National Assembly committee supports Local Government Byelaws (Wales) Bill
30 March 2012
A National Assembly for Wales committee has agreed to the general principals of the Local Government Byelaws (Wales) Bill.
The Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee found that the majority of witnesses who responded to the consultation were in favour of the Welsh Government Bill, the first to be put before the Assembly since the election last May.
The Bill aims to give effect to the Welsh Government’s proposals to simplify procedures for making and enforcing local authority byelaws.
The committee makes eight recommendations in its Stage One report. Among them the committee recommends:
That relevant town and community councils are informed when a byelaw which affects them is to be revoked;
That the minimum consultation period for a byelaw is increased from one month to six weeks,
The Minister continues liaising with Chief Constables in Wales, and recommends this continues, with a view to providing consistency on the role of PCSOs across Wales
“The Committee is pleased to support this Bill,” said Ann Jones AM, Chair of the Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee.
“The removal of the requirement for confirmation by Welsh Ministers of a byelaw and the alternative means of enforcement ensures that local authorities in Wales are better placed to deal with the issues which affect them.”