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

The item started at 16.05

 

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

 

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

 

NDM4930 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Welcomes the UK Government’s decision to allocate funding to provide English local authorities with the opportunity to freeze Council tax for the second successive year, and notes that approximately 90% of Councils in England will utilise these funds to ensure households benefit from no Council tax rise next year.

 

2. Notes the Scottish Government’s announcement that all local authorities in Scotland will be freezing Council tax for 2012/2013, and notes that the freeze began in 2008/2009.

 

3. Deeply regrets the Welsh Government’s failure to pass on the £38.9 million consequential funding to Welsh councils, denying 22 local authorities the opportunity to freeze council tax.

 

4. Further regrets that council tax in Wales is estimated to increase by nearly 2.2% on average over the next year.

 

5. Expresses disappointment that a majority of Welsh households have been denied assistance with daily living costs as a consequence of the Welsh Government’s failure to pass on the £38.9 million consequential funding to local authorities.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
13	0	40	53

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

 

The following amendments were tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

In point 1, delete "welcomes" and replace with "notes".

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
27	0	26	53

Amendment 1 was agreed.

 

Amendment 2 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

In point 1, after ‘next year’ insert ‘and welcomes the £38.9 million of additional funding for Wales as a result’.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
44	0	9	53

Amendment 2 was agreed.

 

Amendment 3 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

Insert as new point 3 and renumber accordingly:

 

Notes that council tax in Wales is already 19% lower than England and it will continue to be significantly lower this year.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
32	0	21	53

Amendment 3 was agreed.

 

Amendment 4 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

Delete point 3, 4 and 5 and replace with:

 

Notes that Welsh Government is providing 1.3% more funding for councils in Wales over the spending review period than the UK Government is providing to councils in England and that this funding could be used by councils to assist with the council tax freezes if they choose to do so.

 

Notes that it is anticipated that once all authorities have set their budgets for 2012-13, Wales will see the lowest council tax rises ever.

 

Expresses regret at the UK Government’s plans to abolish council tax benefit which impacts negatively on those who are most vulnerable.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
27	0	26	53

Amendment 4 was agreed.

 

As amendment 4 was agreed, amendments 5 and 6 were deselected.

 

Amendment 7 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Believes that councils will benefit from additional revenue through increased economic activity in their areas, and welcomes the £38.9 million economic stimulus package, which aims to provide additional economic activity.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 7:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
32	0	21	53

Amendment 7 was agreed.

 

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

 

NDM4930 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes the UK Government’s decision to allocate funding to provide English local authorities with the opportunity to freeze Council tax for the second successive year, and notes that approximately 90% of Councils in England will utilise these funds to ensure households benefit from no Council tax rise next year and welcomes the £38.9 million of additional funding for Wales as a result.

 

2. Notes the Scottish Government’s announcement that all local authorities in Scotland will be freezing Council tax for 2012/2013, and notes that the freeze began in 2008/2009.

 

3. Notes that council tax in Wales is already 19% lower than England and it will continue to be significantly lower this year.

 

4. Notes that Welsh Government is providing 1.3% more funding for councils in Wales over the spending review period than the UK Government is providing to councils in England and that this funding could be used by councils to assist with the council tax freezes if they choose to do so.

 

5. Notes that it is anticipated that once all authorities have set their budgets for 2012-13, Wales will see the lowest council tax rises ever.

 

6. Expresses regret at the UK Government’s plans to abolish council tax benefit which impacts negatively on those who are most vulnerable.

 

7. Believes that councils will benefit from additional revenue through increased economic activity in their areas, and welcomes the £38.9 million economic stimulus package, which aims to provide additional economic activity.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
27	0	26	53

The motion as amended was agreed.