, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
As you say, Chair, we've spent a great deal of time this afternoon on the democratic deficit, as this committee has described it, in the context of the legislative consent memoranda—the erosion of the Sewel convention, but also the increasing number of LCMs…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Just on that, while you are having these discussions on an inter-governmental basis—and let's hope you will make significant progress to that end—are the Welsh Government in discussion with Cardiff University, the Wales Governance Centre, to continue that…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you very much.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
That's very honest of you, if you don't mind me saying.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
What would the purpose of this be in practical terms, that is, that Members of the Senedd wouldn't interfere directly in processes before tribunals? Or does it have the potential to be wider than that, as you suggest, Counsel General, and that it would, to…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Lastly, you have mentioned the question of the extent to which there should be a duty to protect the independence of tribunals, and for that to be extended from the Government to include all Members of the Senedd. That does match something that already exists…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Just on that same point of divergence that you just referred to then about the structure, the corporate entity, the Law Commission did suggest, if I'm right, a non-ministerial department as the structure that you tend towards—and that would be a body…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Well, I do support your radicalism in that regard, Counsel General. You mentioned there the devolved tribunals system, and we had a paper from the Law Commission specifically about this. The Thomas commission referred to that, and you have now published a…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Well, before I do that, Chair, I have been inspired by my fellow Members, just for a moment, to stick to the subject of the vision that's the backdrop for this bid for devolution, and to what purpose. So, I'd just ask, Counsel General, if you would commit to…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Gilestone Farm: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
You haven't made a decision in relation to it. Okay, thank you for that clarification. Could I just finally ask, in terms of the sporting and fishing rights, what progress you've made in the discussions with the beneficiary of those rights at the farm, and if…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Gilestone Farm: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
No, no, it's okay.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Gilestone Farm: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Sure. Sorry to press you on this. You just said, Gerwyn, a moment ago, that you have made a decision in relation to whether or not to hold an open meeting. I just want to be clear: is that a decision that you will hold an open meeting, but you just haven't…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Gilestone Farm: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Sorry to press you. It's okay to say, 'We're not committed to it.' I just want to be clear. 'No date in the diary' may imply that you are intending to do it but you just haven't scheduled it yet. Have you not made a decision yet as to whether you intend to…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Gilestone Farm: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Are you saying that you're not committed at this stage to holding a future open meeting, not just with stakeholders? You've had a meeting previously, haven't you, in March, where you just had representatives of key organisations that have formal roles in…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Gilestone Farm: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
And there is a reference in that meeting to a future open meeting. Could you give us an update on that?
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Gilestone Farm: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
So, that note is incorrect, then, from that meeting. It says it's hoped that the community council will be consulted on the proposal going forward. Or is it more general, but not specifically on the lease?
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Gilestone Farm: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
The notes of the meeting on 14 June say that it's hoped that the community council will be consulted on any proposal going forward. So, it's rather vague language there—it's hoped that they will be consulted. Will they definitely be consulted on the…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Gilestone Farm: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
And what weight will be given to the community's views in your decision-making process?
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Gilestone Farm: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Okay. So, the community council is engaging, Green Man is engaging directly, but what are the Welsh Government going to do directly, yourselves, to engage with the local community? Do you have anything planned?
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Gilestone Farm: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Looking forward, then, how are you going to improve that level of communication as you take the project through its various stages? There has been some discussion about how you could engage with the community and get the views of the local population. Is that…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Gilestone Farm: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
The notes of that meeting, which are up on the community council's website, say that, in discussion, there was a recognition that communications had broken down—which is what you've just said, really—and that you had said that you recognised that the Welsh…
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Gilestone Farm: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
So, you met with the community council, I think, on 14 June. Is that right, Gerwyn?
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Gilestone Farm: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
The community council have said that there's a general feeling of being ignored within the council and indeed the wider community. How do you respond to that?
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Gilestone Farm: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Yes. I'd just like you to say what you've done to engage with the local community and its representatives, like the community council.
, Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Gilestone Farm: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Okay, thank you.
