View the webcast

Transcript: Transcript for 17/04/2018 - Petitions Committee - Fifth Senedd

Items
No. Item

1.

Introduction, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.  There were no apologies.

2.

New petitions

2.1

P-05-806 We call for all premises in Wales to be awarded an Access Certificate number similar to the Food Hygiene Certificate

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

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

·         undertake a short enquiry, scheduling oral evidence sessions later in the summer term; and

·         in the interim seek further written evidence from relevant stakeholders on the issues raised by the petition.

2.2

P-05-807 Review and change the guidance for attendance awards in Welsh schools

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

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

·         await the views of the petitioner on the response from the Cabinet Secretary for Education;

·         consider further action, including writing to Estyn, once the petitioner’s views have been received.

3.

Updates to previous petitions

3.1

P-04-399 Slaughter Practices

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the petition alongside P-04-433 CCTV in Slaughterhouses and agreed to write back to the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs to ask that the Welsh Government give further consideration to this issue in light of the recent announcement by the UK Government that it intends to make CCTV in slaughterhouses a mandatory requirement in England, and the commitment of the Scottish Government to run a public consultation on the issue.

3.2

P-04-433: CCTV in Slaughterhouses

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the petition alongside P-04-399 Slaughter Practices and agreed to write back to the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs to ask that the Welsh Government give further consideration to this issue in light of the recent announcement by the UK Government that it intends to make CCTV in slaughterhouses a mandatory requirement in England, and the commitment of the Scottish Government to run a public consultation on the issue.

 

3.3

P-05-759 Re-open the Cwmcarn Forest Drive at Easter 2018

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) together with further comments from the petitioner and agreed to maintain a watching brief on developments and request an update from the petitioners and NRW in six months’ time.

3.4

P-05-778 Protect the Razor Clams on Llanfairfechan Beach

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs together with further comments from the petitioner and agreed to write back to the Cabinet Secretary to ask:

·         that when the stock assessment contract is put out to tender, the remit should include the types, density, and overall health of razor clams as well as an assessment of the potential environmental effects of over fishing the clam beds; and

·         for more prominent and robust signage to be erected due to concerns expressed that the existing signage does not appear to be fit for purpose.

3.5

P-05-779 Compulsory scanning of domestic pets for microchips by councils

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered responses from five local authorities previously identified as not routinely scanning pet carcasses, together with further comments from the petitioners.  In light of a recent reference to another local authority in relation to this issue, Members agreed to seek further clarification about which local authorities do not scan pet carcasses with a view to potentially writing to the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, to suggest she issues further guidance on the matter.

 

 

3.6

P-05-785 Suspend Marine Licence 12/45/ML to dump radioactive marine sediments from the Hinkley Point nuclear site into Wales coastal waters off Cardiff

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and the petitioner and agreed to:

 

·         write to Cefas to seek their response to concerns over the testing methodology raised by the petitioners;

·         produce a summary report of the evidence received during the Committee’s consideration of the petition; and

·         seek time for a Plenary debate following publication of the report.

3.7

P-05-786 Save our Countryside - Revise TAN 1

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs together with further comments from the petitioner and agreed to:

·         write to the Cabinet Secretary to:

o   share the petitioner’s concerns about the impact of the application of TAN 1 on Local Development Plans, in the context of the current consultation on Draft Planning Policy Wales;

o   request further information about research into the issues with the determination of housing land supply referred to in her letter of 6 March; and 

·         schedule oral evidence sessions on the petition for later in the summer term.

3.8

P-04-519 Abolition of Park Homes Sales Commission

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered an update from the Minister for Housing and Regeneration and agreed to await an announcement following the report from independent analysts on the financial information shared by site owners before considering whether to take any further action on the petition.

3.9

P-04-522 Asbestos in Schools

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered an update from the Cabinet Secretary for Education together with further comments from the petitioner and agreed to request an update from the Cabinet Secretary once she has considered the responses to the school condition survey and the consultation with key stakeholders on Guidance on Management of Asbestos in Schools.

3.10

P-04-576 Allow Children in Wales to Have a Family Holiday During Term Time

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Neil McEvoy declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

 

He has received a letter about unauthorised absence from school.

 

The Committee considered this petition alongside P-04-606 Ensure schools exercise their statutory powers under regulation 7 of The Education (Pupil Registration) (Wales) Regulations 2010 without interference or bias, and agreed to await a copy of the evaluation of fixed penalty notices for regular non-attendance at school from the Cabinet Secretary for Education and for a further update on the wider review of attendance policy, as previously agreed.

3.11

P-04-606 Ensure schools exercise their statutory powers under regulation 7 of The Education (Pupil Registration) (Wales) Regulations 2010

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered this petition alongside P-04-576 Allow Children in Wales to Have a Family Holiday During Term Time, and agreed to await a copy of the evaluation of fixed penalty notices for regular non-attendance at school from the Cabinet Secretary for Education and for a further update on the wider review of attendance policy, as previously agreed.

 

3.12

P-04-564 Restoration of Inpatient Beds, Minor Injuries Cover and X-Ray Unit to the Ffestiniog Memorial Hospital

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Members considered responses to the Committee’s summary report on its consideration of the petition to date and agreed to close the petition, in view of its conclusion that the outstanding issues are best addressed through the local scrutiny processes that are ongoing.  In doing so, Members wished to thank the petitioner for his time and diligence throughout the Committee’s consideration of this matter.

3.13

P-05-754 Lack of support for children with disabilities at crisis

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence from Cwm Taf University Health Board, together with further comments from the petitioner, and agreed to write back to Cwm Taf UHB to request that they meet the petitioner to discuss her concerns about the support available and possible future care options, with a view to closing the petition once a meeting has taken place.

 

3.14

P-05-761 Demand Funding from the Welsh Government to Support Autism Spectrum Connections Cymru

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services, Cardiff and Vale Regional Partnership Board and the petitioner, and agreed to close the petition in light of the information received and because the Petitions Committee is not in a position to recommend that specific organisations should receive funding from the Welsh Government or others.

In doing so, Members wished to thank the petitioner for raising such an important matter through the petitions process.

 

3.15

P-05-771 Reconsider the closure of the Welsh Independent Living Grant and support disabled people to live independently

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence from the Minister for Children and Social Care together with further comments from the petitioner and agreed to:

 

·         seek written evidence about the closure of the Welsh Independent Living Grant from organisations that support disabled people; and

·         invite the petitioner and the Minister for Children and Social Care to give evidence to a future meeting.

3.16

P-05-731 Land & Access Lane Sale at Abercwmboi

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport together with further comments from the petitioner and agreed to:

·         write to the Cabinet Secretary to ask that the Government consults with any residents directly affected in the event that it does propose to sell the land; and

·         keep a watching brief.

4.

Motion under Standing Order 17.42 to resolve to exclude the public from the meeting for the following business:

Items 5 and 6

Minutes:

The motion was agreed.

5.

Consideration of Draft Report - Petitions P-04-472 Make the MTAN Law and P-04-575 Call in All Opencast Mining Planning Applications

Supporting documents:

5.1

P-04-472 Make the MTAN law

Minutes:

The report was agreed with some additional amendments.

 

5.2

P-04-575 Call in All Opencast Mining Planning Applications

Minutes:

The report was agreed with some additional amendments.

 

6.

Summary of Evidence - P-05-736 To Make Mental Health Services More Accessible

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a summary of the evidence received and agreed to seek further information from third sector mental health organisations about the issues raised by the petition and the evidence received to date.