Decision details

Debate: Strengthening Local Government Democracy

Decision Maker: Plenary - Fourth Assembly

Status: Recommendations approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Decision:

The item started at 16.38

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

NDM5237 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

To propose the National Assembly for Wales:

Recognises the value of promoting open, transparent and accountable local democracy and the importance of encouraging greater diversity in Local Government.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Delete ‘Recognise the value of promoting’ and replace with ‘Appreciates the necessity of advocating efficient,’

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

39

0

14

53

Amendment 1 was agreed.

Amendment 2 - William Graham (South Wales East)

After ‘diversity’ insert ‘and stakeholder engagement’

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

44

0

10

54

Amendment 2 was agreed.

Amendment 3 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Welcomes the Welsh Government’s eventual commitment to facilitating live streaming during all council scrutiny and cabinet meetings.

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

54

0

0

54

Amendment 3 was agreed.

Amendment 4 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to bring forward a comprehensive agenda that will tackle issues around openness, transparency and accountability in local democracy and local government.

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

54

0

0

54

Amendment 4 was agreed.

Amendment 5 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to confirm its support for devolving responsibility for local government elections to the National Assembly.

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

42

12

0

54

Amendment 5 was agreed.

Amendment 6 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Supports the introduction of a fair and proportional electoral system to ensure that outcomes reflect the way that people vote and are more representative of their local communities and calls on the Welsh Government to implement the recommendation of the Sunderland Commission in 2002 by promoting legislation to introduce the single transferable vote system for local councils.

A vote was taken on Amendment 6:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

14

0

40

54

Amendment 6 was not agreed.

Amendment 7 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets that around 77,000 16 and 17 year olds in Wales are currently denied the vote and believes that democratic accountability would be strengthened by allowing 16 and 17 year olds to vote in elections to local councils.

A vote was taken on Amendment 7:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

41

7

5

53

Amendment 7 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM5237 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

To propose the National Assembly for Wales:

Appreciates the necessity of advocating efficient open, transparent and accountable local democracy and the importance of encouraging greater diversity and stakeholder engagement in Local Government.

Welcomes the Welsh Government’s eventual commitment to facilitating live streaming during all council scrutiny and cabinet meetings.

Calls on the Welsh Government to bring forward a comprehensive agenda that will tackle issues around openness, transparency and accountability in local democracy and local government.

Calls on the Welsh Government to confirm its support for devolving responsibility for local government elections to the National Assembly.

Regrets that around 77,000 16 and 17 year olds in Wales are currently denied the vote and believes that democratic accountability would be strengthened by allowing 16 and 17 year olds to vote in elections to local councils.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

42

12

0

54

The motion as amended was agreed.

Publication date: 14/05/2013

Date of decision: 14/05/2013

Decided at meeting: 14/05/2013 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly