Rebecca Evans: Thank you. I would just like to—I think I'm—. I'm not on mute—apologies. I'd just like to thank again the committee for their work in this area, and stress how important these regulations are, because there are a small number of local by-elections taking place in the autumn for recently announced vacancies, so these regulations will help people to have their say in those elections....
Rebecca Evans: The Representation of the People (Amendment) (Wales) (Coronavirus) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 temporarily extend these provisions to 28 March 2022. After this date, no local by-elections of any kind may be held before the ordinary local elections in May. We will consider separately what arrangements will need to be in place for the local government ordinary elections in May next year. I am...
Rebecca Evans: Diolch, Llywydd. Elections are essential to our democracy. Anything that impacts them should be taken seriously, so I am pleased to bring these regulations before you and to hear the views of colleagues in the Chamber today on the Representation of the People (Amendment) (Wales) (Coronavirus) (No. 2) Regulations 2021. I want to ensure that local by-elections are conducted safely and in a way...
Rebecca Evans: No, thank you.
Rebecca Evans: Diolch. I move the motion. Local authorities that are principal councils will be able to exercise the general power of competence from the start of November. When they are exercising that power for a commercial purpose, it is important that local authorities fully consider what they are trying to achieve, why and how they are going to achieve this, the likely financial implications and the...
Rebecca Evans: Yes, I can absolutely give that commitment to press the UK Government on this particular issue. Ahead of the spending review I’ll be writing to the Chancellor outlining our priorities for Wales in that letter, and I will be requesting that the UK Government works urgently with us to develop a formal strategy and funding programme for long-term remediation, reclamation and repurposing of...
Rebecca Evans: UK Government must act to tackle the long-term legacy cost to Wales of remediation, reclamation and repurposing of coal tip sites, which are a legacy of the pre-devolution mining industry. At least £600 million is needed over a decade and a half, far more than anticipated when devolution and our current funding arrangements began.
Rebecca Evans: Well, I very recently approved funding for a new digital delivery manager for town and community councils in Wales, and the expectation is that they will build on the good work that has already been established. Of course, we consulted on the requirement in terms of future hybrid working, and it should be clear that what's required of town and community councils is that the person who's...
Rebecca Evans: John Griffiths is right to say that relationships were excellent through the pandemic, and the new ways of working really did enable that. It's important that we build on both the relationships and the new technologies that have enabled those relationships to be very strong throughout the pandemic. So, I just—last week, I think it was—chaired a meeting of the Welsh Government Cabinet and...
Rebecca Evans: Welsh Government works closely with local government in Wales through a range of formal and informal engagement mechanisms across all portfolios. Ministers work with leaders, and our officials work together, to achieve better policy development and service delivery outcomes for the people of Wales.
Rebecca Evans: Thank you for raising that issue this afternoon. There are a number of ways in which we communicate directly with businesses. One is through Business Wales, which has an excellent database of businesses here in Wales, so we're able to get information to them very rapidly and that was extremely useful to us during the pandemic. And, of course, all businesses that are subject to non-domestic...
Rebecca Evans: Well, it's very exciting to see how interested the Conservative benches are in the UK Government's approach to non-domestic rates. I decide non-domestic rates here in Wales, and we do so based on the situation here in Wales, which is somewhat different in terms of our economy, and we're very pleased to be in a position to do so here in Wales. What I will say is that we're looking at an...
Rebecca Evans: We are developing an ambitious programme of local tax reforms that support a stronger economy, stable communities and vibrant public services. Within this, we are considering how to improve our non-domestic rates system while sustaining vital revenue for local services, which deliver significant benefits for everyone.
Rebecca Evans: Thank you for raising this question. Ultimately, of course, the setting of council tax is a matter for local authorities—or for the councils, I should say—themselves. That said, Welsh Government is keen to support people with council tax and the payment of council tax, and we support over 200,000 households with their council tax. Often, households aren't aware of the support that's...
Rebecca Evans: I have expectations of the UK Government in terms of ensuring that they're not restraining wages in the public sector, for example, as we've seen most recently from the UK Government, so it's very difficult for me to respond to this question. I'll try and be helpful and point to the role of the corporate joint committees and what they can do in terms of working together to improve the...
Rebecca Evans: Economic resilience continues to be one of the core aims of this Government, which is why we have invested over £600 million in grant funding to support businesses this year, and over £250 million has been provided to businesses in south-west Wales since April 2020.
Rebecca Evans: Well, it's good that Paul Davies does recognise the good progress that we have made in Wales in recent years in terms of household recycling. We're absolutely one of the best in Wales, and we want to maintain—.
Rebecca Evans: So, I was referring to our good progress in Wales in terms of our household recycling, putting us as one of the best in the world and, clearly, we want to maintain that and continue to improve our performance there. As you say, Pembrokeshire is currently consulting on this. This is a matter for Pembrokeshire County Council. However, I will make your concerns known to the Minister for Climate...
Rebecca Evans: I'm grateful for the ongoing work of local government, including Pembrokeshire, and other public service leaders in delivering public services to support the COVID recovery and protect vulnerable people in our communities. Local government continues to do excellent work in challenging times.
Rebecca Evans: Thank you for raising the question, and I also have discussions with local government in terms of the funding needed. But I have to say, it's not a question of what I'm willing to support; it's what I'm able to support as a result of the Welsh Government budget that we're provided with by the UK Government. So, clearly, I would want to do more for local government, but we were able last year...
