20 October 2026 , Plenary
Statement by the First Minister: 60th Anniversary of the Aberfan Disaster
Like Lis, I was brought up in Aberfan and had many friends who were there that day. So, today, we pause with heavy hearts to remember the lives lost in Aberfan's disaster. Sixty years on, the pain of that terrible day remains deeply felt by families, friends…
20 October 2026 , Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Minister, Welsh taxpayers are continually being asked to pay more, yet many feel they are receiving less in return. Does the Minister agree that rather than continually demanding more from Welsh taxpayers, the Welsh Government should first demonstrate that it…
20 October 2026 , Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
8. What action is the Welsh Government taking to ensure efficiency and waste reduction when delivering public services to achieve better value for money for taxpayers? OQ64796
14 October 2026 , Plenary
Reform UK Debate: Local referendums on council tax rises
Do you think that the taxpayer, local tax payers, should pay for everything, Mike? How high do you think the council tax should go up every year, because, under Labour, it's going up and up and up?
13 October 2026 , Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
Business Manager, can I ask for a joint statement from the Deputy Minister for social care, the Minister for local government and the Minister for education on the pupil development grant for children looked after? The issue I raise is complicated and cuts…
7 October 2026 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
Minister, people in Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr have been asking me how many more years will communities and businesses have to wait for a planning system that delivers decisions promptly. Will you commit to clear, measurable targets for reducing delays? Will…
7 October 2026 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
8. What action is the Cabinet Minister taking to speed up the processing of planning applications by local authorities? OQ64640
1 October 2026 , Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Follow-up inquiry into Empty Properties: Evidence session 3
You know the housing grant is underspent, so do you think it'd be good if you could get your hands on that sort of money? Because there's £45 million that's not spent. So, if it's not being used by the local authorities, surely it'd be good to hand it over to…
1 October 2026 , Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Follow-up inquiry into Empty Properties: Evidence session 3
Do you find regulation within the Welsh policy of planning hard to get around?
1 October 2026 , Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Follow-up inquiry into Empty Properties: Evidence session 3
Can I ask a little question?
1 October 2026 , Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Follow-up inquiry into Empty Properties: Evidence session 3
My second question is: do you find planning an obstacle to getting these homes into place?
1 October 2026 , Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Follow-up inquiry into Empty Properties: Evidence session 3
This is a question to Casey. Do you think local authorities work closely enough with people like yourselves?
1 October 2026 , Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Scrutiny of the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on the Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Electoral Reform) (Wales) Regulations 2026
Oh, I agree, yes.
1 October 2026 , Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Scrutiny of the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on the Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Electoral Reform) (Wales) Regulations 2026
How do we know? How can we know if they have?
1 October 2026 , Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Scrutiny of the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on the Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Electoral Reform) (Wales) Regulations 2026
One other question I've got to ask is on the duplication of registration of these students living in one place and also registered at home: how can we be sure they're not voting in both places?
1 October 2026 , Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Scrutiny of the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on the Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Electoral Reform) (Wales) Regulations 2026
One question I've got is—. We've just had empty homes organisations in earlier on, and there is a disparity in numbers from the council records and the actual empty homes. I'm led to believe that most of our information will come from the electoral roll and…
1 October 2026 , Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Scrutiny of the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on the Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Electoral Reform) (Wales) Regulations 2026
Yes. Oh, I agree with that. I agree with it.
1 October 2026 , Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Scrutiny of the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on the Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Electoral Reform) (Wales) Regulations 2026
Thank you. One instance I've got is homes for older people and care homes. What I found in the local election was, I looked in one of the care homes—and my mother was in that care home, and she actually voted. Now, my mother had dementia. My mother didn't…
1 October 2026 , Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Follow-up inquiry into Empty Properties: Evidence session 2
Thank you.
1 October 2026 , Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Follow-up inquiry into Empty Properties: Evidence session 2
Yes. Thanks for that, Jamie. If you catch someone who's wilfully saying that there's someone living in the property and you find out that they're not, what can you do about that? Are they fined or are they—?
1 October 2026 , Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Follow-up inquiry into Empty Properties: Evidence session 2
I was hoping one of them didn't opt in, because I wanted to know why they didn't opt in. So, that's the question.
1 October 2026 , Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Follow-up inquiry into Empty Properties: Evidence session 2
Yes. I'm glad to hear the answer there just now. I was going to ask about the £25,000, and whether you think it's sufficient now, because it has gone on, but you've answered that. Out of the 18 of the 22 authorities that opted into the grant, I wonder whether…
29 September 2026 , Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
Thank you. Business Manager, can I ask for a statement from the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on how local government's funding supports the third sector and charitable organisations? The Welsh Local Government Association…
22 September 2026 , Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning: Building Safety Programme Update
Cabinet Minister, the building safety programme risks becoming yet another example of taxpayers being asked to foot the bill for failures that they did not cause. England regulates buildings above 18m under its strictest duties. Wales has brought every…
17 September 2026 , Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
The Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Electoral Reform) (Wales) Regulations 2026: Evidence session 2
Having come from Merthyr, which is the smallest authority involved, I see they're already on a staff of bare bones. They can't get people in because they can't afford to increase their—. In fact, they’re actually getting rid of people. So to bring people into…
