Mid and West Regional Committee

Annual Report to Plenary: 2006-07

Introduction

1. The National Assembly for Wales established five regional committees in 2005. 2. The Mid and West Wales Regional Committee covers Brecon and Radnorshire; Carmarthen East and Dinefwr; Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire; Ceredigion; Llanelli; Meirionnydd Nant Conwy; Montgomeryshire and Preseli Pembrokeshire. This report covers the period from April 2005 to March 2006. 3. Christine Gwyther was the Chair at the start of the reporting period, in accordance with the agreed cycle of progression between the political parties Mick Bates took over from May 2006 and chaired all three meetings.

4. Committee members were, Nick Bourne, Glyn Davies, Tamsin Dunwoody, Lisa Francis, Christine Gwyther, Elin Jones, , Rhodri Glyn Thomas, Catherine Thomas, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, Kirsty Williams.

Remit and method of working

4. The role of regional committees, as defined by Standing Order 10.2, is to advise the National Assembly on matters affecting their regions, the effect of Assembly policies in those regions and the work of public bodies there.

5. With some refinements, the Committee continued with the working practices established by the Mid Wales Regional Committee during its operation in the first Assembly. In particular, it operated as a single committee covering the whole region, with a ‘themed’ approach to meetings. The Committee continued to give prominence to public participation at meetings. Meetings always included an ‘open microphone’ session, to enable members of the public to ask questions to both the panel and the committee members on the topic under discussion. Whenever appropriate, the Chair ensured that members of the public receive a written reply to their questions from the relevant Assembly Minister.

6. During the reporting period the Committee met at Machynlleth, Llandrindod Wells and Haverfordwest.

7. Topics were selected either to reflect a local perspective to inform a particular policy area being developed by the Welsh Assembly Government, or to gather evidence and local opinion on behalf of one of the subject Committees. For

1 example, the evidence gathered and views expressed at the second meeting in Llandrindod Wells, were passed onto the Social Justice and Regeneration Committee, to inform their review of Youth Homelessness.

8. The Committee continued to develop its links with key partners throughout the statutory, voluntary and private sectors in the region. The main organisations invited to meet the Committee during the year are shown in the table below.

Summary of meetings held during the reporting period:

Date Venue Topic 19 May 2006 Machynlleth The Potential for Green Jobs in Mid and West Wales • Welsh Assembly Government • Dulas Engineering • Centre for Alternative Technology • Mid Wales Energy Agency • Mid Wales Tourism Partnership

17 November Llandrindod Growing Up in Rural Wales 2006 Wells • Homeless Strategy, Powys County Borough Council • Children’s and Young People Framework Partnership, Powys County Borough Council • Powys Youth Workers • Powys Youth Forum

16 February Haverfordwest Energy and the Environment 2007 • South Hook LNG • Friends of the Earth • Countryside Council for Wales • Environment Agency Wales

Forward work programme

9. The Committee successfully engaged in dialogue with the people of the region and conveyed their views to relevant Assembly Ministers.

Mid and West Wales Regional Committee March 2007

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