Decision details

The item started at 15.14

Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

NDM5271 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises the considerable challenges currently facing the Welsh Government and other organisations in helping people to live in decent, affordable homes;

2. Notes progress made in the first year of implementing action set out in the Housing White Paper and the fact that the Welsh Government is on track to meet its targets on affordable housing supply and in bringing empty homes into re-use; and

3. Acknowledges the Government's programme to provide more homes and other actions that will make a difference to people's lives.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - William Graham (South Wales East)

In point 1 delete all after ‘challenges’ and replace with ‘facing housing suppliers and other organisations in Wales since devolution in helping people to live in decent, affordable homes;’

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
12	0	38	50

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point 2 and renumber accordingly:

Expresses concern at the failure of the Welsh Government to bring forward the NewBuy Cymru scheme, which is penalising first time homebuyers in Wales and puts homebuyers and house builders at a disadvantage in Wales compared to England.

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
17	7	26	50

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

Amendment 3 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Insert as new point 2 and renumber accordingly:

Notes the estimate by the First Minister that an additional 20,000 to 25,000 one and two bedroom properties are required to mitigate the effects of changes to housing benefit.

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
38	12	0	50

Amendment 3 was agreed.

Amendment 4 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Delete point 2 and replace with:

Regrets the lack of progress with the non-legislative aspects of the Housing White Paper and the low number of new homes built in Wales;

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
23	0	27	50

Amendment 4 was not agreed.

Amendment 5 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point 3 and renumber accordingly:

Regrets the failure of the Welsh Government to establish an integrated plan to tackle empty homes in Wales and calls on the Welsh Government to develop a national Empty Homes Strategy for Wales.

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
23	0	27	50

Amendment 5 was not agreed.

Amendment 6 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point 3 and renumber accordingly:

Welcomes the progress made through the national accreditation scheme ‘Landlord Accreditation Wales’ to recognise good landlords and improve the supply of good quality accommodation and calls on the Welsh Government to prioritise the licensing of letting agents in light of the 9% increase in complaints about letting agents from landlords and tenants in 2012.

A vote was taken on Amendment 6:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
50	0	0	50

Amendment 6 was agreed.

Amendment 7 - William Graham (South Wales East)

In point 3 delete all after ‘the’ and replace with ‘Welsh Government’s need to introduce a Whole Market Programme to provide more homes and other actions that will make a difference to people's lives.’

A vote was taken on Amendment 7:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
16	7	27	50

Amendment 7 was not agreed.

Amendment 8 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Insert as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to establish a Welsh Housing Survey to collect information and evidence on the profile of households and housing stock in Wales, to help support the development and monitoring of Welsh Government housing policies.

A vote was taken on Amendment 8:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
23	0	27	50

Amendment 8 was not agreed.

Amendment 9 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure that first time buyers can access appropriate schemes designed to help them afford homes.

A vote was taken on Amendment 9:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
50	0	0	50

Amendment 9 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM5271 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises the considerable challenges currently facing the Welsh Government and other organisations in helping people to live in decent, affordable homes;

2. Notes the estimate by the First Minister that an additional 20,000 to 25,000 one and two bedroom properties are required to mitigate the effects of changes to housing benefit.

3. Welcomes the progress made through the national accreditation scheme ‘Landlord Accreditation Wales’ to recognise good landlords and improve the supply of good quality accommodation and calls on the Welsh Government to prioritise the licensing of letting agents in light of the 9% increase in complaints about letting agents from landlords and tenants in 2012.

4. Notes progress made in the first year of implementing action set out in the Housing White Paper and the fact that the Welsh Government is on track to meet its targets on affordable housing supply and in bringing empty homes into re-use; and

5. Acknowledges the Government's programme to provide more homes and other actions that will make a difference to people's lives.

6. Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure that first time buyers can access appropriate schemes designed to help them afford homes.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
39	0	12	51

The motion as amended was agreed.