Innovating Democracy Advisory Group meeting: 1 May 2025
Summary of the Innovating Democracy Advisory Group meeting held on 1 May 2025.
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Attendees
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs – Huw Irranca-Davies (DFM)
- Chair - Anwen Elias
- Mo Alamgir
- Sarah Allan
- Jess Blair
- Michael Corcoran
- Tomos Dafydd Davies
- Sally Holland
- Yvonne Murphy
- Julie Sangani
- Diana Stirbu
- Daisy Thomson
- Leanne Wood
Agenda Item 1: coffee and introductions
1. The Chair welcomed members and the DFM. Introductions were made with members who had not previously met.
Agenda Item 2: brief introductions followed by roundtable discussion
2.1 The DFM welcomed the group and acknowledged the diversity and depth of experience within this group. The group has been appointed to address the huge challenges to democracy as outlined in the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales’ final report, not just in line with electoral cycles but also day to day democracy.
2.2 The DFM and group discussed the importance of people knowing how to use their voice at the local, regional and national levels and know their voice is valued.
2.3 The group welcomed the opportunity to create a landscape of best practice across Wales and to bring suggestions to ministers for consideration beyond this Senedd. The group will consider what more needs to be done with young people, and also with adults, to make the decision-making landscape more understandable to them.
2.4 The DFM looked forward to the group sharing its initial work programme to agree the way ahead with the DFM in due course. The DFM requested regular updates on the group’s progress.
Agenda Item 3: scene setting by Chair followed by roundtable discussion
3.1 The Chair provided a background to the appointment of this group, including the work of the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales and its recommendations to strengthen Welsh democracy. This group will consider recommendations 1 and 2.
- Democratic innovation
The WG should strengthen the capacity for democratic innovation and inclusive community engagement in Wales. This should draw on an expert advisory panel, and should be designed in partnership with the Senedd, local government and other partners. New strategies for civic education should be a priority for this work, which should be subject to regular review by the Senedd. - Constitutional principles
Drawing on this expertise, the Welsh Government should lead a project to engage citizens in drafting a statement of constitutional and governance principles for Wales.
3.2 The group held discussions on democratic innovations and civic education to develop a shared understanding of those innovations and education and their use in strengthening democracy. They observed that citizenship is complex and nuanced and that this is a complex ecosystem. The group recognised the importance of language in developing options for both recommendations.
3.3 There are great international examples this group can consider. The group confirmed its intent to focus on what is actionable and within its scope.
Agenda Item 4: breakout sessions on the work programme
4.1 Members of the group discussed opportunities for developing programmes of work under the themes building capacity for democratic innovation, strategies for civic education and concrete projects, including mapping key organisations who will need to be included in this work.
4.2 Feedback from the breakout sessions will be reviewed following this meeting and will provide the focus for the planned meeting of this group in June 2025.
4.3 The group observed that this could be a long term programme of work and the group might wish to establish a prioritised list of what it should do to develop simple fundamental principles for scalability beyond the lifespan of IDAG.
Agenda Item 5: next steps and ways of working
5.1 Members were reminded that they will all have completed a conflict of interests form when they were appointed. Any declarations of conflicts of interest will be treated on a case-by-case basis, in line with policy.
5.2 The group noted the formal terms of reference of the group which will be published.
5.3 The group discussed options for future meetings and how a developed work programme will result in a fuller forward planner of meetings.
5.5 There will be a virtual meeting on the draft work programme in June 2025. In the interim period the group is asked to consider opportunities for progression. Future meetings are intended to be hybrid.
5.4 The Chair confirmed that this group will formally outline its draft work programme to the DFM for approval to enable more detailed planning. The group will provide regular updates on its progress to the DFM.