Agenda and decisions

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The item started at 13.30.

 

Questions 1-6 and 8-15 were asked. Question 7 was not asked. Question 11 was answered by the Deputy Minister for Children and Social Services.

View Questions

The item started at 14.13.

 

All 2 questions were asked.

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The item started at 14.17.

 

The first 4 questions were asked.  Question 5 was withdrawn. Questions 1-3 were answered by Peter Black.  Question 4 was answered by Rhodri Glyn Thomas.

NDM4962 William Powell (Mid and West Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the report of the Petitions Committee on the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in Wales, which was laid in the Table Office on 23 February 2012.

Note: The response by the First Minister was laid on 18 April 2012.

Supporting Documents

Report of the Petitions Committee

Response by the First Minister

 

The item started at 14.28.

 

NDM4962 William Powell (Mid and West Wales)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

Notes the report of the Petitions Committee on the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in Wales, which was laid in the Table Office on 23 February 2012.

 

The motion was agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM4963 William Graham (South Wales East)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes that the difficult economic climate highlights the importance of public bodies acting in a manner which ensures best possible value for money;

2. Commends any efforts by local authorities to make savings in order to provide value for taxpayer’s money;

3. Further notes that there is still too much waste at the Local Government level; and

4. Regrets the failure of the Welsh Government to lead by example in driving forward the value for money agenda.

The following amendments have been tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

Delete point 4.

 

Amendment 2 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

Add as a new point at end of motion:

 

Welcomes the value for money delivered by Liberal Democrat-led local authorities which has enabled them to deliver low council tax rises over the last four years.

The item started at 15:19.

 

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

 

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

 

NDM4963 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes that the difficult economic climate highlights the importance of public bodies acting in a manner which ensures best possible value for money;

 

2. Commends any efforts by local authorities to make savings in order to provide value for taxpayer’s money;

 

3. Further notes that there is still too much waste at the Local Government level; and

 

4. Regrets the failure of the Welsh Government to lead by example in driving forward the value for money agenda.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
13	0	38	51

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

 

The following amendments were tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

Delete point 4.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
34	0	17	51

Amendment 1 was agreed.

 

Amendment 2 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

Add as a new point at end of motion:

 

Welcomes the value for money delivered by Liberal Democrat-led local authorities which has enabled them to deliver low council tax rises over the last four years.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
4	9	38	51

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

 

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

 

NDM4963 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes that the difficult economic climate highlights the importance of public bodies acting in a manner which ensures best possible value for money;

 

2. Commends any efforts by local authorities to make savings in order to provide value for taxpayer’s money; and

 

3. Further notes that there is still too much waste at the Local Government level.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
38	0	13	51

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

NDM4964 Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Acknowledges:

 

a) the value of services provided by local authorities;

 

b) that local authorities are vital to the sustainability of local economies;

 

c) that it is important that local authorities are good, responsible employers; and

 

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to promote good practice among local authorities, including the creation of partnerships, which meet local needs.

 

The following amendments have been tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - William Graham (South Wales East)

 

In sub-point 1b) delete all after ‘authorities’ and replace with:

 

‘make a positive contribution to local economies, but believes that local authorities must engage with the independent and third sectors more widely to ensure that the viability of local economies is sustainable’

 

Amendment 2 - Peter Black (South Wales West)

 

Add as a new point at end of motion:

 

Notes the importance of electing councillors with a vision for improving local services in order to drive up standards.

The item started at 16.19.

 

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

 

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

 

NDM4964 Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Acknowledges:

 

a) the value of services provided by local authorities;

 

b) that local authorities are vital to the sustainability of local economies;

 

c) that it is important that local authorities are good, responsible employers; and

 

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to promote good practice among local authorities, including the creation of partnerships, which meet local needs.

 

For	Abstain	Against	Total
34	0	17	51

The motion without amendment was agreed.

Voting Time started at 17.13.

NDM4961 Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire)

 

Abandonment or Marginalisation: What is happening to the Fourth Estate in Wales?

 

A debate on the role of the media in Wales.

 

The item started at 17.16.

 

NDM4961 Angela Burns (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire)

 

Abandonment or Marginalisation: What is happening to the Fourth Estate in Wales?

 

A debate on the role of the media in Wales.