Agenda and decisions
Venue: Y Siambr - Y Senedd
Media
Senedd.TV: View the webcast
Expected timing | No. | Item | ||||||||
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(45 mins) |
Questions to the Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development Supporting documents: Decision: The item started at 13.30 The first 11 questions were asked. Question
12 was withdrawn. Question 13 was transferred for written answer. |
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(45 mins) |
Questions to the Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage Decision: The item started at 14.12 The first 9 questions were asked. |
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(60 mins) |
Debate on the Health & Social Care Committee's Inquiry into Residential care for older people in Wales NDM5165 Mark Drakeford (Cardiff
West) The National Assembly for Wales: Notes the report of the Health and Social Care Committee
on its inquiry into residential care for older people in Wales, which was laid
in the Table Office on 13 December 2012. Note: The Welsh Government's response to the report was
laid in the Table Office on 13 February 2013. Supporting Documents: Decision: The item started
at 15.00 NDM5165 Mark Drakeford (Cardiff
West) The National Assembly for Wales: Notes the report of the Health and Social Care Committee
on its inquiry into residential care for older people in Wales, which was laid in
the Table Office on 13 December 2012. Note:
The Welsh Government's response to the report was laid in the Table Office on
13 February 2013. The motion was agreed in accordance with
Standing Order 12.36. |
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(60 mins) |
Debate on the Finance Committee's report 'The Effectiveness of European Structural Funds in Wales' NDM5166 Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East) To propose that the National Assembly for Wales: Notes the Finance Committee's report on Effectiveness of
European Structural Funds in Wales which was laid in the Table Office on 17
December 2012. Supporting Documents: Decision: The item started
at 15.45 NDM5166 Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East) To propose that the National Assembly for Wales: Notes the Finance Committee's report on Effectiveness of
European Structural Funds in Wales which was laid in the Table Office on 17
December 2012. The motion was agreed in accordance with
Standing Order 12.36. |
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(60 mins) |
Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate NDM5167 Aled Roberts (North
Wales) To propose that the National Assembly for Wales: 1. Notes that, according to Stats Wales, there are an
estimated 31,644 empty homes in Wales, with 23,287 classed as long-term empty
dwellings. 2. Welcomes the intention of the Welsh Government’s
‘Houses into Homes’ initiative, including the additional £5million invested
into the scheme as a result of the budget deal with the Welsh Liberal Democrats
in 2012-13. 3. Welcomes the progress in reducing the number of empty
homes in Wales by 2,000, but believes that more must be done to develop a
cohesive empty homes strategy which includes: a) establishing a Welsh Empty
Homes website to share advice and guidance and raise the profile of the empty
homes initiative; b) a full time equivalent Empty
Homes Officer in each local authority to drive forward the initiative; c) simplifying the legislation
and procedures surrounding Empty Dwelling Management Orders and Compulsory
Purchase Orders; d) updating empty homes good
practice guidance to local authorities’ e) allowing councils greater
flexibility to impose punitive council tax rates on long term empty homes; f) encouraging the sharing of
best practice examples and facilitating partnership working between local
authorities; and g) looking at an incentive
scheme for local councils for every long term private sector home brought back
into use, similar to the UK Government’s ‘New Homes Bonus Scheme’. Information on the Houses into Homes initiative can be
found on the following link: http://wales.gov.uk/topics/housingandcommunity/housing/private/emptyhomes/housestohomes/?lang=en Information on the New Homes Bonus Scheme can be found on
the following links: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/6004/1846530.pdf The following amendments
have been tabled: Amendment
1 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East) Insert as new
point 1 and renumber accordingly: Notes
that empty homes present an opportunity for housing regeneration which provides
an important stimulus to the economy. Amendment
2 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East) Add at the end
of point 1: ‘and that these properties could be used to alleviate the
unmet need for social housing’ Amendment
3 - William Graham (South Wales East) Insert at the
end of sub point 3b: ‘recognising that that every empty home has its own story and
that the key is for Empty Homes Officers to understand why it is empty, and to
work closely with the owner to bring it back into use’ Amendment
4 - William Graham (South Wales East) Insert at the
end of sub point 3e: ‘through the
creation of an empty homes council tax premium for properties left vacant for
more than two years, to ensure sensitivity to individual circumstances – such
as bereaved owners or owners with complex issues that, with support, could be
addressed’ Amendment
5 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East) Add as new sub
point at end of point 3: ‘lobbying the UK Government to reduce VAT to 5% on home
repairs and improvements.’ Amendment
6 - William Graham (South Wales East) Add as new sub
point at end of point 3: ‘making funding available to community and voluntary
groups as part of a programme to bring
empty properties back in to use as affordable housing;’ Amendment
7 - William Graham (South Wales East) Add as new sub
point at end of point 3: ‘allowing
greater flexibility in the use of properties funded under the ‘Houses into
Homes’ initiative so that maximum benefit may be delivered to those in housing
need;’ Decision: The item started at 16.36 Voting
on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time. A vote was taken on
the motion without amendment: NDM5167 Aled Roberts (North
Wales) To propose that the National Assembly for Wales: 1. Notes that, according to Stats Wales, there are an
estimated 31,644 empty homes in Wales, with 23,287 classed as long-term empty
dwellings. 2. Welcomes the intention of the Welsh Government’s
‘Houses into Homes’ initiative, including the additional £5million invested
into the scheme as a result of the budget deal with the Welsh Liberal Democrats
in 2012-13. 3. Welcomes the progress in reducing the number of empty
homes in Wales by 2,000, but believes that more must be done to develop a
cohesive empty homes strategy which includes: a) establishing a Welsh Empty
Homes website to share advice and guidance and raise the profile of the empty
homes initiative; b) a full time equivalent Empty
Homes Officer in each local authority to drive forward the initiative; c) simplifying the legislation
and procedures surrounding Empty Dwelling Management Orders and Compulsory
Purchase Orders; d) updating empty homes good
practice guidance to local authorities’ e) allowing councils greater
flexibility to impose punitive council tax rates on long term empty homes; f) encouraging the sharing of
best practice examples and facilitating partnership working between local
authorities; and g) looking at an incentive
scheme for local councils for every long term private sector home brought back
into use, similar to the UK Government’s ‘New Homes Bonus Scheme’.
The
motion without amendment was agreed. |
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Voting Time The item started at 17.36 |
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Votes Summary Supporting documents: |
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(30 mins) |
Short Debate NDM5168 Lynne Neagle (Torfaen): Softening the Blow Mitigating the Impact of the Bedroom Tax in Wales. Decision: The item started at 17.38 NDM5168 Lynne Neagle (Torfaen): Softening the Blow Mitigating the Impact of the Bedroom Tax in Wales. |
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Record of Proceedings Supporting documents: |