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 15.50

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

 

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

 

NDM5092 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

The National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes the important role of the Welsh high street as a centre for community engagement, boosting local economies and enhancing civic pride;

 

2. Notes the challenges facing the Welsh high street, including high vacancy rates, the rise of internet shopping and the development of out-of-town retail centres;

 

3. Notes the proposals set out in the policy paper ‘A Vision for the Welsh High Street’; and

 

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to explore the proposals outlined in ‘A Vision for the Welsh High Street’ and to publish a response detailing how they will incorporate these proposals into their on-going regeneration review.

 

Link to ‘A Vision for the Welsh High Street’ can be found at:
http://www.welshconservatives.com/sites/www.welshconservatives.com/files/a_vision_for_the_welsh_high_street.pdf

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
10	0	36	46

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Add as a new point 2 and re-number accordingly:

 

Regrets that TAN 4: Retailing and Town Centres has not been updated since the advent of devolution.

 

TAN 4 can be found on the following link:

 

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/planning/policy/tans/tan4/?lang=en

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
22	0	24	46

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

Delete point 4 and replace with:

 

Notes the Welsh Government's “'Vibrant & Viable Places'” consultation document offers a strong focus on town centre regeneration; and further notes the Welsh Government's commitment to explore all options on town centre regeneration with a view to publishing its proposals for supporting town centres following that consultation.'

 

The consultation can be accessed by the following link:

 

http://wales.gov.uk/consultations/businessandeconomy/vvp/?lang=en

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
24	0	22	46

Amendment 2 was agreed.

 

As amendment 2 was agreed, amendment 3 was deselected.

 

Amendment 4 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Add as a new point at end of motion:

 

Calls for greater powers for communities to mitigate the impact of out-of-town retail centres on local shopping, regenerate local town centres and lower business rates for community facilities in town centres to encourage re-location.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
46	0	0	46

Amendment 4 was agreed.

 

Amendment 5 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Add as a new point at end of motion:

 

Calls on the Welsh government to develop a programme to spread best practice in town centre regeneration across Wales.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
46	0	0	46

Amendment 5 was agreed.

 

Amendment 6 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Add as a new point at the end of motion:

 

Calls on the Welsh Government to work with local authorities to offer reductions in business rates to tenants who are either new to the area or are expanding an existing business and who are taking over the lease of a property that has been empty for at least 12 months as a means of encouraging new and expanding businesses to Welsh High Streets to encourage re-generation.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 6:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
5	0	41	46

Amendment 6 was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

 

NDM5092 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

The National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes the important role of the Welsh high street as a centre for community engagement, boosting local economies and enhancing civic pride;

 

2. Notes the challenges facing the Welsh high street, including high vacancy rates, the rise of internet shopping and the development of out-of-town retail centres;

 

3. Notes the proposals set out in the policy paper ‘A Vision for the Welsh High Street’; and

 

4. Notes the Welsh Government's “'Vibrant & Viable Places'” consultation document offers a strong focus on town centre regeneration; and further notes the Welsh Government's commitment to explore all options on town centre regeneration with a view to publishing its proposals for supporting town centres following that consultation.'

 

The consultation can be accessed by the following link:

http://wales.gov.uk/consultations/businessandeconomy/vvp/?lang=en

 

5. Calls for greater powers for communities to mitigate the impact of out-of-town retail centres on local shopping, regenerate local town centres and lower business rates for community facilities in town centres to encourage re-location.

 

6. Calls on the Welsh government to develop a programme to spread best practice in town centre regeneration across Wales.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
31	10	5	46

The motion as amended was agreed.