South East Wales Regional Committee Is One of the Assembly’S Five Regional Committees
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South Wales East Regional Committee Report to the National Assembly for Wales: April 2006 to March 2007 Introduction 1. The South East Wales Regional Committee is one of the Assembly’s five regional committees. The geographic area of the Committee, as specified by Standing Order 10.1, included Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Newport, Torfaen and Rhymney. 2. Jocelyn Davies was the elected as Chair at the start of the reporting period, in accordance with the agreed cycle of progression between the political parties. 3. Committee Members were: Rosemary Butler, Jeff Cuthburt, David Davies, Jocelyn Davies, Michael German, William Graham, John Griffiths, Irene James, Laura Anne Jones, Trish Law (replacing Peter Law - who died during the reporting period), Huw Lewis and Lynne Neagle. Remit and method of working 4. The role of the regional committees, as defined by Standing Order 10.2, is to advise the Assembly on matters affecting their regions, the effect of Assembly policies in those regions and the work of public bodies there. 5. The Committee has continued with the working practices established during the first Assembly. In particular, it adopted 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 not only to the panel of speakers but also the Committee Members. Whenever appropriate, the Chair ensured that members of the public received a written reply to their questions from the relevant Assembly Minister. 6. During the reporting period, the Committee met at Blackwood, Caldicot and Pontypool. 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 example, the evidence gathered and views expressed at the first meeting were passed to the Health and Social Services Committee, to inform their review of Cancer Services in Wales. 8. The Committee continued to develop its links with key partners throughout the statutory, voluntary and private sectors in the region. The main bodies invited to meet the Committee during the reporting period are shown in the table below. Summary of meetings held 9. A summary of Committee meetings in 2006-07 is set out below: Date Venue Topic and Organisations 16 June 2006 Blackwood Health and Social Services Committee Review into Cancer Services • Velindre Hospital, Cardiff • South East Wales Cancer Network • Macmillan Cancer Care, South East Wales Regional Office • CLIC Sargent, Caring for Children with Cancer 27 October Caldicot The Fire Service in South East Wales 2006 • South Wales Fire and Rescue Service • Firebrake Wales • Fire Brigade Union • Retained Fire-fighters Union 9 March 2007 Pontypool Epilepsy Services in South East Wales • All Wales Epilepsy Forum • Epilepsy Bereaved • Gwent NHS Health Trust • Epilepsy Unit, University Hospital Wales Conclusion 10. The Committee successfully engaged in dialogue with the people of the region and conveyed their views to relevant Assembly Ministers. Committee Service March 2007 .