Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 1 - Senedd. View directions

Contact: Graeme Francis 

Media

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Transcript: Transcript for 09/01/2018 - Petitions Committee - Fifth Senedd

Items
Expected timing 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-05-791 Terminate Private Parking Contracts at Welsh Hospitals

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 Health and Social Services, before deciding what action to take on the petition.

2.2

P-05-792 Petition to extend the 40mph speed limit in Blaenporth.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

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

 

·         Ceredigion County Council to seek their views on the issues raised by the petition and ask what assessment they have made of the safety of children accessing school buses at this location; and

·         The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure to ask, given that the three year Speed Limit Review includes over 600 sites, how the Welsh Government intends to prioritise the work of that Review. 

2.3

P-05-793 Hi speed broadband to Llangenny village

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

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

 

·         BT to highlight the frustrations of the petitioners and ask for clarity over the plans and timescales for connecting properties in Llangenny to broadband; and

·         The Leader of the House, to share the concerns raised by the petitioners.

3.

Updates to previous petitions

3.1

P-04-522 Asbestos in Schools

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Education together with further comments from the petitioner and agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary to ask:

 

·         the questions proposed by the petitioner, including over the consultation on revised asbestos management in schools guidance planned for early 2018; and

·         that she ensures that all Local Authorities respond fully to the school condition survey report.

3.2

P-05-690 Resurfacing of the A40 Raglan-Abergavenny Road

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, together with comments received from the petitioner after the papers had been published, and agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary to seek his response to the petitioner’s comments and, in doing so, express their strong concerns that previous commitments to resurfacing the road have not been delivered.

3.3

P-05-721 Penegoes Speed Limit Petition

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure and agreed to write back to ask, given that the three year Speed Limit Review includes over 600 sites, how the Welsh Government intends to prioritise the work of that Review. 

 

3.4

P-05-748 School Buses for School Children

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence from the WLGA and agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport to ask what policy work has been undertaken to explore whether it is possible to strengthen current requirements so that:

 

·         children travelling to and from school on all buses should have a seat and a seat belt;

·         all drivers should have relevant DBS checks;

·         all buses should be fit for purpose.

 

In doing so, Members noted that they fully sympathised with the petition and share the ambition for dedicated, purpose-designed, school buses for school children, they recognised that it may not be possible for this policy ambition to be realised at this time.

 

3.5

P-05-767 A487 Trunk Road Through Tre-Taliesin: Urgent Need for Effective Speed-Calming Measures

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:

·         given that the three year Speed Limit Review includes over 600 sites, how the Welsh Government intends to prioritise the work of that Review.

·         for further information about how communities can be included in the three year Speed Limit Review.

 

3.6

P-05-772 No to Flint Castle's planned Iron Ring

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Members considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport and agreed to close the petition in light of the confirmation received that the iron ring artwork will not go ahead.  In doing so, Members wished to congratulate the petitioners on the success of the campaign.

3.7

P-05-780 Reopen Carno Station

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Members considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure and agreed to await the views of the petitioners on that response before deciding whether to take any further action on the petition.

3.8

P-05-743 End the Exotic Pet Trade in Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Members considered correspondence from RSPCA Cymru and agreed:

 

  • to await the views of the petitioner on the information provided before considering further action on the petition; and
  • once the Cabinet Secretary has considered the findings of a Scottish Government review of licensing and proposals for a new system in England, to consider whether they wish to take evidence on the issue.

 

3.9

P-05-753 Strengthening the Legislative and Regulatory Framework Surrounding Waste Wood Processing Facilities

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence from Natural Resources Wales and agreed to await the views of the petitioner before considering further action on the petition.

3.10

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

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

David Rowlands declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

 

He attended a previous meeting between Natural Resources Wales and the petitioners and will be attending a future meeting planned for the Spring.

 

Members considered correspondence from Natural Resources Wales together with further comments from the petitioners and agreed to request an update from NRW following the public meeting planned for spring 2018, especially in relation to progress made in discussions with the Welsh Government over possible funding options and the planned feasibility study with Caerphilly Council.

3.11

P-05-773 Don't Fill Landfill!

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence from Cardiff Council and agreed to await the views of the petitioner and ask her to provide an update following any direct discussions she has with Cardiff Council.

3.12

P-05-777 Application of the Automatic Fire Suppression Systems Legislation within the current Building Regulations for Wales.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs together with comments received from the petitioner and agreed to write to the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee to ask whether they intend to undertake any post-legislative scrutiny of the Building Regulations &c. (Amendment No. 3) and Domestic Fire Safety (Wales) Regulations 2013 during this Assembly.

3.13

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

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs together with comments from the petitioner and agreed to write to the local authorities who do not currently routinely scan pet carcasses and ask for details of their current policies and whether they have considered the practicalities of introducing routine scanning. The Committee also indicated that it may wish to close the petition following the receipt of responses.

 

3.14

P-05-769 South Wales Major Trauma Centre - Cardiff & Swansea Please

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence from the petitioner and agreed to close the petition given that the proposed location for a new major trauma centre is expected to be put out to public consultation and to encourage the petitioner to provide his views to this.

 

3.15

P-05-781 Port Talbot Community Against the Super Prison

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered correspondence from the petitioner and agreed to write to the Welsh Government to ask for further information on the decision making process it will undertake in relation to the sale of the land, should the Ministry of Justice obtain planning permission for the construction of a prison.

(10.00 - 10.45)

4.

Evidence Session - 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

Natural Resources Wales

 

·         John Wheadon, Permitting Service Manager

·         Adam Cooper, Senior Permitting Officer

 

 

Cefas

 

·         David Carlin, Science Director

·         Kins Leonard, Head of Radiological Protection

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee heard evidence from Natural Resources Wales and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS).

 

5.

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

Minutes:

The motion was agreed.

6.

Discussion of Previous Evidence Session

Minutes:

The Committee considered the evidence received in previous sessions and agreed to write to Natural Resources Wales to:

  • suggest that NRW should request that further samples are taken at depth, in order to assist with public reassurance in relation to this licence;ensure that the results of all analysis carried out on the sediment are made publically available;
  • recommend that details of all radionuclides tested for should be made clear in relation to any further testing, in light of previous confusion over the details of the radiological assessment conducted on the material; and
  • to ask for further details of any sampling or monitoring carried out within the wider Severn Estuary and studies relating to how the sediments would be likely to be dispersed following dumping at the Cardiff Grounds site.