, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Okay. Sorry, I just want to check on the capacity issue again, because it's one thing doing a valuation and the other part, I guess, which could create more work, is the challenge back from those property owners who don't necessarily agree or aren't…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
And can I just check that you're confident with that information, because, of the 22 local authorities, I think only six responded in terms of the survey that you put out to them, so you're not getting a full picture, perhaps, of what local authority capacity…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
And just going back to the capacity issue again with the VOA, there is also the capacity of local authorities to undertake work as well. I'm just interested to know the conversations again with local authorities in terms of their administrative costs and…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
So, you're expecting three years, but it may be more frequent if and when the opportunity makes sense to do so. Is that right?
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Thanks. An interesting point you made, Minister, about the use of technology in the future as well—and, well, now—to support and speed up some of these processes; I think that's a really exciting space to be looked at. Just on the—. Within the Bill, there's…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
You mentioned the VOA there, so perhaps you could tell the committee about the sort of conversations you've had with the VOA about the capacity to deal with this what perhaps might be extra workload for them?
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
And is there anything particular about our economy in Wales that you think this Bill will be able to respond to more quickly or is it just perhaps a general point that any economy anywhere needs to be able to respond to changes within it, or is it anything…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Thank you. I want to focus a little bit on the non-domestic rates and, in particular, the local and central rating lists as well. You've made an assertion previously that the current arrangements for non-domestic rates 'were not configured to suit our economy…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Thanks, Chair. Morning, all. Thanks for taking the time this morning. What worries you most about this Bill, Minister?
, Plenary
Motion under Standing Order 26.91 seeking the Senedd's agreement to introduce a Member Bill: Mental Health Standards of Care (Wales) Bill
Congratulations to James Evans for tabling this important Bill proposal here today. I’m really pleased to be able to stand in support of this really important Bill that’s in front of us, and also to reflect on my own time in the last 18 months with a Member’s…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thanks, Chair, and thanks, Counsel General.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
All right. That's reassuring. Thank you for that. And perhaps one final question. You've already mentioned removing the open register. I was just wondering, perhaps, Counsel General, if you'd be able to give further assurances that the Welsh Government would…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
It would help me if I could quickly play that out. So, I would notify the appropriate person within 45 days, and that is what kicks the process off, not having to supply everything within the 45 days.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thanks, Counsel General. I'm sorry to jump around a little bit, but just going back to the 45-day window point that we were discussing a few moments ago, it seems as though we want to continue looking for people having a reason to remain anonymous and to…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Not at all. Okay, just to continue on this theme, then, we have heard evidence that perhaps there's a missed opportunity within this legislation around an all-Wales database as a way for people to check whether they had been registered or not and whether they…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thanks, Chair, and I thank you for those further responses, Counsel General. Apologies that I couldn't see that you were trying to clear your throat earlier.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Oh sorry. I couldn't see you, sorry.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Sorry, did you think I was talking there?
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
So, that's why you're going to be continuing with that. Then again, if you were to have completely your own way, would you think that every 12 months is a reasonable time to get people to regurgitate the reasons why they want to remain anonymous?
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
And so can you just confirm, then, also within that existing regime, that's currently annually checked every 12 months as well, then?
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Sorry, just to come back, Counsel General, but currently they're not automatically registered, are they? It's an act, a physical activity you have to undertake—you have to consciously think about doing it.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Perhaps before you come in, perhaps I can expand on that a little bit. So, as you said there, reasons for people to want to remain anonymous on the register—there are all sorts of, perhaps some people may call them hurdles to jump over or to run through to…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
And particularly on that point there again, on being able to register anonymously, you mentioned there that the reasons for that will need to be explained. Do you think it's reasonable for people to have to explain why they want to be anonymous?
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you. And then, to continue on the points around the electoral registration without application, in the Bill there seeks to be a 45-day period where electors can request to be registered anonymously. There have been some concerns raised about that. So…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Thank you for that. You mentioned, Counsel General, the opportunity, perhaps, for the online voter information platform to be used, and I know there may be some further questions on that more broadly later. But is that something—are you able to confirm that…
