Cabinet meeting: 22 November 2021

• Rt. Hon. Mark Drakeford MS
• Rebecca Evans MS
• Vaughan Gething MS
• Lesley Griffiths MS
• Jane Hutt MS
• Julie James MS
• Jeremy Miles MS
• Eluned Morgan MS
• Mick Antoniw MS

• Dawn Bowden MS
• Hannah Blythyn MS
• Julie Morgan MS
• Lynne Neagle MS
• Lee Waters MS

Officials

• Andrew Goodall, Permanent Secretary
• Will Whiteley, Deputy Director Cabinet Division
• Toby Mason, Strategic Communications
• Jane Runeckles, Special Adviser
• Madeleine Brindley, Special Adviser
• Alex Bevan, Special Adviser
• Daniel Butler, Special Adviser
• Ian Butler, Special Adviser
• Kate Edmunds, Special Adviser
• Sara Faye, Special Adviser
• Clare Jenkins, Special Adviser
• Owen John, Special Adviser
• Andrew Johnson, Special Adviser
• Mitch Theaker, Special Adviser
• Tom Woodward, Special Adviser
• Christopher W Morgan, Head of Cabinet Secretariat (minutes)
• Damian Roche, Cabinet Secretariat
• Catrin Sully, Cabinet Office
• Tracey Burke, Director General, Education and Public Services
• Reg Kilpatrick, Director General, COVID-19 Crisis Coordination
• Andrew Slade, Director General, Economy, Skills and Natural Resources
• Judith Paget, Director General Health
• Helen Lentle, Director Legal Services
• Debra Carter, Deputy Director Local Government Finance Reform
• Clare Blake, Head of Local Government Finance Reform
• Ben Rudge. Head of Local Tax Policy
• Ruth Meadows, Deputy Director Communities Division
• Paul Webb, Communities Division
• Alison Plant, Head of VAWDASV Team

1.1 Cymeradwyodd y Cabinet gofnodion y 15 Tachwedd / Cabinet approved the minutes of 15 November.

2.1 Cabinet noted that a Co-operation Agreement had been agreed between the Government and Plaid Cymru Members of the Senedd. The Agreement would be considered by a Plaid Cymru party conference on the weekend, and if approved, it would become effective from 1st December.

3.1 Cabinet considered the contents of the Plenary grid and noted that voting time was scheduled for 7.45pm on Tuesday and around 6:35pm on Wednesday.

4.1 The Minister for Finance and Local Government introduced the paper, which asked Cabinet to consider the options for delivering a fairer council tax system in Wales and the interlinked reforms to non-domestic rates.

4.2 In line with the Programme for Government commitments to seek reform of council tax to ensure a fairer system for all and to make the case for clear and stable tax devolution for Wales, the paper outlined proposals to make council tax more progressive.

4.3 A number of suggestions had been considered and this had been narrowed to 4 specific options:

1. amend the tax rates for the nine bands, so that people living in higher value homes pay more and those in lower value homes pay less
2. a revaluation of all domestic dwellings in Wales, with more bands and restructured tax rates to achieve a progressive system
3. a review or expansion of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, which would specifically reflect the rollout of Universal Credit
4. changes to discounts, disregards, exemptions and premiums, which would be aligned to wider Government priorities. 

4.4 Ministers welcomed the paper and agreed that a more progressive regime would help support government policies that would tackle poverty and address inequalities.  In addition, with the advent of the Co-operation Agreement, the government could go further than originally envisaged, while taking forward the necessary legislation. 

4.5 Cabinet agreed, therefore, that there should be a revaluation exercise for all domestic dwellings, with the addition of extra tax bands. Alongside this, there should be a review of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme and the various discounts.

4.6 It was agreed that officials should proceed in line with the decisions taken by Cabinet.

5.1 The Minister for Social Justice introduced the paper, which asked Cabinet to note the approach taken in preparing the draft National Strategy for tackling Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV) and agree that it should be published for consultation.

5.2 The Government was required, under the Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015, to prepare a National Strategy to prevent gender based violence, domestic abuse and sexual violence and to protect and support victims after a Senedd election.

5.3 The draft strategy recognised the need to tackle male violence, and the misogyny and gender inequality behind it, break the cycle and address the root causes of VAWDASV. There was a need to challenge attitudes and change behaviours of those who behaved abusively. It was not for women to modify their behaviour, but for abusers to change theirs.

5.4 VAWDASV was committed primarily, but not exclusively, by men against women. The strategy recognised that not all victims were women and it could also affect men and those with a non-binary identity. All perpetrators, regardless of their gender, would be held to account for their actions, however the strategy recognised that male violence defined VAWDASV and properly addressing the power and control dynamic created by gender inequality was key.

5.5 The draft strategy had a number of objectives. To challenge the public attitude to VAWDASV through awareness raising and space for public discussion with the aim of decreasing its occurrence, while increasing awareness in children and young people of the importance of safe, equal and healthy relationships and empowering them to positive personal choices. There should be an increased focus on holding those who commit abuse to account and supporting those who may carry out abusive or violent behaviour to change their behaviour and avoid re-offending.

5.6 Furthermore, there was a need for early intervention, with prevention a priority. Relevant professionals should be trained to provide effective, timely and appropriate responses to victims and survivors, and there must be equal access to appropriately resourced, high quality, needs led, strength based, inter-sectional and responsive services across Wales.

5.7 The strategy proposes adopting a Blueprint approach for delivery, which would deliver a structure and action plan that was jointly owned by devolved and non-devolved organisations and would be based on the successful Blueprints for Female Offending and Youth Justice. This would create a sense of shared ownership for the delivery of the strategy and encourage accountability as well as peer support and challenge. This would be achieved through the governance structure overseen by a new co-chaired Ministerial-led National Partnership Board.

5.8 Cabinet welcomed the paper and specifically the support provided by the National Advisers for VAWDASV. Also of particular note was the support targeted at those who commit the violence and action to bring about behavioural change.

5.9 Cabinet approved the paper.