North Regional Committee

Report To The National Assembly For Wales 2005-2006

Introduction

1. The North Wales Regional Committee is one of the Assembly's five regional committees constituted under s61 of the Government of Wales Act 1998 and Standing Order 10. The committee covers Alyn and Deeside, Caernarfon, Clwyd, Conwy, Delyn, Wrexham and Ynys Mon.

2. Standing Order 10.2 provides that

“Regional committees shall advise the Assembly on matters affecting their regions, the effect of Assembly policies in those regions and the work of public bodies there.” The Committee is required to meet at least twice a year in the region.

3. There are 14 members:

Eleanor Burnham North Wales Liberal Democrat Mark Isherwood North Wales Conservative Caernarfon Vale of Clwyd Labour Denise Idris Jones Conwy Labour Ynys Mon Plaid Cymru Wrexham Forward Wales Delyn Labour Alun Pugh Clwyd West Labour North Wales Plaid Cymru Carl Sergeant Alyn & Deeside Labour Karen Sinclair Clwyd South Labour Brynle Williams North Wales Conservative

4. Eleanor Burnham was elected as Chair from May 2005.

Meetings

5. The Committee met six times between May 2005 and March 2006. Details are attached at Annex 1.

Method of working

6. The role of the 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.

7. Generally, the Committee has focused on arranging meetings on a specific theme with a strong emphasis on public participation throughout the meeting. Following each meeting the Committee produced a report summarising the views expressed by the people of North Wales, which was submitted to the appropriate Assembly Minister for comment.

Meeting Venues

8. The Committee has remained committed to an inclusive approach to its work. The Committee held meetings in Beaumaris, St Asaph, Wrexham, Caernafon, Ruthin and Criccieth.

The Issues

9. The Committee has dealt with a range of issues across the spectrum of the Assembly’s responsibilities.

Public Transport in North Wales

th 10. The Committee discussed Public Transport at its meeting on 20P P May. The meeting gave local organisations, school children and members of the public the opportunity to put their views to the Committee, which were also passed on to the Minister for Economic Development and Transport.

Hospice Care in North Wales

11. In July, the Committee discussed Hospice Care in North Wales. The Committee heard from local hospice care providers. The views received were fed back to the Minister for Health and Social Services.

Complementary Medicine and Well Being

12. The Committee discussed aspects of Complementary Medicine and Well Being at its October meeting. Presentations were given by representatives of Conwy and Trust and local healthcare providers. The views received were passed on to the Minister for Health and Social Services.

Dentistry in North Wales

13. The committee discussed Dentistry in North Wales during its November meeting. The committee and a panel of local Health Service providers took questions from the public. Their views were passed on to the Minister for Health and Social Services.

Open Access to the Countryside

13. At its meeting in February, the Committee discussed Open Access to the Countryside. The meeting was attended by the First Minister, representatives of relevant organisations and the public. At the committees ‘open microphone’ session, members of the public were enabled to question committee members, members of the panel and the First Minister. Opinions expressed in the meeting were forwarded to the Minister for Environment, Countryside and Planning.

Affordable Housing in North Wales

14. At its meeting in March, the Committee looked at Affordable Housing in North Wales. A wide range of views were received, both from presenters and the public, all of which were fed back to the Minister for Social Justice and Regeneration.

Conclusion

15. The North Wales regional committee provides an opportunity for Assembly members to engage formally in dialogue with and to convey the views of the people of the region, which was done successfully during the reporting period.

Eleanor Burnham

Committee Chair

ANNEX 1

NORTH WALES REGIONAL COMMITTEE

SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS

May 2005 to March 2006

Date Venue Agenda 20 May 2005 Beaumaris Centre, Public Transport in North Wales Beaumaris • Network Rail • Arriva Trains • Rail Passengers Committee Wales • Confederation of Passenger Transport Wales • Bus Users UK • TAITH 1 July Optic Technium, St Hospice Care in North Wales 2005 Asaph • Nightingale House • St Kentigern Hospice, St Asaph • St David’s Hospice, • Hope House, Children’s Hospice • Hospice at Home, • The North Wales Network of Palliative Care 7 October Memorial Hall, Complementary Medicine and Well Being 2005 Gresford, Wrexham • Conwy and Denbigh Trust • Dr Barry Graham, Acupuncturist and Homeopath • Martin Thompson, Shiatsu Master • Sue Wine, Mc Timony Chiropractor

18 November Galeri, Victoria Dock, Dentistry in North Wales 2005 Caernarfon • Conwy Local Health Board • Community Health Council • North West Wales NHS Trust 3 February Canolfan Gymunedol Open Access to the Countryside 2006 Cae Cymro • Countryside Council for Wales Community Centre, • NFU Cymru Clawddnewydd, • Farmers’ Union of Wales Ruthin • Forestry Commission Wales • North Wales Police Force • Denbigshire County Council • Ramblers’ Association Wales 24 March Criccieth Memorial Affordable Housing 2006 Hall, Criccieth • Environmental Directorate, • Cymdeithas Tai Eryri • Chartered Institute of Housing, Cymru • Cymuned • Cymdeithas yr Iaith Cymraeg