Concise Minutes - Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee

Meeting Venue:

Video Conference via Zoom

Meeting date: Tuesday, 2 June 2020

Meeting time: 14.00 - 16.22
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/6334

------

Attendance

Category	Names
Assembly Members:	John Griffiths MS (Chair) Dawn Bowden MS Huw Irranca-Davies MS Mark Isherwood MS Delyth Jewell MS Caroline Jones MS David Melding MS
Witnesses:	Sara Kirkpatrick, Welsh Women’s Aid Yasmin Khan, National Adviser for Violence against Women, other forms of Gender-Based Violence, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence
Committee Staff:	Naomi Stocks (Clerk) Catherine Hunt (Second Clerk) Yan Thomas (Deputy Clerk) Jonathan Baxter (Researcher) Stephen Davies (Legal Adviser)

<AI1>

1 Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

1.1  The Chair welcomed Members to the meeting of the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee.

1.2  In accordance with Standing Order 34.19, the Chair stated that he had determined that the public were excluded from the Committee’s meeting in order to protect public health.

1.3 The Chair stated that if for any reason he dropped out of the meeting, the Committee agreed that Dawn Bowden MS would become Temporary Chair in accordance with Standing Order 17.22.

1.4 David Melding MS substituted for Mark Isherwood MS for item 8 in accordance with Standing Order 17.48.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2 Inquiry into Covid-19 and it's impact: evidence session on violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence

2.1The Committee received evidence from:

· Sara Kirkpatrick, Chief Executive, Welsh Women’s Aid

2.2 During the meeting, the witness agreed:

· to provide, if possible, current evidence on domestic abuse-related suicide;

· to provide information on policies and procedures relating to harassment and stalking.

</AI2>

<AI3>

3 Inquiry into Covid-19 and it's impact: evidence session on violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence

3.1 The Committee received evidence from:

· Yasmin Khan, National Adviser for Violence against Women, other forms of Gender-Based Violence, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence

3.2 During the meeting, the witness agreed:

· to provide information on the National Advisers exit strategy for coming out of lockdown;

· to provide specific information on perpetrator programmes.

</AI3>

<AI4>

4 Paper to note

</AI4>

<AI5>

4.1 Updated Welsh Government response to the Committee's report on Benefits in Wales - 20 May 2020

4.1a The Committee noted the updated Welsh Government response to the Committee's report on Benefits in Wales.

</AI5>

<AI6>

5 Motion under Standing Order 17.42(ix) to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting

5.1 The Committee agreed the motion.

</AI6>

<AI7>

6 Evidence sessions on violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence - consideration of evidence

6.1 The Committee discussed the evidence received under item 2 and 3.

</AI7>

<AI8>

7 Forward work programme

7.1 The Committee discussed and agreed it’s forward work programme.

</AI8>

<AI9>

8 Fire Safety Bill: Legislative Consent Motion

8.1 The Committee discussed the Fire Safety Bill Legislative Consent Motion.

</AI9>

<TRAILER_SECTION>

</TRAILER_SECTION>

<LAYOUT_SECTION>

1. FIELD_TITLE

FIELD_SUMMARY

</LAYOUT_SECTION>

<TITLE_ONLY_LAYOUT_SECTION>

2. FIELD_TITLE

</TITLE_ONLY_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<HEADING_LAYOUT_SECTION>

FIELD_TITLE

</HEADING_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<TITLED_COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

FIELD_TITLE

FIELD_SUMMARY

</TITLED_COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

FIELD_SUMMARY

</COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>

2.1 FIELD_TITLE

FIELD_SUMMARY

</SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<TITLE_ONLY_SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>

2.2 FIELD_TITLE

</TITLE_ONLY_SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>