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 14.24

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM5825 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Regrets that recent Local Data Company statistics put Wales's town vacancy rate at 15.6 per cent, by far the highest in the UK;

 

2. Regrets the Welsh Government's persistent failure to promote high streets and town centres, help small businesses and ensure job creation; and

 

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to seriously consider the proposals outlined in the Welsh Conservative documents 'A Vision for the Welsh High Street' and 'Invest Wales' which would help SMEs and regenerate our high streets.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
11	0	39	50

The motion without amendment was agreed/not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 – Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Insert as new point 3 and renumber accordingly:

 

Calls on the Welsh Government to help boost footfall in high streets by ensuring public and active transport links are properly accessible; applying business rates to out of town retail unit car parks; and encouraging local authorities to trial limited free parking to support struggling high streets.

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
25	0	26	51

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 – Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Calls on the Welsh Government to encourage local authorities to work on diversifying their high streets in order to increase footfall.

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
51	0	0	51

Amendment 2 was agreed.

Amendment 3 – Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Calls on the Welsh Government to consider a wide range of measures to help small businesses, including those on the high street, to include easing access to finance and extending business rate relief.

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
51	0	0	51

Amendment 3 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM5825 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Regrets that recent Local Data Company statistics put Wales's town vacancy rate at 15.6 per cent, by far the highest in the UK;

 

2. Regrets the Welsh Government's persistent failure to promote high streets and town centres, help small businesses and ensure job creation; and

 

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to seriously consider the proposals outlined in the Welsh Conservative documents 'A Vision for the Welsh High Street' and 'Invest Wales' which would help SMEs and regenerate our high streets.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to encourage local authorities to work on diversifying their high streets in order to increase footfall.

 

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to consider a wide range of measures to help small businesses, including those on the high street, to include easing access to finance and extending business rate relief.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
11	0	40	51

The motion as amended was not agreed.