Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill

A Welsh Government Bill, introduced by Julie James MS, Minister for Housing and Local Government. The Business Committee has remitted the Bill to the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee.

About the Bill

The Bill includes provisions for:

Reforming electoral arrangements for local government, including:

extending the voting franchise to 16 and 17 year olds and foreign citizens legally resident in Wales,
changes to voter registration, and
enabling a principal council to choose between the ‘first past the post’ or the ‘single transferable vote’ voting systems;

A general power of competence for principal councils and eligible community councils;
Reforming public participation in local democracy;
The leadership of principal councils, including to encourage greater diversity amongst executive members and establishing a statutory position of chief executive;
The development of a framework and powers to facilitate more consistent and coherent regional working mechanisms;
A new system for performance and governance based on self-assessment and peer review, including the consolidation of the Welsh Ministers’ support and intervention powers;
Powers to facilitate voluntary mergers of principal councils and restructuring a principal area;
Local government finance including non-domestic rating and council tax;
Miscellaneous provisions relating to:

information sharing between regulators,
abolition of community polls,
fire and rescue authorities,
the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales, and
Public Service Boards.

Further detail about the Bill can be found in its accompanying Explanatory Memorandum (PDF, 4MB).

Current Stage

The Bill is currently at Post Stage 4. An explanation of the various stages of Senedd Bills is available in the Guide to the Stages of Public Bills and Acts.

Record of Passage in the Senedd

The following table sets out the dates for each stage of the Bill’s passage through the Senedd.

Stage

Documents

Bill introduced: 18 November 2019

Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill (PDF, 818KB), as introduced

Explanatory Memorandum (PDF, 4MB)

Presiding Officer’s Statement (PDF, 78KB): 18 November 2019

Written Statement: Statement by the Minister for Housing and Local Government on the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill (PDF, 130KB) – 18 November 2019

Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill – Statement of Policy Intent (PDF, 452KB)

Business Committee’s Report on the timetable for consideration of the Bill: 26 November 2019 (PDF, 49KB)

Revised timetable for consideration of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill – 20 May 2020 (PDF, 59KB)

Stage 1: Committee considerations of general principles

Public consultation - The consultation closed on 3 January 2020, the responses have been published. In addition to the consultation, the Committee also launched a survey on Part 3 of the Bill. Analysis of the survey has been published.

Committee dates

The Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee considered the Bill on the following dates:

Date and Agenda	Purpose of meeting	Transcript	Senedd.TV
21 November 2019	Consideration of Approach to Stage 1 Scrutiny (Private)
27 November 2019	Oral evidence session	Transcript	View meeting
11 December 2019	Oral evidence session	Transcript	View meeting
9 January 2020	Oral evidence session	Transcript	View meeting
15 January 2020	Oral evidence session	Transcript	View meeting
23 January 2020	Oral evidence session	Transcript	View meeting
29 January 2020	Oral evidence session	Transcript	View meeting

The Legislation, Justice Constitution Committee considered the Bill on the following dates:

Date and Agenda	Purpose of meeting	Transcript	Senedd.TV
3 February 2020	Oral evidence session	Transcript	View meeting

The Finance Committee considered the Bill on the following dates:

Date and Agenda	Purpose of meeting	Transcript	Senedd.TV
29 January 2020	Oral evidence session	Transcript	View meeting
6 February 2020	Oral evidence session	Transcript	View meeting

Committee Stage 1 Reports

The Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee laid its report (PDF, 2MB) on the Bill on Friday 13 March 2020. The Welsh Government responded to the report (PDF, 416KB) on 23 March 2020.

The Finance Committee laid its report (PDF, 1MB) on the financial implications of the Bill on Friday 13 March 2020. The Welsh Government responded to the report (PDF, 277KB) on 23 March 2020.

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee laid its report (PDF, 1MB) on the Bill on Friday 13 March 2020. The Welsh Government responded to the report (PDF, 380KB) on 23 March 2020.

Stage 1: Debate in Plenary on general principles

The motion to agree the general principles of the Bill was agreed in Plenary on 8 April 2020.

Financial Resolution

A Financial Resolution in relation to the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill was agreed in Plenary on 8 April 2020.

Further information about financial resolutions is available in section 3 of the Guide to the scrutiny stages for Public Bills.

Stage 2: Committee consideration of amendments

Stage 2 began on 9 April 2020.

The Minister for Housing and Local Government wrote to the Committee on 23 April 2020. Subsequently, the Business Committee decided to temporarily suspend Stage 2 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Further correspondence was sent from the Minister on 12 May 2020.

On 18 May 2020, the Business Committee agreed to (PDF, 59KB) extend the deadline for Stage 2 proceedings to 9 October 2020, due to the current Covid-19 emergency.

The Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee agreed on 16 July 2020, under Standing Order 26.21, that the order of consideration for Stage 2 proceedings will be:

Sections 2 – 30; Schedule 2; Section 1; Sections 31– 44; Schedule 3; Sections 46 – 56; Schedule 4; Section 57; Section 45; Section 59; Schedule 5; Sections 60 – 63; Schedule 6; Section 64; Schedule 7; Sections 65 – 69; Schedule 8; Sections 70 – 72; Section 58; Sections 73 – 114; Schedule 9; Sections 115 – 135; Schedule 10; Section 136; Schedule 11; Section 137; Schedule 1; Sections 138 – 158; Schedule 12; Sections 159 – 161; Schedule 13; Sections 162 – 172; Long title.

Stage 2 consideration took place in committee on 2 October 2020 and 9 October 2020.

Notice of amendments – 7 September 2020

Purpose and Effect table – 7 September 2020

Notice of amendments – 22 September 2020

Purpose and Effect table – 22 September 2020

Notice of amendments – 24 September 2020 v2

Notice of amendments – 25 September 2020

Marshalled List of Amendments - 2 October 2020 v2

Groupings of Amendments - 2 October 2020

Marshalled List of Amendments - 9 October 2020

Groupings of Amendments - 9 October 2020

Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill - As amended at Stage 2 (PDF, 865KB)

Printing Changes to the Bill as amended at Stage 2 (PDF, 118KB)

(Amendments to the Bill since the previous version are indicated by side-lining in the right margin).

Revised Explanatory Memorandum (PDF, 4MB)

Stage 3: Plenary consideration of amendments

Stage 3 began on 12 October 2020. Details of tabled amendments will be published here.

Notice of amendments – 29 October 2020 v2

Notice of amendments – 30 October 2020

Notice of amendments – 2 November 2020

Purpose and Effect table – 29 and 30 October and 2 November 2020

Notice of amendments – 3 November 2020 v2

Marshalled List of Amendments – 10 November 2020

Groupings of Amendments - 10 November 2020

The order of consideration for Stage 3 amendments was agreed in Plenary on Tuesday 3 November. Under Standing Order 26.36, Stage 3 amendments will be disposed of in the following order:

Sections 2 - 24; Schedule 2; Section 1; Sections 25 - 38; Schedule 3; Sections 40 - 50; Schedule 4; Section 51; Section 39; Section 53; Schedule 5; Sections 54 - 56; Schedule 6; Section 57; Schedule 7; Sections 58 – 63; Schedule 8; Sections 64 - 66; Section 52; Sections 67 - 87; Schedule 9; Sections 88 - 114; Schedule 10; Sections 115 - 135; Schedule 11; Section 136; Schedule 12; Section 137; Schedule 1; Sections 138 - 160; Schedule 13; Sections 161 – 163; Schedule 14; Sections 164 - 174; Long title.

Stage 3 consideration and disposal of amendments took place in Plenary on 10 November 2020.

Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill - As amended at Stage 3

Stage 4: Passing of the Bill in Plenary

The Bill was agreed by the Senedd on 18 November 2020.

Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill [As Passed] (PDF, 948KB)

Post-stage 4

The Bill is now in the four week period (19 November – 16 December 2020) during which, the Counsel General or the Attorney General may refer the question whether the Bill, or any provision of the Bill, would be within the Senedd’s legislative competence to the Supreme Court for decision (section 112 of the Government of Wales Act). Similarly, the Secretary of State for Wales may make an order prohibiting the Presiding Officer from submitting the Bill for Royal Assent. An explanation of this stage can be found in the Guide to the Legislative Process – Stage 4.

Contact information

Clerk: Catherine Hunt

Phone:0300 200 6565

Postal address:

Welsh Parliament

Cardiff Bay

Cardiff

CF99 1SN

Email: SeneddCommunities@Senedd.Wales