, Petitions Committee
Evidence session - P-06-1307 The Welsh Government should commit to the adoption of the maintenance of new housing estates by local authorities
Yes.
, Petitions Committee
Evidence session - P-06-1307 The Welsh Government should commit to the adoption of the maintenance of new housing estates by local authorities
I hope I'm covered by parliamentary privilege here today, because I think that they were missold in Cwm Calon. I think they were missold. So, people didn't know what they were signing up for when they were sold this, because this was in the early days; this…
, Petitions Committee
Evidence session - P-06-1307 The Welsh Government should commit to the adoption of the maintenance of new housing estates by local authorities
Well, they—
, Petitions Committee
Evidence session - P-06-1307 The Welsh Government should commit to the adoption of the maintenance of new housing estates by local authorities
It would still be subject to judicial review.
, Petitions Committee
Evidence session - P-06-1307 The Welsh Government should commit to the adoption of the maintenance of new housing estates by local authorities
If you think of what would normally happen, it's that you would have a commuted sum for a local authority to take on a piece of open space. So, you've got a green space of land on an estate, a local authority would be paid by the developer a commuted sum…
, Petitions Committee
Evidence session - P-06-1307 The Welsh Government should commit to the adoption of the maintenance of new housing estates by local authorities
Let's answer that in two parts. The unfairness—absolutely right. There is absolutely unfairness in this and it's recognised across the community, and every community that comes to you—almost every community, not every community—will come to you about…
, Petitions Committee
Evidence session - P-06-1307 The Welsh Government should commit to the adoption of the maintenance of new housing estates by local authorities
No, it would be the Government that would be introducing the legislation to cap the fees. At the moment, there is no recognised cap, so the Government would have to introduce the law to do it. But, also, the other thing that the estate management companies…
, Petitions Committee
Evidence session - P-06-1307 The Welsh Government should commit to the adoption of the maintenance of new housing estates by local authorities
The better ones should.
, Petitions Committee
Evidence session - P-06-1307 The Welsh Government should commit to the adoption of the maintenance of new housing estates by local authorities
Yes, if they're willing to speak to you.
, Petitions Committee
Evidence session - P-06-1307 The Welsh Government should commit to the adoption of the maintenance of new housing estates by local authorities
That legislation actually looks pretty interesting. It doesn't do what the petitioners have been asking for. It's not doing that, it's not requiring the adoption of open space. What the legislation is doing is looking at the second-order issue, which is the…
, Petitions Committee
Evidence session - P-06-1307 The Welsh Government should commit to the adoption of the maintenance of new housing estates by local authorities
I'll come back to that.
, Petitions Committee
Evidence session - P-06-1307 The Welsh Government should commit to the adoption of the maintenance of new housing estates by local authorities
I think it’s absolutely right that there are these complications. I think it’s what economists call 'opportunity costs of action', politicians call 'unintended consequences', and people see as unfairness. That’s the whole issue around it. The key problem with…
, Petitions Committee
Evidence session - P-06-1307 The Welsh Government should commit to the adoption of the maintenance of new housing estates by local authorities
I'm happy to take a political challenge on some of the things I’ve said.
, Petitions Committee
Evidence session - P-06-1307 The Welsh Government should commit to the adoption of the maintenance of new housing estates by local authorities
Thank you, Chair, and thank you to the committee for giving me this unique opportunity to sit on the other side of the fence and answer questions, rather than ask them. I really appreciate the opportunity to do so. I've been campaigning on this issue since…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Finance and Local Government
I think the key point made by the Minister there is, 'At the time'. I think income tax is something that should be revisited in the future, but she's absolutely right to say that this is not the time for it. Last week, we saw an amendment to the Welsh…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Finance and Local Government
1. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the potential impact of increasing the basic rate of income tax in Wales? OQ59146
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with Sport Wales
Okay, thank you.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with Sport Wales
So, you don't think the investigation will talk about the make-up of the board, then?
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with Sport Wales
I think the issue is, if the report makes recommendations and the WRU is undertaking, in the meantime, changes, and if the recommendations are contrary to those changes, then you end up having to do things twice and possibly making it harder to do things…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with Sport Wales
That's very helpful. That's very helpful. Thank you. And finally, my last question is regarding what you've already made reference to—the length of time this will take. I think Nigel Walker said to us in the last session that he'd be uncomfortable if it took…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with Sport Wales
I do feel that, though, the terms of reference are public and there's nothing to stop you having an opinion on those terms of reference, but I think you've expressed that anyway.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with Sport Wales
There's that balance between transparency and confidentiality—we fully understand that. Chair, I've got two more questions. One is on the terms of reference. As a body, are you satisfied that the terms of reference are sufficiently broad and focused at the…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with Sport Wales
Okay.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with Sport Wales
I think others will have a question about the detail of the report; I was wondering if, in general, reports will be made public and the answer is no; they'll have confidential access. What about evidence sessions? Do you feel that the evidence sessions with…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with Sport Wales
Previously commissioned reports will be provided to the panel—will they be public record, or is that all going to be done in private?
