, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24 - part 2
We'll go on to environmental governance, which is one that constantly pops up in our scrutiny of you as well.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24 - part 2
Okay.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24 - part 2
We'll come on to much of that—the biodiversity stuff—in a minute. So, back to Joyce, and we do need to retain the focus on the budget as well.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24 - part 2
Jenny would like to come in specifically on that.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24 - part 2
We're just reconvening, Joyce, and I was just about to invite you to start with the next area of questioning.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24 - part 2
Welcome back to the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee. We are continuing our scrutiny of the Minister and the Deputy Minister in relation to the budget. We'll turn to another area of questioning now—and there we are, Joyce is just…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) and (ix) to resolve to exclude the public from items 4 and 7 of today's meeting
And without that complementarity, you don't get the best value out of every pound. Every investment needs to pull in the same direction and be part of a bigger plan. But, there we are, that's a whole other session, which is probably one that the Finance…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) and (ix) to resolve to exclude the public from items 4 and 7 of today's meeting
Well, we haven't got time for that, I'm afraid, Jon. [Laughter.] Joyce wants to come in very briefly, and then we will take a short break.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) and (ix) to resolve to exclude the public from items 4 and 7 of today's meeting
Dean wanted to come in.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) and (ix) to resolve to exclude the public from items 4 and 7 of today's meeting
Okay, thank you. We'll get back to the budget before us now. [Laughter.]
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) and (ix) to resolve to exclude the public from items 4 and 7 of today's meeting
I'll allow the Deputy Minister just briefly to come in and we'll have to move on then.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) and (ix) to resolve to exclude the public from items 4 and 7 of today's meeting
Joyce wanted to come in on this as well, I think.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) and (ix) to resolve to exclude the public from items 4 and 7 of today's meeting
Yes, but it's the committee on climate change that—[Inaudible.]—in the summer, which will inform—
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) and (ix) to resolve to exclude the public from items 4 and 7 of today's meeting
Okay, thank you. Thank you very much. Right, okay, we'll move on, then. Huw.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) and (ix) to resolve to exclude the public from items 4 and 7 of today's meeting
Yes, sure.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) and (ix) to resolve to exclude the public from items 4 and 7 of today's meeting
There we are, okay. Thank you.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) and (ix) to resolve to exclude the public from items 4 and 7 of today's meeting
But in the next financial year, there is a squeeze, isn't there?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) and (ix) to resolve to exclude the public from items 4 and 7 of today's meeting
Finally on transport, I think, and then we can move on. You mentioned the age of austerity—what is there in the budget that will support local authorities transitioning to the 20 mph approach? Because, clearly, we wouldn't want that to take away resource or…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) and (ix) to resolve to exclude the public from items 4 and 7 of today's meeting
Or in the Conwy valley, which is an annual event.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) and (ix) to resolve to exclude the public from items 4 and 7 of today's meeting
Sure, okay. Delyth.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) and (ix) to resolve to exclude the public from items 4 and 7 of today's meeting
And it's a never-ending process as well, isn't it, really. Yes.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) and (ix) to resolve to exclude the public from items 4 and 7 of today's meeting
Yes. But, obviously, budget limitations mean that what you can do has to be tempered by reality. But, can you reassure us that there is a significant or a meaningful programme in place to try and not wait until these things happen, but to actually try and…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) and (ix) to resolve to exclude the public from items 4 and 7 of today's meeting
Just on more significant infrastructure then, in terms of roads, as well, obviously Menai bridge is one that crept up on people, let's say, at a certain point last year, but we've also seen significant infrastructure like the road in Newbridge that was…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) and (ix) to resolve to exclude the public from items 4 and 7 of today's meeting
There are some particular issues around highway maintenance that come up every year, both trunk roads and local roads. Can you tell us a bit about the backlog there and what your assessment is in terms of what needs to be invested in what we have?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) and (ix) to resolve to exclude the public from items 4 and 7 of today's meeting
And I'm sure the committee is up for playing our part in that respect as well. Great. Okay. Diolch yn fawr iawn. Sorry, Jenny, back to you.
