Lesley Griffiths: As I said, this is a responsibility for the local authority, and planning would not cover dangerous structures. The legislation is the Building Act 1984, which is England-and-Wales legislation. So, it’s England and Wales, so it’s not our legislation. We are hoping to see a transfer of powers via the Wales Act 2017, from next April, and it’s certainly something that we can look at. But I...
Lesley Griffiths: I thank Neil McEvoy for those points, and we’ve certainly heard the leader of Cardiff city council say that there are questions to be asked. My officials have been in contact with Cardiff city council officials and, of course, we will do anything that is required of us. But, as I say, this needs to be looked at very carefully, obviously. The Health and Safety Executive are involved, so I...
Lesley Griffiths: I understand from press reports that a survey had been undertaken, I thought by Network Rail, in the area a couple of years ago. I think it’s really important that local authorities have resilience within their planning and building regulations department, and I think that’s a piece of work I can do with my colleague Mark Drakeford, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government....
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd, and thank you for the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Welsh Government on the Public Accounts Committee report on ‘Natural Resources Wales: Scrutiny of Annual Report and Accounts 2015-16’. Whilst delivering value for public money, it is the role of Welsh Ministers to ensure its public bodies in Wales maintain the appropriate standards. We need to be robust in our...
Lesley Griffiths: Yes.
Lesley Griffiths: Well, as I say, the First Minister had instigated this review prior to PAC scrutiny, and I mentioned that I’d been interviewed by the official responsible for the review. Obviously, NRW is a very large organisation and body within my portfolio, so, obviously, I have had discussions around the issues that you’ve raised in the Chamber. Despite the issues that I’ve just mentioned around...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch. The first meeting of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Cymru’s task and finish group to consider the establishment of an animal offender register will take place on 28 September. Interim findings will be submitted to officials before Easter recess, with final findings and recommendations to follow before summer recess 2018.
Lesley Griffiths: No. The Member will be aware—. Obviously, I think you started getting this back on to the agenda with the short debate that you had, and I thought the establishment of such a register was very worthy of further attention. And then RSPCA Cymru produced a briefing document, and they made a case for it also, and they offered to lead on the establishment of a task and finish group. But,...
Lesley Griffiths: Absolutely. We haven’t got into that detail on our discussions yet. But, as I say, as we go over the next few months, I’m sure those discussions with Carl Sargeant and myself will increase.
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on this matter while Natural Resources Wales is consulting on proposals to introduce new controls on salmon and sea trout fishing. Their consultation closes on 14 November, after which I will consider their recommendations.
Lesley Griffiths: Yes, it’s absolutely imperative that they do that. As I say, I don’t want to pre-empt anything, but I’ve certainly had discussions around this in my regular meetings with the chair and chief executive of NRW. Of course, we recognise that salmon and sea trout are very important, iconic species in Welsh rivers, and they of course benefit the Welsh economy. For instance, I think it’s...
Lesley Griffiths: You’re absolutely right. In my view, any consultation needs to be meaningful, so it’s very important that NRW listen to all viewpoints. And I know they do accept that this is a very serious issue and that they need to make sure that they work very hard to get the best possible outcome going forward.
Lesley Griffiths: I thank the Member for the question. I did extend it, as you say, to 30 September, following representations from the farming unions and other environmental organisations. And, certainly, over the summer recess, when I’ve been attending the agricultural shows and doing visits in both agriculture and environmental settings, it was very clear, particularly over the summer as well, that the...
Lesley Griffiths: Absolutely, and that’s something that I think we’ve been holding workshops on over the summer period and that’s certainly something that’s been raised with me. We need to collectively identify the best approach forward. So, we can certainly look at that when we have the consultation responses in and they’re being assessed.
Lesley Griffiths: I think that the pertinent word there is ‘balance’. You’re absolutely right. You mentioned canoeists and anglers, and you mentioned cycling being allowed on bridlepaths. I have to say that, in some of the discussions I’ve had over the summer, they want to see a multi-use for these paths: they want to see footpaths, cyclists and horse-riding all on the same path; others don’t want...
Lesley Griffiths: Unfortunately, I didn’t have the opportunity to meet the crew. I forget what happened—I think I was in another part of Wales, so I didn’t have the opportunity to meet them, but I was aware that Simon had met them. I’m sure that Simon Thomas is also aware that I spent the day with Roseanna Cunningham, the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform from Scotland....
Lesley Griffiths: ‘Yes’ is the short answer. I think I’m meeting the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government next week, but I’m not quite sure if that’s on the agenda. But certainly, it is something that we have started to discuss. I’m very committed to reducing marine litter, and you may be aware that stakeholders have formed a marine litter task and finish group to tackle the issue of...
Lesley Griffiths: I can’t remember if I met with the British Hydropower Association before I came to committee or after, but it was certainly around that time. Again, I have shared correspondence with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, as has the association itself. So, I think, if I could, I will write to the Member with an update.
Lesley Griffiths: We don’t have any circuses licensed in Wales. I have had at least two meetings with Lord Gardiner, the Minister with responsibility in the UK Government. We decided that we would work very closely with them around the possibility of having a joint ban. I last met with Lord Gardiner out in Brussels at an agricultural council, and I am due to have an update, I think, next month.
Lesley Griffiths: Just in relation to your first question, it’s not a matter of ‘wait and see about the UK Government’. You’ll appreciate the legislative—[Interruption.] You will appreciate that the legislative programme here is very busy, for want of a better word. I am having to make sure that I have legislation being looked at ready for post-Brexit. I thought that was the best way forward,...
