I'm afraid I cannot support amendment 119, relating to the performance management of chief executives. The duty on principal councils to make and publish arrangements for managing the performance of the chief executive of the council was removed from the Bill at Stage 2. The decision to remove the provisions was taken after listening carefully to the evidence provided during Stage 1. Solace and the WLGA expressed deep concern about the level of prescription within the provision, which was reinforced by further discussions with these stakeholders prior to Stage 2. As I set out at Stage 2 in the committee, I would expect the new self and panel assessment approach to performance and governance set out in the Bill to explore the leadership of the organisation and its effectiveness. I'm therefore unable to support the amendment.

The amendments I have tabled in this group are minor and technical. Amendment 75 refines the instruction that states where, within the text being amended, the amendments provided for by paragraph 6 of Schedule 8 should be inserted, whilst amendment 80 removes a consequential amendment to the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011, which is rendered unnecessary by section 54. Diolch.