Decision details
Debate on Direct Payments of Housing Costs to Tenants in Wales
Decision Maker: Plenary - Fourth Assembly
Status: Recommendations approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Decision:
The item started
at 15.40
Voting on the motion and amendments under
this item was deferred until Voting Time.
NDM5315 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes the UK Government's continuing plans to introduce
direct payments;
2. Calls again on the UK Government to change its policy
on direct payments to reflect the likely negative impact on many tenants, as
well the risk to the financial viability of housing organisations;
and
3. Commends work by housing and other organisations
to help people to cope with the changes.
The following
amendments were tabled:
Amendment
1 - William Graham (South Wales East)
In
point 1, delete all after ‘plans’ and replace with:
‘to
standardise direct payments introduced by the previous UK Labour Government’
A vote was taken on Amendment 1:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
17 |
0 |
33 |
50 |
Amendment 1 was not
agreed.
Amendment
2 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)
Insert
at the end of point 1:
‘which
offer the potential to empower people through greater control over their
finances and provide a clearer route into work and independence.’
A vote was taken on Amendment 2:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
17 |
0 |
34 |
51 |
Amendment 2 was not
agreed.
Amendment
3 - William Graham (South Wales East)
Delete
point 2 and replace with:
Welcomes
the ‘Universal Credit Local Support Services Framework’, issued by the UK
Government and compiled jointly with agencies including the Welsh Local
Government Association, which lists the support available to claimants needing
payment of housing costs directly to landlords.
A vote was taken on Amendment 3:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
17 |
0 |
33 |
50 |
Amendment 3 was not
agreed.
Amendment
4 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)
Delete
point 2 and replace with:
Calls
on the UK Government to carefully examine the full findings of the Direct
Payment Demonstration Projects which will conclude at the end of December 2013.
A vote was taken on Amendment 4:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
17 |
0 |
34 |
51 |
Amendment 4 was not
agreed.
Amendment
5 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)
Add
as a new point at end of motion:
Believes
that direct payments could lead to more evictions, resulting in additional
costs to evict and re-house individuals, and calls on the Welsh Government to
work with local authorities and housing associations to implement best practice
on avoiding evictions.
A vote was taken on Amendment 5:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
34 |
12 |
5 |
51 |
Amendment 5 was
agreed.
Amendment
6 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)
Add
as a new point at end of motion:
Calls on the Welsh Government
to work with local authorities, credit unions and housing associations to
consider the best ways to make financial products with built-in budgeting
features more widely available and to promote the use of money advice services
to tenants, in order to help those affected by direct payments.
A vote was taken on Amendment 6:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
51 |
0 |
0 |
51 |
Amendment 6 was
agreed.
A vote was taken on the motion as amended:
NDM5315 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes the UK Government's continuing plans to
introduce direct payments;
2. Calls again on the UK Government to change its policy on
direct payments to reflect the likely negative impact on many tenants, as well
the risk to the financial viability of housing organisations;
and
3. Commends work by housing and other organisations
to help people to cope with the changes.
4. Believes
that direct payments could lead to more evictions, resulting in additional
costs to evict and re-house individuals, and calls on the Welsh Government to
work with local authorities and housing associations to implement best practice
on avoiding evictions.
5. Calls on the Welsh Government
to work with local authorities, credit unions and housing associations to
consider the best ways to make financial products with built-in budgeting
features more widely available and to promote the use of money advice services
to tenants, in order to help those affected by direct payments.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
34 |
0 |
17 |
51 |
The
motion as amended was agreed.
Publication date: 08/10/2013
Date of decision: 08/10/2013
Decided at meeting: 08/10/2013 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly