Agenda and minutes

The Presiding Officer will call Party Leaders to ask questions without notice to the First Minister after Question 2.

View Questions

The item started at 13.00

The first 8 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party leaders to ask questions to the First Minister after question 2.

View Business Statement and Announcement

The item started at 14.00

NDM8501 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with section 116D of the Government of Wales Act 2006, agrees the Welsh rate resolution for the 2024-25 Welsh rates of income tax as follows:

a) the Welsh rate for the purpose of calculating the basic rate of income tax is 10p in the pound;

b) the Welsh rate for the purpose of calculating the higher rate of income tax is 10p in the pound; and

c) the Welsh rate for the purpose of calculating the additional rate of income tax is 10p in the pound.

The item started at 14.12

NDM8501 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with section 116D of the Government of Wales Act 2006, agrees the Welsh rate resolution for the 2024-25 Welsh rates of income tax as follows:

a) the Welsh rate for the purpose of calculating the basic rate of income tax is 10p in the pound;

b) the Welsh rate for the purpose of calculating the higher rate of income tax is 10p in the pound; and

c) the Welsh rate for the purpose of calculating the additional rate of income tax is 10p in the pound.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM8499 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 20.25, approves the Annual Budget for the financial year 2024-25 laid in the Table Office by the First Minister on 27 February 2024.

Supporting Documents

The Welsh Government's response to the Finance Committee's report

The item started at 14.23

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

NDM8499 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 20.25, approves the Annual Budget for the financial year 2024-25 laid in the Table Office by the First Minister on 27 February 2024.

The result was as follows:

The motion was agreed.

NDM8500 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Section 84H of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, approves the Local Government Finance Report (No. 1) 2024-25 (Final Settlement - Councils), which was laid in the Table Office on 27 February 2024.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets the substantial increases in council tax due to underfunding by the Welsh Government.

Amendment 2 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government, before the next local government settlement, to:

a) commission an independent review of the Welsh local government funding formula;

b) work with local authorities to use their useable reserves to keep council tax as low as possible; and

c) require any local authority proposing a council tax rise of over 5 per cent to hold a local referendum and obtain a yes vote before implementing the proposed rise.

The item started at 15.24

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

NDM8500 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Section 84H of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, approves the Local Government Finance Report (No. 1) 2024-25 (Final Settlement - Councils), which was laid in the Table Office on 27 February 2024.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets the substantial increases in council tax due to underfunding by the Welsh Government.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

As required by Standing Order 6.20 the Presiding Officer exercised her casting vote by voting against the amendment. Therefore, the amendment was not agreed.

Amendment 2 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government, before the next local government settlement, to:

a) commission an independent review of the Welsh local government funding formula;

b) work with local authorities to use their useable reserves to keep council tax as low as possible; and

c) require any local authority proposing a council tax rise of over 5 per cent to hold a local referendum and obtain a yes vote before implementing the proposed rise.

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion:

NDM8500 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Section 84H of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, approves the Local Government Finance Report (No. 1) 2024-25 (Final Settlement - Councils), which was laid in the Table Office on 27 February 2024.

The motion was agreed.

In accordance with Standing Order 12.44, at 16.08 the bell was rung and the meeting suspended until Voting Time.

The item started at 16.14