Decision details

Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate

Decision Maker: Plenary - Fourth Assembly

Status: Recommendations approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Purpose:

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

Decision:

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

 

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

 

NDM4788 Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes that small businesses are essential to the Welsh economic recovery and play a role in local economies across Wales;

 

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to conduct a full review of business rates in order to:

 

a) Avoid the scenario whereby the improvement of premises increases their value and therefore their business rate;

 

b) Change the role local authorities should have in collecting and retaining business rates, to address local needs;

 

c) End huge rises in business rates when values increase and costs go up between years as has happened to many B&Bs recently;

 

d) Extend business rate relief to help more community facilities such as post offices, pubs, social enterprises and independent shops;

 

e) Determine whether Wales would benefit from adopting the same accounting arrangements for business rates as Scotland and Northern Ireland have with the UK Government.

 

3. Further calls on the Welsh Government to:

 

a) Freeze business rates until the recommendations of this review are implemented;

 

b) Set out details on its plans to develop a comprehensive plan to reduce regulatory burdens on small businesses; and

 

4. Calls on the Minister for Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science to regularly assess the impact of her policies on small businesses.

 

For

Abstain

Against

Total

5

0

48

53

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

Delete points 2 and 3 of the original motion and replace with new points 2 and 3, as below:

 

2. Acknowledges that placing lead responsibility for business rates policy in the portfolio of the Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science Minister sends a clear signal about the impact that business rates can have on Welsh businesses.

 

3. Notes that the Welsh Government will review business rates policies to implement fair and proportionate rates for Welsh businesses to meet the Government's economic and social objectives.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

28

0

26

54

Amendment 1 was agreed.

As amendment 1 was agreed, amendments 2, 3 and 4 were deselected. 

Amendment 2 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

Delete point 2 and replace with:

 

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to conduct a full review of business rates and to continue with the current small business rate relief scheme while the review is underway.

 

Amendment 3 - Nick Ramsay (Monmouth)

 

Delete sub point 3a) and replace with:

 

Abolish all business rates for businesses with a rateable value of £12000 or under and taper business rates with a rateable value of between £12000 - £15000.

 

Amendment 4 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

Delete sub point 3a) and renumber accordingly.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

 

NDM4788 Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes that small businesses are essential to the Welsh economic recovery and play a role in local economies across Wales;

 

2. Acknowledges that placing lead responsibility for business rates policy in the portfolio of the Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science Minister sends a clear signal about the impact that business rates can have on Welsh businesses.

 

3. Notes that the Welsh Government will review business rates policies to implement fair and proportionate rates for Welsh businesses to meet the Government's economic and social objectives.

 

4. Calls on the Minister for Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science to regularly assess the impact of her policies on small businesses.

 

For

Abstain

Against

Total

42

0

12

54

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

Publication date: 13/07/2011

Date of decision: 13/07/2011

Decided at meeting: 13/07/2011 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly