Agenda and minutes

Venue: Y Siambr - Y Senedd. View directions

Expected timing: 54 

Media

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Transcript: Transcript for 16/02/2022 - Plenary

Items
Expected timing No. Item

This meeting was held in a hybrid format, with some Members in the Senedd Chamber and others joining by video-conference.

 

(45 mins)

1.

Questions to the Minister for Economy

The Presiding Officer will call Party Spokespeople to ask questions without notice after Question 2.

View Questions

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The item started at 13.30

The first 8 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport after question 2.

 

(45 mins)

2.

Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

The Presiding Officer will call Party Spokespeople to ask questions without notice after Question 2.

View Questions

Minutes:

The item started at 14.21

The first 8 questions were asked. Question 4 was answered by the Deputy Minister for Social Services. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister and Deputy Minister after question 2.

 

(20 mins)

3.

Topical Questions

To be answered by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change:

Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister make a statement on the decision to scrap the A55 roundabouts removal project?

Minutes:

The item started at 15.11

Answered by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change:

Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister make a statement on the decision to scrap the A55 roundabouts removal project?

 

(5 mins)

4.

90 Second Statements

Minutes:

The item started at 15.21

Jane Dodds made a statement on International Care Day.

In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 15.23 the Presiding Officer suspended the meeting.

 

(60 mins)

5.

Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv) – Local Government elections

NDM7881 Rhys ab Owen (South Wales Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes:

a) the Local Government and Elections Wales Act 2021 extends the voting franchise to 16 and 17 year olds and foreign citizens legally resident in Wales, ensures a duty to encourage local people to participate in local government, and enables councils to scrap the first-past-the-post system to elect councillors;

b) a more proportional system is used in local elections in Scotland, reducing the number of uncontested seats, and ensuring that all votes count.

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to work closely with new councils elected in May 2022 to ensure that a more representative method and a uniform national system is used to elect councillors across Wales by 2027.

Co-submitters

Llyr Gruffydd

Jane Dodds

Supporters

Cefin Campbell

Heledd Fychan

Luke Fletcher

Mabon ap Gwynfor

Peredur Owen Griffiths

Rhun ap Iorwerth

Siân Gwenllian

Sioned Williams

Minutes:

The item started at 15.31

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

NDM7881 Rhys ab Owen (South Wales Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes:

a) the Local Government and Elections Wales Act 2021 extends the voting franchise to 16 and 17 year olds and foreign citizens legally resident in Wales, ensures a duty to encourage local people to participate in local government, and enables councils to scrap the first-past-the-post system to elect councillors;

b) a more proportional system is used in local elections in Scotland, reducing the number of uncontested seats, and ensuring that all votes count.

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to work closely with new councils elected in May 2022 to ensure that a more representative method and a uniform national system is used to elect councillors across Wales by 2027.

Co-submitters

Llyr Gruffydd

Jane Dodds

The result was as follows:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

13

2

39

54

The motion was not agreed.

 

(30 mins)

6.

Debate on petition P-05-949 Save Cowbridge Intermediate School for Girls from demolition

NDM7924 Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the petition, ‘P-05-949 Save Cowbridge Old Girls’ School from Demolition’, which received 5,522 signatures.

P-05-949 Save Cowbridge Old Girls’ School from Demolition

Minutes:

The item started at 16.17

NDM7924 Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the petition, ‘P-05-949 Save Cowbridge Old Girls’ School from Demolition’, which received 5,522 signatures.

P-05-949 Save Cowbridge Old Girls’ School from Demolition

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

(60 mins)

7.

Welsh Conservatives debate – Local Government funding

NDM7923 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Thanks councillors, local authorities and their staff across Wales for their role during the coronavirus pandemic.

2. Believes that Welsh local authorities must be adequately funded to enable them to deliver the high quality public services to which they aspire.

3. Regrets that the current local government funding formula is not fit for purpose.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to commission an external independent review of the funding of local government in Wales to ensure it delivers fair funding for all parts of the country.

 

The following amendment has been tabled:

 

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete points 3 and 4 and replace with:

Notes the proposed local government settlement increase for 2022-23 of 9.4 per cent announced on 16 December 2021, which will continue to support authorities to deliver high quality services.

Recognises that local government and the Welsh Government continue to jointly review and develop the funding formula so that it continues to be fair, fit for purpose and offers authorities both stability and responsiveness.

 

Minutes:

The item started at 16.48

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM7923 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Thanks councillors, local authorities and their staff across Wales for their role during the coronavirus pandemic.

2. Believes that Welsh local authorities must be adequately funded to enable them to deliver the high quality public services to which they aspire.

3. Regrets that the current local government funding formula is not fit for purpose.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to commission an external independent review of the funding of local government in Wales to ensure it delivers fair funding for all parts of the country.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

26

0

28

54

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendment was tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete points 3 and 4 and replace with:

Notes the proposed local government settlement increase for 2022-23 of 9.4 per cent announced on 16 December 2021, which will continue to support authorities to deliver high quality services.

Recognises that local government and the Welsh Government continue to jointly review and develop the funding formula so that it continues to be fair, fit for purpose and offers authorities both stability and responsiveness.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

28

0

26

54

Amendment 1 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM7923 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Thanks councillors, local authorities and their staff across Wales for their role during the coronavirus pandemic.

2. Believes that Welsh local authorities must be adequately funded to enable them to deliver the high quality public services to which they aspire.

3. Notes the proposed local government settlement increase for 2022-23 of 9.4 per cent announced on 16 December 2021, which will continue to support authorities to deliver high quality services.

4. Recognises that local government and the Welsh Government continue to jointly review and develop the funding formula so that it continues to be fair, fit for purpose and offers authorities both stability and responsiveness

For

Abstain

Against

Total

28

0

26

54

The motion as amended was agreed.

In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 17.45 proceedings were suspended to allow a technical break before Voting Time.

 

8.

Voting Time

Minutes:

The item started at 17.49

 

Votes Summary

Supporting documents:

(30 mins)

9.

Short Debate

NDM7914  Laura Anne Jones (South Wales East)

Regenerating town and city centres in Wales: more of the same will simply not work

Minutes:

The item started at 17.52

NDM7914  Laura Anne Jones (South Wales East)

Regenerating town and city centres in Wales: more of the same will simply not work