Agenda and minutes

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

1.2        Apologies for absence were received from Rhianon Passmore AM.

2.1 The Committee agreed the motion.

Gareth Howells, Legal Services, Assembly Commission

Joanne McCarthy, Research Service, Assembly Commission

3.1 The Committee received a technical briefing on the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill from the Assembly Commission.

Councillor Anthony Hunt, Finance and Resources spokesperson, Welsh Local Government Association

Steve Thomas CBE, Chief Executive, Welsh Local Government Association

Jon Rae, Director of Resources, Welsh Local Government Association

Steve Jones, Chair of Society of Welsh Treasurers

4.1 The Committee received evidence from:

• Councillor Anthony Hunt, Finance and Resources spokesperson, Welsh Local Government Association
• Steve Thomas CBE, Chief Executive, Welsh Local Government Association
• Jon Rae, Director of Resources, Welsh Local Government Association
• Steve Jones, Chair of Society of Welsh Treasurers

4.2 During the evidence session, further information was requested from the clerking team on the four year local government budget forecast in England.

4.3 During the evidence session, Steve Thomas, Welsh Local Government Association, agreed to provide:

• a note on how local authorities in England were using their general power of competence to invest in local services and to generate income;
• details on the level of reserves, including allocated and unallocated reserves, in all local authorities in Wales.

5.1.a The Committee noted the letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children in relation to making the economy work for people on low incomes.

5.2.a The Committee noted the letter to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in relation to making the economy work for people on low incomes.

5.3.a The Committee noted the letter from the Permanent Secretary to Siân Gwenllian in relation to making the economy work for people on low incomes.

5.4.a The Committee noted the correspondence from Tinopolis Cymru in relation to making the economy work for people on low incomes.

5.5.a The Committee noted the correspondence from Puffin Produce Ltd in relation to making the economy work for people on low incomes.

6.1 The Committee discussed the evidence received under item 4 and agreed on a number of matters to raise during the forthcoming evidence session on the draft budget with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government and the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children.

7.1 The Committee discussed the options paper and agreed on a number of actions to take.