Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. I'm thrilled to be able to contribute to this debate. I'm actually enjoying my time on the Petitions Committee, because I've been surprised, really, just how many people do take that Petitions Committee seriously and actually feel that they can engage with the democratic process here. But I have to say, one of the best evidence sessions of any committees that I've been on in the...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 7. Will the First Minister make a statement on the financial performance of town and community councils in Wales? OAQ51732
Janet Finch-Saunders: Latest data for Betsi board shows that 9,526 patients requiring treatment have now been waiting over 36 weeks from referral. That figure has more than doubled from when the board was taken into special measures, and 41 per cent of these are orthopaedic and trauma cases. In December, your Cabinet Secretary pledged to halve that number by March this year, and last week, of course, we had the...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, First Minister. I'm glad that you've read the report. But, as you rightly pointed out, the auditor general has raised several concerns. One thing, in particular, though: local council reserves currently stand at £41.5 million. This is money that taxpayers have paid through a council precept to provide services for them. He also noted that community councils in Wales are receiving...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 8. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the Welsh Government's new borrowing powers? OAQ51753
Janet Finch-Saunders: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the formula for calculating business rates?
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. Cabinet Secretary, I'm sure you'll join me in welcoming the new borrowing powers of, as you say, up to £1 billion, under the Wales Act 2017, coming into effect in just a matter of weeks. Now, of course it is vital that these moneys and powers are used to drive the Welsh economy forward, and in north Wales in particular, this means making journey times faster and more reliable,...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Can I thank the committee for actually working on this report? As the older people's champion for our party, this is a key issue, and it's something that I've worked with Sarah Rochira on. The sheer numbers of people reported as experiencing loneliness and isolation: 18 per cent of the UK population, equating to almost 458,000 people in Wales. Again, amongst older people, 25 per cent report...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 8. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to improve public transport services in Wales? OAQ51874
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. First Minister, in the past 12 months, the A55 has now been closed 55 times. That, of course, brings about huge delays for our bus services, our commuters and, generally, really affects business, our tourism industry and everything. Can you provide an update on the works to follow the A55 resilience study and confirm how many of the quick wins that have been identified will be...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 3. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on development works on the A55 in north Wales? OAQ51850
Janet Finch-Saunders: Can I thank Simon Thomas for bringing this question? Because I'm a really keen supporter of children receiving free milk in schools and, preferably, until they leave school, but there we go. Can I thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for saying that you're as committed to providing that? But post Brexit, what consideration will you make of encouraging direct partnerships between our local milk...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. You'll be aware, yesterday, that I had to raise with the First Minister the number of times that the A55 has actually been closed—that's 55—for a total of 2,720 hours. That's over 113 days. That's nearly a third of a year. This is an essential trunk road for businesses, freight and holidaymakers across the north, and they have been let down time and time...
Janet Finch-Saunders: I'd like to reiterate a lot of what has been said already, and to thank Linda and the many people who signed the petition: 6,398. It certainly does make the work of the Petitions Committee very relevant when such an issue with such engagement from the public has taken place. In 2015, the then Deputy Minister for Farming and Food stated that the Welsh Government were considering whether it...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 6. Will the First Minister make a statement on the future role of community and town councils in Wales? OAQ51912
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. Over the past seven years, I've had many concerns raised with me regarding the functions of community and town councils, and in that time also I've raised them here. There have been two other reviews, so we're now finding ourselves in the middle of a review going forward. Now, the Wales Audit Office has found 65 community councils have not even yet adopted a code of conduct for...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and, again, without sounding too repetitive, I'd like to thank you for your considerations. The one thing that's stuck in my mind on this is not only have you listened to Assembly Members, but you've listened to the genuine and general concerns out there. Of course, I have Snowdonia National Park within my constituency of Aberconwy, and there you've had...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Llywydd, today, we were called at 10:30 as spokespeople to meet with the Cabinet Secretary to discuss the proposals going forward, and I thank the Cabinet Secretary for that. He has maintained since he came into post that he wanted to do so with absolute respect, and that's something we want to work forward to, in positive, going forward, terms. However, I have to be honest, to then present...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Okay. Okay. With your proposals for larger local authorities, does the Cabinet Secretary envisage that councillors will be elected by proportional representation or first-past-the-post? We would like the answer to that today. And, finally, will you confirm how many council leaders have asked you to leave their councils alone and actually continue in the model now of 22 local authorities?...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Cabinet Secretary, you will be aware that Members across this Chamber have raised concerns about the current local government funding formula. Now, with regard to that, you said to me in January: 'I've heard many Conservative Members here arguing for a change in the formula. What I haven't heard is Conservative councillors arguing for that change in the formula.' But...
