Meeting Venue:
Committee Room 4 - Ty_Hywel
Meeting date: Friday, 17 July 2020
Meeting time: Times Not Specified
This meeting can
be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/6417
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1 Introduction, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest
2 New COVID-19 Petitions
2.1 P-05-975 Reconsider second home council tax uplift while illegal to travel to second homes
The Committee considered the petition for the first time, noted the Minister for Finance’s response that the use of the discretionary power to levy a council tax premium is a matter for individual local authorities and should be raised with them, and closed the petition.
OR
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write back to the Minister for Finance to ask what consideration has been given to suspending local authorities discretion to charge a council tax premium for second home owners, whilst they were not to use their properties due to the Coronavirus Regulations.
2.2 P-05-976 Permit weddings of 5 people (registrar/couple/2 witnesses) during COVID 19 in Wales
The aims of the petition have been achieved, in light of the fact that small wedding ceremonies are now able to take place again in Wales. The Committee agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.
2.3 P-05-977 Re-open full general dental services in Wales as has happened in England
As the petition has more than 5000 signatures the Committee agreed to refer it for a debate. However, given that a debate could not be held until autumn and dental services are going through a phased reopening, it may not be appropriate at this time.
OR
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and noted that dental services are now going through a phased reopening. The Committee agreed to return to the petition in the autumn to consider the latest situation then, or to close the petition in light of it.
2.4 P-05-978 Allow Zoos and Wildlife attractions to reopen with social distancing in place throughout Wales
The aims of the petition have now been achieved, in light of the fact that outdoor visitor attractions, including zoos, are now able to reopen. The Committee agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.
2.5 P-05-979 Adopt the policies of UK government with regard to easing of lockdown rules
The Committee considered the petition for the first time, noted the sentiments expressed and thank the petitioner, but agreed to close the petition.
2.6 P-05-980 Extend grants immediately to small businesses outside of Small Business Rates Relief in Wales
The Committee considered the petition for the first time, noted the response from the Minister for Finance and agreed to await the receipt of further comments from the petitioner before considering the petition again in the autumn term.
2.7 P-05-981 Allow gyms and leisure centres to reopen
The Committee considered for the petition for the first time alongside P-05-986 Allow small gyms and personal training spaces to open sooner during COVID restrictions, and agreed to keep a watching brief on the issue of access to gyms and leisure centres over the summer recess, and to return to consider the latest position in the autumn term.
OR
The Committee considered for the petition for the first time alongside P-05-986 Allow small gyms and personal training spaces to open sooner during COVID restrictions, and agreed to write to the Deputy Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport to ask whether the Welsh Government can share evidence which indicates that gyms and other indoor sporting facilities present a particular transmission risk for Covid-19.
2.8 P-05-986 Allow small gyms and personal training spaces to open sooner during COVID restrictions
The Committee considered the petition for the first time alongside P-05-981 Allow gyms and leisure centres to reopen and agreed to keep a watching brief on the issue of access to gyms and leisure centres over the summer recess, and to return to consider the latest position in the autumn term.
OR
The Committee considered the petition for the first time alongside P-05-981 Allow gyms and leisure centres to reopen and agreed to write to the Deputy Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport to ask whether the Welsh Government can share evidence which indicates that gyms and other indoor sporting facilities present a particular transmission risk for Covid-19.
2.9 P-05-982 Re-open outdoor tennis courts and training in line with the rest of the UK and Europe
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to close the petition in light of the fact that the resumption of outdoor tennis has been permitted in Wales since 22 June, and thank the petitioner.
2.10 P-05-983 Give grant aid to Bed and Breakfast businesses in Wales that pay council tax and not business rates
The Committee consided the petition for the first time and agreed to write back to the Minister for Finance to provide the petitioners further comments and ask whether there is a support scheme available for bed & breakfast businesses that are not business rates payers, if they are not employers or VAT registered.
2.11 P-05-984 Stop discriminatory remote consultations for incinerator applications during the Covid-19 Pandemic
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write back to the Minister for Housing and Local Government to share the petitioner’s submission and ask that she considers exercising her powers to extend the timescale for consultation if and when this progresses to a full application, or ask how the petitioner would be able to make such a request at the appropriate time.
2.12 P-05-985 Provide key-worker childcare equivalent to what was available prior to the Covid-19 pandemic
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write back to the Minister for Education to share the petitioner’s response to her letter and ask what the Government’s expectations are for summer holiday key worker childcare provision and, following the announcement that schools will be expected to reopen fully for the autumn term, seek further information about the extended hours provision expected to be available for key workers.
2.13 P-05-988 Give key worker children equal access to their schools and teachers
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write back to the Minister for Education to share the comments made by the petitioner and ask:
· whether, and how, she considers local or regional disparities in education provision for the children of key workers could be avoided in the event of any future reduction in school provision; and
· whether contact groups or ‘bubbles’ from September will be available in full to the children of key workers, or any parents who need to access wraparound childcare.
2.14 P-05-990 Open schools in September. Scrap blended learning
The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to close the petition In light of the Minister for Education’s recent announcement that schools in Wales will return full-time for all pupils from September. The Committee noted the success of the petition and thank the petitioners.
3 Other new petitions
3.1 P-05-954 Petition for a public inquiry by the Welsh Government into the historic child abuse on Caldey Island
4 Updates to previous petitions
4.1 P-05-931 Sun cream in schools
In view of the lack of contact from the original petitioner, and noting the response to the petition provided by the Minister for Education, the Committee agreed to close the petition.
4.2 P-05-958 Recent Decisions Regarding AS Grades 2020
In light of the petitioner’s acceptance of the additional explanation provided by the Minister for Education and the fact that grades for the 2019/20 academic year are unlikely to be changed at this stage, the Committee agreed to close the petition as there is little further the Committee could achieve at this stage. The Committee agreed to thank the petitioner.
4.3 P-05-962 An emergency amendment to extend age of entitlement to additional educational support from 25 to 26 and to define within Government guidance the Covid 19 pandemic as an exceptional circumstance
The Committee considered further information and noted the update provided by the Minister for Education, including the confirmation that four requests for extensions have been received and all have been approved, and agreed to await a further substantive response to the issues raised in the petitioner’s previous correspondence.
4.4 P-05-906 Save Sam Davies Ward at Barry Hospital
The Committee agreed to write back to Cardiff and Vale University Health Board to seek a response to the concerns raised by the South Glamorgan Community Health Council and an update on the current position in relation to the patient pathway and the Same Davies Ward.
OR
In light of the Health Board’s decision not to proceed with the closure of the Sam Davies ward, and the absence of further comments from the petitioners, the Committee agreed to close the petition.
4.5 P-05-914 Equal Access to Health Care for the Disabled
In light of the responses provided by the Minister for Health and Social Services and the Equality and Human Rights Commission that health boards have duties in relation to ensuring that GP services commissioned can meet equality duties and the needs of their local populations, the Committee agreed to write to all local health boards to ask for details of how many GP practices in their areas provide adjustable treatment beds and hoists for the use of disabled patients.
AND/OR
The Committee considered further correspondence and agreed to write to SHINE (Spinabifida and Hydrocephalus Information Network Equality) and other relevant organisations, including the Spinal Injuries Association, to seek their views and experiences of the provision of adjustable treatment beds and hoists in GP services in Wales.
4.6 P-05-926 To Provide a Chronic Fatigue Department in Wales
The Committee considered further information and agreed to write back to the Minister for Health and Social Services to share the recommendations provided by the Welsh Association of ME and CFS Support (WAMES) and seek a response to these.
4.7 P-05-960 Fund the funeral costs of all NHS staff who die from or with Covid-19
The Committee considered further correspondence and noted the confirmation provided by the Minister for Health and Social Services that families of locum and agency staff, and non-British citizens working in the NHS are entitled to apply for the Death in Service Benefit Scheme.
AND
The Committee was satisfied with the Minister’s response that a separate funeral fund in addition to the Death in Service Scheme would not be appropriate, and agreed to close the petition.
OR
The Committee could decide whether or not it wishes to further scrutiny of this point.
OR
The Committee considered further information agreed to seek the views of specific Ministers in relation to whether the death in service scheme can be extended to other groups of essential workers.
4.8 P-05-964 Extend covid-19 financial support and paid leave to vulnerable and pregnant NHS wales bank workers
The Committee considered further information and agreed to write back to the Minister for Health and Social Services over the summer recess to ask for an update on the consideration being given to this issue and for conclusions reached.
4.9 P-05-934 Public Transport in Blaenau Gwent
The Committee considered further information and agreed to write to:
· Blaenau Gwent Council again to seek a response to the previous correspondence, in light of the subsequent impact of the Covid-19 pandemic; and
· the Welsh Government regarding the progress of the work undertaken by the Valleys Taskforce and the implementation of the delivery plan.
4.10 P-05-955 Objection to proposal by Costain to implement Option B in the rerouting of the A465 at Brynmawr
In light of the fact that the Welsh Government and Costain have confirmed that Option B will be implemented, the Committee agreed that there is little further the Committee can achieve at this point. It noted the petitioners’ frustration but agreed to close the petition and thank the petitioner.
4.11 P-05-968 Pay Coronavirus grants to all businesses eligible for Small Business Rate Relief same as rest of UK
As self-catering accommodation is now able to reopen in Wales, and in the absence of further comments from the petitioner, the Committee agreed to take no further action and close the petition.
4.12 P-05-973 Reopen barbers and hairdressers as long as they have strict social distancing measures in place
In light of the fact that the restrictions on barbers and hairdressing salons were lifted on 13 July, the Committee agreed to close the petition at this stage and thank the petitioner for highlighting the issue.