Sam Rowlands: Thanks for the contribution, Mike Hedges. I think what you point to there is obviously a desire to tax some areas much more significantly than others. Of course, what we need to see is a fair settlement to benefit residents across all of Wales. That disparity for me is an opportunity that hasn't been dealt with. I'm also disappointed to see there's still no or very little talk from Welsh...
Sam Rowlands: 8. How is the Minister using cross-cutting measures to promote prosperity in North Wales? OQ57615
Sam Rowlands: Thank you, Deputy Minister, for your response. I'm sure that you'll agree with me that one of the best ways of tackling poverty is to promote prosperity, and one of the best ways to move out of poverty is to be in a good, secure job and for businesses to be thriving to allow that to happen. I'm sure the Deputy Minister will be aware that one of my favourite bedtime readings is the...
Sam Rowlands: Thank you to Mabon ap Gwynfor for submitting this really important debate and allowing me to speak. It's great to have a ringside seat on the issue of sports facilities in our rural communities. As outlined so far in debate, sport is so crucial for rural communities, especially at grass-roots level, including the region that I represent in north Wales, and we know that sport is vital for...
Sam Rowlands: Thanks, Minister, for your statement today and the regulations that have been set out before us as well. As the Minister, I'm sure, is aware, and many people are aware, I'm a keen follower of corporate joint committees. I was intrigued to see them on the order paper here today. As you've outlined, Minister, the key functions of the south-east Wales corporate joint committee are in relation to...
Sam Rowlands: Thanks to the Member for submitting today's question. I'm sure the Minister will agree with me, and perhaps acknowledge, that it is deeply concerning that, after 20 years, the Bryn Cegin Park still lies empty. And I appreciate the comments you've made in terms of future developments, but we've had 20 years of perhaps missed opportunities to see high-quality jobs in Bangor and across north...
Sam Rowlands: Thank you, Rhys. The points around Scotland and the STV coming in, you rightly pointed out the uncontested seats move. But, also, since STV's been there, electoral turnout has been significantly less. So, in the two years preceding STV, there was a turnout of around 54 per cent; since then, it's around 46 per cent. So, how would you support that in terms of engaging with local democracy,...
Sam Rowlands: Thank you to Rhys ab Owen for submitting today's Member's debate, and also to Llyr Gruffydd and Jane Dodds for co-submitting. I'd better declare an interest as a sitting county councillor in Conwy County Borough Council at this point. As many Members will know, I'm a keen enthusiast of local government, and I'm delighted that this important area has been raised in the Senedd, here today. I'll...
Sam Rowlands: I'll take an intervention, Llywydd, if he's interested.
Sam Rowlands: It's a very strange coincidence, then, Llywydd; a very strange coincidence that voter turnout has fallen dramatically at that point. In terms of looking to deal with uncontested seats, which I think is an important part of the motion, and certainly something that I do think needs addressing, I think my biggest concern with the proposal today is that it does seem to be looking to deal with...
Sam Rowlands: Will you take an intervention?
Sam Rowlands: Thank you. To those points you just raised there in terms of that consultation, Mike Hedges made some really important points around how sparse some of these areas could be, and therefore the risk, with proportional representation, of losing that local touch, because, actually, it's such a big area to cover, and the fundamentals of councils and councillors are actually about being connected...
Sam Rowlands: Absolutely. An absolute risk, yes.
Sam Rowlands: I'm sorry for intervening again, but I just want to be clear: the numbers that I shared were a four-year period. I wasn't picking individual years. So, the difference between the two prior years, or the two prior elections and the two post elections were the numbers I quoted 8 per cent for.
Sam Rowlands: Diolch, acting Llywydd. I'm delighted to move the motion tabled today in the name of my colleague Darren Millar regarding local government funding. I will again declare an interest as an elected member of Conwy County Borough Council as well. As the start of this motion here points to, and as I've mentioned time and time again in this Chamber, and it's something that I'll continue to raise,...
Sam Rowlands: As Members will be aware, the local government funding formula represents around 70 per cent of a council's ability to spend on and deliver their services, meaning that this funding dictates the bulk of what councils are able to deliver. As outlined in the Government's amendment today, and as I'm sure many Members on Labour's benches here want to highlight, I do appreciate that the proposed...
Sam Rowlands: Can I make a brief intervention here? Thank you. You pointed out there that the formula is driven by data. Would you accept, though, as I pointed out, that some of the data points—actually, quite a few of the data points—are clearly very far out of date? And, actually, a piece of work needs to be done, at the very least, to make sure that the data you're using, and Government is using, to...
Sam Rowlands: Good afternoon, Trefnydd. I'd like to ask for a Welsh Government statement regarding the future role of the fire service in north Wales and in Wales more broadly. As someone whose brother-in-law is a firefighter, I know the extraordinary work that the fire service do carry out in our communities. I'm also aware of some of the challenges that are facing them at the moment. Following a meeting...
Sam Rowlands: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you, Deputy Minister, for bringing forward today's important statement—one in which I, of course, have a keen interest, having three of the best children in Wales, of whom I am the father. As you mentioned, Deputy Minister, in your statement, the Welsh Government, of course, wants what's best for the children of Wales. Members across the...
Sam Rowlands: —so you can hear the voice of parents. So—. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'll ask a question. How will you ensure that, in your plan, the role of parents is not disregarded, and what specific action will you take to ensure that the voice of parents is at the forefront of your plans?
