Meetings

NDM6170 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises that the retail industry employs 130,000 people in Wales, and makes a key contribution to the Welsh economy.

2. Notes that the current shop vacancy rate in Wales stands at almost 14 per cent, and the projected rate of store closures is higher in Wales than anywhere else in the UK over the next two years.

3. Regrets that the Welsh Government has not used innovative and supportive measures to help businesses through their transition to the Valuation Office Agency's revaluations, leaving Welsh businesses to tackle high rates, alongside a system of temporary rebates, and a slow appeals process.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) abolish business rates for all businesses with a rateable value of up to £12,000, and provide tapered support for those with a rateable value up to £15,000;

b) take a proactive approach to radically reform the outdated business rates system, and make Wales the flagship nation in addressing the need to provide a more supportive business environment; and

c) place an immediate cap on the multiplier, and a timetabled plan for a gradual reduction in rates.

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1. Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete points 3 and 4 and replace with:

Reaffirms the independence of the Valuation Office Agency following the financial devolution of non-domestic rates to Wales.

Notes the revaluation by the Valuation Office Agency is not designed to raise additional revenue and that while some rateable values have increased, overall they have fallen.

Notes the Welsh Government's:

a) decision to extend the Small Business Rates Relief scheme for 2017-18, providing a tax cut for 70,000 small businesses in Wales

b) decision to make the Small Business Rates Relief scheme permanent from 2018 providing small businesses with certainty that this tax cut will continue;

c) commitment to review the Small Business Rate Relief scheme to make it simpler and fairer for businesses in Wales; and

d) decision to introduce a £10m transitional relief scheme in April 2017 to provide additional help for small businesses receiving SBRR who have been affected by revaluation.

[If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be de-selected]

Amendment 2. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)
 
Delete point 4 and replace with:

Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) expand the transitional relief available to small businesses affected by the 2017 non-domestic rates revaluation;

b) abolish business rates for all businesses with a rateable value of less than £10,000 per year, and provide tapered relief for businesses whose rateable value is between £10,000 and £20,000;

c) make all businesses during their first year of operation exempt from paying any rates in order to encourage new start-ups;

d) introduce a split multiplier for small and large businesses as is the case in Scotland and England; and

e) explore replacing business rates altogether with alternative forms of taxation which do not discourage employment, town centre regeneration and investment in plant and machinery.

 

 

The item started at 15.58

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM6170 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises that the retail industry employs 130,000 people in Wales, and makes a key contribution to the Welsh economy.

2. Notes that the current shop vacancy rate in Wales stands at almost 14 per cent, and the projected rate of store closures is higher in Wales than anywhere else in the UK over the next two years.

3. Regrets that the Welsh Government has not used innovative and supportive measures to help businesses through their transition to the Valuation Office Agency's revaluations, leaving Welsh businesses to tackle high rates, alongside a system of temporary rebates, and a slow appeals process.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) abolish business rates for all businesses with a rateable value of up to £12,000, and provide tapered support for those with a rateable value up to £15,000;

b) take a proactive approach to radically reform the outdated business rates system, and make Wales the flagship nation in addressing the need to provide a more supportive business environment; and

c) place an immediate cap on the multiplier, and a timetabled plan for a gradual reduction in rates.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
14	0	31	45

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1. Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete points 3 and 4 and replace with:

Reaffirms the independence of the Valuation Office Agency following the financial devolution of non-domestic rates to Wales.

Notes the revaluation by the Valuation Office Agency is not designed to raise additional revenue and that while some rateable values have increased, overall they have fallen.

Notes the Welsh Government's:

a) decision to extend the Small Business Rates Relief scheme for 2017-18, providing a tax cut for 70,000 small businesses in Wales

b) decision to make the Small Business Rates Relief scheme permanent from 2018 providing small businesses with certainty that this tax cut will continue;

c) commitment to review the Small Business Rate Relief scheme to make it simpler and fairer for businesses in Wales; and

d) decision to introduce a £10m transitional relief scheme in April 2017 to provide additional help for small businesses receiving SBRR who have been affected by revaluation.

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
24	0	21	45

Amendment 1 was agreed.

As Amendment 1 was agreed, Amendment 2 was de-selected

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM6170 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises that the retail industry employs 130,000 people in Wales, and makes a key contribution to the Welsh economy.

2. Notes that the current shop vacancy rate in Wales stands at almost 14 per cent, and the projected rate of store closures is higher in Wales than anywhere else in the UK over the next two years.

3. Reaffirms the independence of the Valuation Office Agency following the financial devolution of non-domestic rates to Wales.

4. Notes the revaluation by the Valuation Office Agency is not designed to raise additional revenue and that while some rateable values have increased, overall they have fallen.

5. Notes the Welsh Government's:

a) decision to extend the Small Business Rates Relief scheme for 2017-18, providing a tax cut for 70,000 small businesses in Wales

b) decision to make the Small Business Rates Relief scheme permanent from 2018 providing small businesses with certainty that this tax cut will continue;

c) commitment to review the Small Business Rate Relief scheme to make it simpler and fairer for businesses in Wales; and

d) decision to introduce a £10m transitional relief scheme in April 2017 to provide additional help for small businesses receiving SBRR who have been affected by revaluation.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
34	0	11	45

The motion as amended was agreed.