Decision details

Debates are one of the most frequent items of business on the Plenary agenda. Many types of debate are brought forward in Plenary, including:

• Opposition party debates on a topic of their choice;

Other than in the case of Government debates, the time allocated for all other types of debates and their frequency are determined by the Business Committee

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

 

NDM4799 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Expresses concern about the lack of transparency from the Welsh Government regarding the future of local government;

 

2. Recognises the importance of local government as being fundamental to democracy in Wales; and

 

3. Calls for a full and open debate on the delivery of public services.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
22	0	34	56

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

Delete point 1 and replace with 

 

Notes the clear direction provided by the Welsh Government to local government, including at the Local Government Partnership Council in July and in the Minister for Local Government and Communities' written statement to the Assembly of 13 July 2011.

 

Link to "Approach to regional collaboration: promoting coherence" paper (PC 37-04) for the Local Government Partnership Council meeting on 21 July 2011.

 

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/localgovernment/partnership/council/agendas/37thmeeting/?lang=en

 

Link to Statement on 13 July2011

 

http://wales.gov.uk/about/cabinet/cabinetstatements/2011/13julypublicservices/?lang=en

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
29	0	27	56

Amendment 1 was agreed.

Amendment 2 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

Add new point after point 2 and renumber accordingly:

 

Recognises the severe pressures placed on local government due to funding cuts imposed by the UK Government.

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
39	0	17	56

Amendment 2 was agreed.

Amendment 3 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

In point 3, after 'public services' insert 'which includes discussion about reorganisation and services outside local government such as health, higher and further education, transport and community and economic development'.

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
44	0	12	56

Amendment 3 was agreed.

Amendment 4 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

Add new point at end of motion:

 

Remains concerned about the powers granted to the Welsh Ministers to amalgamate local authorities through subordinate legislation.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
17	0	39	56

Amendment 4 was not agreed.

Amendment 5 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

Add new point at end of motion:

 

Expresses concern about the possible implementation of six local authority regional groups in addition to four regional education groups.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
17	0	39	56

Amendment 5 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes the clear direction provided by the Welsh Government to local government, including at the Local Government Partnership Council in July and in the Minister for Local Government and Communities' written statement to the Assembly of 13 July 2011.

 

Link to "Approach to regional collaboration: promoting coherence" paper (PC 37-04) for the Local Government Partnership Council meeting on 21 July 2011.

 

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/localgovernment/partnership/council/agendas/37thmeeting/?lang=en

 

Link to Statement on 13 July2011

 

http://wales.gov.uk/about/cabinet/cabinetstatements/2011/13julypublicservices/?lang=en

 

2. Recognises the importance of local government as being fundamental to democracy in Wales; and

 

3. Recognises the severe pressures placed on local government due to funding cuts imposed by the UK Government.

 

4. Calls for a full and open debate on the delivery of public services which includes discussion about reorganisation and services outside local government such as health, higher and further education, transport and community and economic development.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
29	0	27	56

 

The motion as amended was agreed.