30 Tachwedd 2023 , Local Government and Housing Committee
Y Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru): Sesiwn dystiolaeth 9
Right. Thank you, Jessica.
30 Tachwedd 2023 , Local Government and Housing Committee
Y Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru): Sesiwn dystiolaeth 9
Thank you. Jessica, there's a note here: even if care-related support was added to the list in section 28(5), there is still no duty on Welsh Ministers to provide for a financial assistance scheme. What are your views on this? You have communicated them quite…
30 Tachwedd 2023 , Local Government and Housing Committee
Y Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru): Sesiwn dystiolaeth 9
Okay, thank you.
30 Tachwedd 2023 , Local Government and Housing Committee
Y Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru): Sesiwn dystiolaeth 9
Okay, thank you, Jessica. And section 28(5) provides a list of services that may be provided, including information, advice and work experience. Do you think this list is sufficient, and if not, what further services would you like to see added?
30 Tachwedd 2023 , Local Government and Housing Committee
Y Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru): Sesiwn dystiolaeth 9
Okay.
30 Tachwedd 2023 , Local Government and Housing Committee
Y Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru): Sesiwn dystiolaeth 9
Thank you, Jessica. You've also argued that as well as a duty to provide financial assistance for people with disabilities—that's under section 29—the Bill should also include a duty to provide care-related financial assistance for candidates. So, could you…
30 Tachwedd 2023 , Local Government and Housing Committee
Y Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru): Sesiwn dystiolaeth 9
Morning, Jessica. I'm going to ask you some questions on accessibility and diversity. Section 28 of the Bill states that 'The Welsh Ministers must make arrangements for the provision of services to promote diversity in the protected characteristics and…
30 Tachwedd 2023 , Local Government and Housing Committee
Y Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru): Sesiwn dystiolaeth 8
Okay, thank you.
30 Tachwedd 2023 , Local Government and Housing Committee
Y Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru): Sesiwn dystiolaeth 8
There has been concern from previous evidence sessions with the Welsh Local Government Association and EMB about them managing it, being it charged, and maybe monitoring it as well. I think there are real concerns about the monitoring of information and the…
30 Tachwedd 2023 , Local Government and Housing Committee
Y Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru): Sesiwn dystiolaeth 8
That's what I was going to ask on next—how can we ensure the trustworthiness of the information, and who might contribute to such a regime of ensuring that trustworthiness?
30 Tachwedd 2023 , Local Government and Housing Committee
Y Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru): Sesiwn dystiolaeth 8
Okay. So, what sort of information do you think the platform should include? What are your views on including candidate statements?
30 Tachwedd 2023 , Local Government and Housing Committee
Y Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru): Sesiwn dystiolaeth 8
So, you think it's a good idea to have?
30 Tachwedd 2023 , Local Government and Housing Committee
Y Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru): Sesiwn dystiolaeth 8
Good morning. Just some questions on the online voter information platform, your views on that. So, it's not currently clear in the Bill who will be responsible for managing and maintaining the voter information platform. So, what do you think, or who do you…
30 Tachwedd 2023 , Local Government and Housing Committee
Y Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru): Sesiwn dystiolaeth 7
Yes, thank you.
30 Tachwedd 2023 , Local Government and Housing Committee
Y Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru): Sesiwn dystiolaeth 7
You said earlier that resources can sometimes be an issue. You're seconded into the role, aren't you, so your still a chief exec?
30 Tachwedd 2023 , Local Government and Housing Committee
Y Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru): Sesiwn dystiolaeth 7
What challenges have you faced over the last year, and what lessons could a newly formed electoral management board in Wales take on board from you?
30 Tachwedd 2023 , Local Government and Housing Committee
Y Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru): Sesiwn dystiolaeth 7
Thank you. How does the EMBS—what role does it have in the co-ordination of UK parliamentary elections, and how does it differ from the role in devolved elections in Scotland?
30 Tachwedd 2023 , Local Government and Housing Committee
Y Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru): Sesiwn dystiolaeth 7
Thanks, Chair. You got through the questions quicker than I expected there. So, how does the EMBS interact with the Electoral Commission?
30 Tachwedd 2023 , Local Government and Housing Committee
Y Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru): Sesiwn dystiolaeth 6
Cultural, heritage, as well, rather than just per capita, per person. Okay.
30 Tachwedd 2023 , Local Government and Housing Committee
Y Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru): Sesiwn dystiolaeth 6
And those historical links as well—that all made a difference.
30 Tachwedd 2023 , Local Government and Housing Committee
Y Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru): Sesiwn dystiolaeth 6
Just a point on this: the balance of representing a rural area and a more urban area can be quite stark. So, that balance of per-person representation—. Living in a rural area, you still have to get around a big rural area, and there are issues, not just…
30 Tachwedd 2023 , Local Government and Housing Committee
Y Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru): Sesiwn dystiolaeth 6
Okay. Thank you.
30 Tachwedd 2023 , Local Government and Housing Committee
Y Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru): Sesiwn dystiolaeth 6
Okay. All right. And you also recommend that any reviews taking place when the Bill comes into force should be conducted under the unamended previous rules under the 2013 Act, but still count as reviews carried out within the 12-year period.
30 Tachwedd 2023 , Local Government and Housing Committee
Y Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru): Sesiwn dystiolaeth 6
Yes, okay. In your written evidence, you recommend that the 12-year review periods for principal councils and the commission should commence on the same date. So, could you just explain the recommendation a bit further?
30 Tachwedd 2023 , Local Government and Housing Committee
Y Bil Etholiadau a Chyrff Etholedig (Cymru): Sesiwn dystiolaeth 6
As a previous community councillor on to a county councillor—and Joel's a community councillor—we know how boundary reviews can be quite difficult. You usually go on watercourses, don't you, as well, rather than—
