Part 5.Miscellaneous
124.This Part makes various amendments to the 2006 Act. It changes the date for the first meeting of the Senedd following an election. It also makes it clear that the Senedd Commission may charge for providing goods or services to the public.
125.It also includes a duty on the Welsh Ministers to prepare and publish a report on the operation of certain provisions of this Act.
Section 36 – Timing of first meeting of Senedd after general election
126.Section 36 extends the deadline for the first meeting of the Senedd following an ordinary or extraordinary general election from 7 to 14 days.
Section 37 – Powers of Senedd Commission: provision of goods and services
127.Section 37 substitutes paragraph 4 of Schedule 2 to the 2006 Act to make it clear that the Senedd Commission may charge for providing goods or services.
Section 38 – Report on extension of right to vote and change to qualification for membership of the Senedd
128.Section 38 requires the Welsh Ministers to prepare, publish and lay before the Senedd a report on the operation of the provisions in the Act that:
extend the right to vote in Senedd elections to persons who are aged 16 or 17;
extend the right to vote in Senedd elections to persons who are qualifying foreign citizens;
allow qualifying foreign citizens to be Members of the Senedd, and
disqualify members of county and county borough councils in Wales from being Members of the Senedd.
129.The report must be prepared and published within six months of the end of the reporting period.
130.The reporting period is the period of five years from the day of the next Senedd general election which takes place on or after 5 April 2021. The next Senedd general election is currently scheduled for May 2021.