Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 1 - Senedd

Contact: Naomi Stocks  Deputy Clerk: Kayleigh Driscoll

Media

Senedd.TV: View the webcast

Items
Expected timing No. Item

Transcript

View the meeting transcript.

9.00

1.

Introduction, apologies and substitutions

Minutes:

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

 

9.00 - 9.30

2.

New petitions

2.1

P-04-459 A direct rail connection from Cardiff Airport to Cardiff central and west Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

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

 

·         the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport; and

·         the Chair of Enterprise and Business Committee seeking their views on the petition.

 

2.2

P-04-460 Lives not Airports

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

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

 

·         the Minister for Health; and

·         Welsh Health Special Services Committee (WHSSC) seeking their views on the petition.

2.3

P-04-461 Save Ponty Paddling Pool

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

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

 

·         seek a legal briefing on the petition; and

·         write to Rhondda Cynon Taf Council to ask why the paddling pool has not been included in the redevelopment plans.

2.4

P-04-462 Ban the flying of Union flags from official Welsh buildings

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to the First Minister seeking his views on the petition and asking what the current Welsh Government policy is on flags.

 

 

 

2.5

P-04-463 Reduction of Salt Levels in Food

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to seek a legal briefing.

2.6

P-04-464 Make Wenglish a recognised official language in Wales like Scots is in Scotland!

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and decided not to take the petition forward, and close the petition.

2.7

P-04-465 Save Welsh Milk, its infrastructure & its jobs

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to the Minister for Natural Resources and Food seeking his views on the petition.

2.8

P-04-466 Medical Emergency - Preventing the introduction of a poorer Health Service for North Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board seeking their views on the petition, copying in the Minister for Health and the Health and Social Care Committee.

 

2.9

P-04-467 January exams

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to the Minister for Education seeking his views on the petition.

 

2.10

P-04-468 Speed Reduction on the A48 in Chepstow

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport seeking her views on the petition.

 

9.30 - 10.45

3.

Updates to previous petitions

3.1

P-04-333 Stop neglect and abandonment of horses and ponies by enforcement of microchipping laws

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

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

 

·         the Minister for Natural Resources and Food asking that the Committee are kept updated with the consultation findings; and

·         the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to raise concerns about the discontinuation of the National Equine Database.

3.2

P-04-383 Against NVZ Designation for Llangorse Lake

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

In light of the lack of response from the petitioner the Committee agreed to close the petition.

3.3

P-04-390 Designate Penrhos Holyhead Nature reserve (coastal park) a National reserve

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to close the petition as the site doesn’t meet criteria to be designated a National Nature Reserve.

3.4

P-04-399 Slaughter Practices

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to write to the Minister for Natural Resources and Food asking for clarification on the timeframe for revisiting the issue, and that the Committee is kept updated with developments.

3.5

P-04-417 Save Morfa Beach and Prevent the Closure of Public Footpaths 92 and 93

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to write to Neath Port Talbot Council highlighting the petitioner’s concerns about the Closure Order, and asking when they expect the Planning Inspectorate to make a decision on the Orders.

3.6

P-04-422 Fracking

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

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

 

·         the Minister for Minister for Housing and Regeneration highlighting the Welsh Local Government Association’s concerns about a lack of guidance in relation to fracking; and

·         the Environment and Sustainability Committee asking to be kept updated with their consideration of the issue.

 

3.7

P-04-433 CCTV in Slaughterhouses

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to write to the Minister for Natural Resources and Food asking that the Committee be kept updated with developments on this issue.

 

 

3.8

P-04-439 Ancient veteran and heritage trees of Wales to be given greater protection

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to write to Natural Resources Wales asking how they plan to address the issues raised by the petition.

3.9

P-04-445 Save our Welsh cats & dogs from death on the roads

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to write to the Companion Animal Welfare Council seeking their views on the petition.

 

3.10

P-04-346 Free Childcare for 3-4 Year Olds in Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to write to the Minister for Education asking that the Committee be kept updated with the pilot, and highlighting that the petition was raised by parents from the Vale of Glamorgan.

3.11

P-04-437 Opposing compulsory registration for home educating children

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to await the publication of the consultation analysis.

3.12

P-04-443 Welsh History

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to seek the petitioner’s views on the ministerial correspondence.

3.13

P-04-362 Ambulance Services in Monmouth

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to await the findings of the review.

3.14

P-04-395 Wales Air Ambulance should receive government funding

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and in light of the petitioner’s response agreed to close the petition.

3.15

P-04-367 Save our Hospital Services

Supporting documents:

3.16

P-04-394 Save our Services – Prince Philip Hospital

Supporting documents:

3.17

P-04-430 Proposed closure of Tenby Minor Injuries Unit

Supporting documents:

3.18

P-04-431 Against Health Cuts from the Residents of Pembrokeshire

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee agreed to consider P-04-367, P-04-394, P-04-430 and P-04-431 together.

 

The Chair placed on record that he and Joyce Watson attended a meeting at the invitation of Llanelli Town Council and Llanelli Rural Council on Thursday 14 March alongside the Assembly Member for Llanelli and the other two Mid & West Wales Regional AMs to share their perspectives on the Hywel Dda LHB reconfiguration proposals and the recent CHC referral of those proposals to the Minister for Health.

 

The Committee considered correspondence on each of the petitions and agreed to write to;

 

·         Mark Drakeford in his new role as Health Minister, alerting him of the petitions, and highlighting concerns about the timeframe given to Hywel Dda Community Health Council.

·         each individual lead petitioner, advising them that Hywel Dda Community Health Council have been asked to submit more information to the Welsh Government by 5 April. 

3.19

P-04-400 NICE Quality Standard in Mental Health

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to write to the Minister for Health highlighting Hafal and Mind Cymru’s concerns about Part Two of the Mental Health Measure and Welsh involvement in the development of NICE standards.

3.20

P-04-440 Say NO to Asset Stripping Bronllys Hospital

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to write to Brecknock & Radnor Community Health Council sharing the petitioner’s correspondence and seeking their views on the petition.

 

The Committee also noted the readiness of Andrew Cottom, CEO of Powys LHB to attend a scrutiny session on this petition. In those circumstances the lead petitioner would also be invited to set out his case.

3.21

P-04-451 Save the Royal Glamorgan Hospital Services

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to write to Cwm Taf Local Health Board asking that this petition is considered as part of the consultation on service reconfiguration.

3.22

P-03-263 List Stradey Park

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to:

 

·         seek the petitioners views on the ministerial correspondence; and

·         write to the Minister for Culture and Sport asking that the petitioners are included in any consultation on the forthcoming Heritage Bill.

 

3.23

P-04-322 A call to revise Cadw’s hold upon churches in Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to await further updates on the work of the Task and Finish Group.

3.24

P-04-365 Protect buildings of note on the Mid Wales Hospital site

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to write to the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority asking whether the site has been included, once the local list has been agreed.

3.25

P-04-381 Restoration for North Wales Hospital

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and In light of the on-going work by Denbighshire County Council to protect the building, agreed to close the petition.

3.26

P-04-403 Saving Plas Cwrt yn Dre/Old Parliament House

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to write to the Minister for Culture and Sport to seek his views on the petitioner’s correspondence.

 

3.27

P-04-407 Save Kennard Court Sheltered Accommodation for Older People

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and in light of developments, and that this is being taken forward by the constituent AM, agreed to close the petition.

3.28

P-04-420 Construct an Owain Glyndwr Monument

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and in light of the petitioner’s response, agreed to close the petition.

 

3.29

P-04-404 Aberporth Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition, and as the Minister has stated that she does not intend to withdraw support, agreed to close the petition.

3.30

P-04-414 Welsh Jobs

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to close it.

3.31

P-03-187 Abolish the Severn Bridge Toll

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition, and as the tolls are not being abolished in the short-term, agreed to close the petition.

3.32

P-03-240 Road safety on the A40 in Llanddewi Velfrey

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

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

·         the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport asking that the Committee is advised of the outcome of the bid; and

·         the new Police and Crime Commissioner for Dyfed Powys Police, to make him aware of the petition.

 

Joyce Watson gave an update to the Committee on her recent site-visit to see first- hand some of the issues with the road safety on the A40 in Llanddewi Velfrey. She thanked the petitioners for their hospitality and agreed to share photographs of the visit with the Committee.

3.33

P-03-261 Local Solutions to Newtown Traffic Congestion

Supporting documents:

3.34

P-04-319 Newtown traffic petition

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to write to the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport;

 

·         outlining the approach suggested by the previous responsible Minister asking if she will agree to this approach; and

·         seek clarification on the anticipated start date, highlighting that different dates have been given. 

 

The Committee agreed to close P-04-261 in light of the decision by the Welsh Government to proceed with the by-pass.

 

3.35

P-04-380 Bring back our bus! Petition against the removal of scheduled bus services from east Lampeter, Cwmann & Pencarreg

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to seek the petitioner’s views on the ministerial correspondence.

3.36

P-04-453 Improvements at Cardiff Airport

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and in light of the petitioner stating that the announcement by the First Minister meets their aims, agreed to close the petition.

3.37

P-04-436 Government Expenditure and Revenue Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to seek the petitioner’s views on the ministerial correspondence.

10.45

4.

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

Item 5

Minutes:

The motion was agreed.

10.45 - 11.00

5.

P-04-335 The Establishment of a Welsh Cricket Team: Draft Report

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee agreed the draft report.

 

The Chair thanked the Members for their attendance and participation – and wished everyone a Happy Easter