Concise Minutes - Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee Room 3 - Senedd

Meeting date: Thursday, 12 January 2017

Meeting time: 09.47 - 14.30
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/3952

Attendance

Category	Names
Assembly Members:	Mark Reckless AM (Chair) Jayne Bryant AM Siân Gwenllian AM Vikki Howells AM Huw Irranca-Davies AM David Melding AM Jenny Rathbone AM Simon Thomas AM
Witnesses:	Dai Davies, Hybu Cig Cymru Stephen James, NFU Cymru Arfon Williams, RSBP Adrian Barsby, Wales Tourism Alliance Angela Charlton, Ramblers Cymru Nick Fenwick, Farmers' Union of Wales Tony Davies, Fairness for the Uplands Martin Bishop, Confor Frances Winder, Woodlands Trust Dr Tim Peppin, Welsh Local Government Association Councillor Jamie Adams, Pembrokeshire County Council Goronwy Edwards Dafydd Gruffydd, Business Manager for LEADER in Anglesey and Gwynedd
Committee Staff:	Martha Da Gama Howells (Second Clerk) Rhys Morgan (Deputy Clerk) Elfyn Henderson (Researcher) Katie Wyatt (Legal Adviser)

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Transcript

View the meeting transcript (PDF 1MB) View as HTML (451KB)

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1 Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

There were no apologies.

Huw Irranca-Davies declared that he is Vice President of Ramblers Cymru.

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2 Inquiry into the future of agricultural and rural development policies in Wales - Funding, regulation and trade

The Committee heard evidence on the ways in which rural enterprise can be stimulated.  They also discussed the potential effects of changes in funding and regulation on agricultural businesses and maintaining biodiversity.

Hybu Cig Cymru agreed to provide further information on the ways in which they promote meat produce from smaller, upland sheep.

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3 Inquiry into the future of agricultural and rural development policies in Wales - Tourism and access

The Committee heard evidence on the ways in which support for agricultural and rural businesses contributes to tourism in Wales.  They also discussed issues related to access and Ramblers Cymru agreed to provide further information on access to the countryside.

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4 Paper(s) to note

Members noted the papers.

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4.1 Letter from Countryside Alliance on use of snares in Wales

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4.2 Response from Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs to the statement on the future of agricultural and rural development in Wales

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4.3 Letter from Natural Resources Wales

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4.4 Response from Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs - following budget scrutiny session

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4.5 A Smarter Energy Future for Wales Report - Welsh Government Response

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4.6 Letter from Cabinet Secretary on issues arising from the work of the Committee

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5 Inquiry into the future of agricultural and rural development policies in Wales - Forestry and the uplands

The Committee heard evidence on the opportunities and risks to uplands farms, farming in Wales, commercial forestry and the woodlands if funding support for agriculture were to change after 2019.

Confor agreed to provide further information on employment in the forestry industry.

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6 Inquiry into the future of agricultural and rural development policies in Wales - Rural communities

The Committee heard evidence on the ways in which rural funding can maintain communities and stimulate business innovation.

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7 Motion under Standing Order 17.42 to resolve to exclude the public from the meeting for the following business:

The motion was agreed.

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