Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 3 - Senedd. View directions

Contact: Naomi Stocks 

Media

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Transcript: Transcript for 08/02/2018 - Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee - Fifth Senedd

Items
Expected timing No. Item

1.

Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

Minutes:

1.1 The Chair welcomed Members and members of the public to the meeting.

(09:15 -10:15)

2.

Inquiry into rough sleeping in Wales - evidence session 1

Dr Peter Mackie, Senior Lecturer, School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University

Professor Suzanne Fitzpatrick, Professor / Director of Institute (ISPHERE), Heriot-Watt University

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

2.1 The Committee received evidence from:

 

·         Dr Peter Mackie, Senior Lecturer, School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University

·         Professor Suzanne Fitzpatrick, Professor / Director of Institute (ISPHERE), Heriot-Watt University

 

2.2 Dr Peter Mackie agreed to provide a note on:

 

·         examples of good practice of assertive outreach; and

·         on recommended innovative solutions for local authorities to overcome lack of housing availability in the context of homelessness

(10:25-11:25)

3.

Inquiry into rough sleeping in Wales - evidence session 2

Jane Thomas, Assistant Director, Housing & Communities, Cardiff Council

Simon Inkson, Head of Housing, Powys County Council

Julie Francis, Service Manager, Housing, Wrexham Council

Tracy Hague, Temporary Housing Options Lead, Wrexham Council

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.1 The Committee received evidence from:

·         Jane Thomas, Assistant Director, Housing & Communities, Cardiff Council

·         Simon Inkson, Head of Housing, Powys County Council

·         Julie Francis, Service Manager, Housing, Wrexham Council

·         Tracy Hague, Temporary Housing Options Lead, Wrexham Council

 

3.2 The Chair requested a note on the level of joined-up working between authorities in relation to reconnection services, to include the level of support provided to individuals.

 

(11.25 - 12.25)

4.

Inquiry into rough sleeping in Wales - evidence session 3

Antony Kendall, Director of Operations, The Wallich

Yvonne Connolly, Regional Manager for Wales and the South West, The Salvation Army

Richard Edwards, Chief Executive, The Huggard Centre

Frances Beecher, Chief Executive, Llamau

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

4.1 The Committee received evidence from:

·         Antony Kendall, Director of Operations, The Wallich

·         Yvonne Connolly, Regional Manager for Wales and the South West, The Salvation Army

·         Richard Edwards, Chief Executive, The Huggard Centre

·         Frances Beecher, Chief Executive, Llamau

 

4.2        Llamau agreed to provide a note on the local authorities who provide transport tickets to rough sleepers when using reconnection services.

 

4.3        The Salvation Army agreed to provide information on their reconnection service work with local authorities, including waivers through frontline services.

 

(13.15 - 14.15)

5.

Inquiry into rough sleeping in Wales - evidence session 4

Katie Dalton, Director, Cymorth Cymru

Jennie Bibbings, Campaigns Manager, Shelter Cymru

Rebecca Jackson, Policy and Research Officer, Shelter Cymru

Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive, Crisis

Beth Thomas, Regional Sales Manager, Wales & South West, The Big Issue

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

5.1 The Committee received evidence from:

·         Katie Dalton, Director, Cymorth Cymru

·         Jennie Bibbings, Campaigns Manager, Shelter Cymru

·         Rebecca Jackson, Policy and Research Officer, Shelter Cymru

·         Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive, Crisis

·         Beth Thomas, Regional Sales Manager, Wales & South West, The Big Issue

 

5.2        Shelter Cymru agreed to provide data on local authorities dealing with prison-leavers in relation to priority need.

 

5.3        Cymorth Cymru agreed to clarify the apparent increase of 250% of rough sleepers in Bridgend, as referenced in their evidence paper.

 

5.4        The Committee requested a copy of the study referenced by Crisis on the cost of long term rough sleepers to public services.

 

(14.15 - 15.15)

6.

Inquiry into rough sleeping in Wales - evidence session 5

Assistant Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan, South Wales Police

Chief Superintendent Stephen Jones, South Wales Police

Ian Barrow, Director for the NPS in Wales, HM Prison and Probation Service in Wales

Diana Binding, Lead Senior Manager on Accommodation, Wales Community Rehabilitation Company

Dusty Kennedy, Director, Youth Justice Board Cymru

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

6.1 The Committee received evidence from:

·         Assistant Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan, South Wales Police

·         Chief Superintendent Stephen Jones, South Wales Police

·         Ian Barrow, Director for the NPS in Wales, HM Prison and Probation Service in Wales

·         Diana Binding, Lead Senior Manager on Accommodation, Wales Community Rehabilitation Company

·         Dusty Kennedy, Director, Youth Justice Board Cymru

 

6.2 The Wales Community Rehabilitation Company agreed to provide data on the National Pathway for Homelessness Services for Children, Young People and Adults in the Secure Estate, in relation to the notice period given to local authorities and support services for prison leavers.

 

6.3 The Committee requested data on the number of arrests of rough sleepers from South Wales Police.

 

7.

Paper(s) to note

7.1

Letter from the Minister for Housing and Regeneration in relation to rough sleeping in Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.1.a The Committee noted the letter from the Minister for Housing and Regeneration in relation to rough sleeping in Wales.

7.2

Letter from the Chair of the Petitions Committee in relation to rough sleeping in Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.2.a The Committee noted the letter from the Chair of the Petitions Committee in relation to rough sleeping in Wales.

7.3

Notes of Committee visits in relation to rough sleeping in Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.3.a The Committee noted the notes of Committee visits in relation to rough sleeping in Wales.

7.4

Additional information from the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) in relation to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.4.a The Committee noted the additional information from the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) in relation to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill.

7.5

Letter from the Leader of the House and Chief Whip in relation to human rights in Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.5.a The Committee noted the letter from the Leader of the House and Chief Whip in relation to human rights in Wales.

7.6

Letter from the Chair of the Petitions Committee in relation to fire safety in Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.6.a The Committee noted the letter from the Chair of the Petitions Committee in relation to fire safety in Wales.

8.

Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting and from items 1, 2 and 3 of the meeting on 14 February 2018

Minutes:

8.1 The Committee agreed the motion.

(15.30 - 15.35)

9.

Legislative Consent Memorandum: Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Bill - consideration of draft report

Minutes:

9.1 The Committee considered and agreed its draft report on the Legislative Consent Memorandum: Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Bill.

(15.15 - 15.30)

10.

Inquiry into rough sleeping in Wales - consideration of evidence received under items 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

Minutes:

10.1 The Committee considered the evidence received under items 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.