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:

 

NDM4817 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Recognises that the planning system is vital for a strong economy, an attractive and sustainable environment and a successful democracy; and

 

2. Calls upon the Welsh Government to:

 

a) Bring forward the Welsh Planning Bill sooner than indicated in the Legislative Statement,

 

b) Increase the flexibility of the Welsh planning system,

 

c) Streamline and simplify current Welsh planning guidance,

 

d) Increase the say of local communities in the planning system.

 

A copy of the Legislative Statement can be accessed via the following hyperlink:

 

http://www.assemblywales.org/bus-home/bus-chamber-fourth-assembly-rop.htm?act=dis&id=219617&ds=7%2F2011#dat2

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
16	0	38	54

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

 

The following amendments have been tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

Delete point 2, and replace with:

 

Notes the Cabinet Written Statement by the Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development, emailed to Assembly Members on 30th September, establishing an independent advisory panel to advise on how planning services should be delivered in the future, which will inform the Planning White Paper and subsequent Bill.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
38	0	16	54

Amendment 1 was agreed.

 

Amendment 2 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Believes that the Welsh Government’s review of the planning system should also consider the Wales Spatial Plan and the system of local development plans.

 

The Wales Spatial Plan is available on the following link:

http://wales.gov.uk/location/strategy/spatial/documents/;jsessionid=qcVSTFdGr4T1Vf2rTY2l7H2dtQ3gKyrZ3y2TRrG0JgjJxvXnYphj!-1416705544?lang=en

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
27	0	27	54

 

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Deputy Presiding Officer exercised his casting vote by voting against the amendment.  Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

 

NDM4817 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Recognises that the planning system is vital for a strong economy, an attractive and sustainable environment and a successful democracy; and

 

2. Notes the Cabinet Written Statement by the Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development, emailed to Assembly Members on 30th September, establishing an independent advisory panel to advise on how planning services should be delivered in the future, which will inform the Planning White Paper and subsequent Bill.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
49	0	5	54

The motion as amended was agreed.