, Local Government and Housing Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42(ix) to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting
Item 5, then, is a motion under Standing Order 17.42 to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of today's meeting. Is committee content to do so? Yes. Thank you very much. We will, then, move to private session.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Papers to note
On that, Mabon, it's actually the debate in Plenary next week, so I think that will be a good opportunity to raise those concerns and hopefully get a further response. Is that okay? Okay. Are Members content to note the papers, in general? Yes. Diolch yn fawr.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Papers to note
Okay. The next item on our agenda today, then, item 4, is papers to note. We have paper 3, a response from Welsh Government to our report on second homes in Wales. Paper 4, a letter from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution on local…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session - Minister for Finance and Local Government
Okay. Thank you very much, Minister, and your officials for coming to give evidence to committee today. You will be sent a transcript to check for factual accuracy in the usual way. Diolch yn fawr.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session - Minister for Finance and Local Government
Thank you, Minister. Okay, Jayne? Thank you very much.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session - Minister for Finance and Local Government
Okay, thank you very much, and, finally, Jayne Bryant. Jayne.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session - Minister for Finance and Local Government
That would be very useful, Minister, thank you. Carolyn.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session - Minister for Finance and Local Government
Before I bring in Carolyn Thomas as well, Minister, could I just ask about the digital democracy fund, which we no longer have? Has that left a gap in terms of these issues that should be filled?
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session - Minister for Finance and Local Government
Yes, sure.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session - Minister for Finance and Local Government
Yes.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session - Minister for Finance and Local Government
Okay. Thank you, Minister. Thank you, Joel. Sam.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session - Minister for Finance and Local Government
Okay. Thank you, Sam. Joel James.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session - Minister for Finance and Local Government
Okay, Sam?
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session - Minister for Finance and Local Government
Sam, just before you go on, I think Carolyn wanted to come in on this point. Carolyn.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session - Minister for Finance and Local Government
Okay, thank you for that, Minister. Sam Rowlands.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session - Minister for Finance and Local Government
Okay, Minister. I think we’re always grateful for ministerial suggestions in terms of our work programme—thank you very much. A final question from me on council tax. The Institute for Fiscal Studies report looking at the discount schemes and the single…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session - Minister for Finance and Local Government
Okay, Minister. In terms of the initial reforms and then the longer term possibilities, could you say a little bit about reform based on land value or income, and to what extent they are still very significant in Welsh Government thinking, even if it is in…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session - Minister for Finance and Local Government
Okay. Diolch yn fawr, Jayne. Some questions from me, Minister, on council tax reform. Firstly, whether you're able to provide assurances that no local authority in Wales would see a reduction in its overall budget as a result of council tax reform, and to…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session - Minister for Finance and Local Government
Okay, thank you, Minister. Diolch yn fawr, Mabon. Jayne Bryant.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session - Minister for Finance and Local Government
Yes.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session - Minister for Finance and Local Government
Okay, thank you very much, Minister. Mabon ap Gwynfor. Mabon.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session - Minister for Finance and Local Government
Okay. Could I ask you, Minister, about local authorities and another aspect of increased costs, which is the very competitive labour market that we have at the moment? It is going to be more expensive to meet those salary costs for social care workers and…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session - Minister for Finance and Local Government
That's quite a figure, that 50 per cent increase in the cost. That's new schools, Minister, is it?
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session - Minister for Finance and Local Government
Carolyn, are you content with that?
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Ministerial scrutiny session - Minister for Finance and Local Government
Okay, thank you very much. We begin our questions, then, with some initial questions from Carolyn Thomas. Carolyn.
