Agenda and minutes

Venue: Y Siambr - Y Senedd. View directions

Expected timing: 26(v4) 

Media

Senedd.TV: View the webcast

Transcript: Transcript for 19/10/2016 - Plenary - Fifth Senedd

Items
Expected timing No. Item

(10 mins)

1.

The 50th Anniversary of the Aberfan Disaster

Minutes:

The item started at 13.30

The Assembly commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster which took place on 21 October 1966. The Llywydd called Dawn Bowden AM (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney), the First Minister, and other party leaders to make contributions, before leading the Assembly in observing a minute’s silence.

 

(45 mins)

2.

Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government

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

View Questions

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The item started at 13.48

The first 9 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary after Question 2.

 

(10 mins)

3.

Questions to the Assembly Commission

Minutes:

The item started at 14.36

Both questions were asked.

 

(30 mins)

4.

Statement by the Chair of the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee on the Committee's Forward Work Programme including Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Unaccompanied Children

Minutes:

The item started at 14.41

 

Motions to elect Members to Committees

The item started at 15.27

NDM6124 Elin Jones (Ceredigion):

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 17.3 and 17.13(ii), elects Dai Lloyd (Plaid Cymru) as a Member of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee.

NDM6125 Elin Jones (Ceredigion):

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 17.3 and 17.13(ii), elects;

1. Llyr Gruffydd (Plaid Cymru) as a Member of the Standards of Conduct Committee, and

2. Adam Price (Plaid Cymru) as an alternate member of the Standards of Conduct Committee.

The motions were agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

(60 mins)

5.

Plaid Cymru debate

NDM6121 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the importance of good local government in contributing towards the local economy, health service and educational outcomes.

2. Regrets that too many public services have been "poor and patchy" and characterised by a "poverty of ambition", as described by the Williams Commission.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

(a) increase accountability of local government through electoral reform and lowering the voting age to 16;

(b) examine the way in which local government finance can be reformed to ensure a fairer and more sustainable system;

(c) introduce a nationally decided set of pay scales, terms and conditions to control senior and chief officer pay through a national framework; and

(d) establish regional combined authorities as part of the Welsh Government's local government reform for improved regional cooperation between existing local authorities.

'Williams Commission Report'

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire):

Delete point 3 and replace with:

Calls on the Welsh Government to:

(a) examine the way in which local government is financed, to ensure that rural authorities receive fair funding equivalent to all communities across Wales; and

(b) increase transparency in local authority senior staff budgeting to ensure that executive officer pay is sustainable and cost effective for council tax payers, and not to the detriment of the delivery of local services.

[If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be de-selected]

Amendment 2. Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan):
 
Delete point 3 and replace with:

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

(a) increase accountability of local government through electoral arrangements and lowering the voting age to 16;

(b) examine the way in which local government finance can be reformed to ensure a fairer and more sustainable system;

(c) continue to examine the case for a nationally decided set of pay scales, terms and conditions to control senior and chief officer pay through a national framework; and

(d) establish regional arrangements as part of the Welsh Government's local government reform for improved regional cooperation between existing local authorities.

Minutes:

The item started at 15.27

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

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM6121 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the importance of good local government in contributing towards the local economy, health service and educational outcomes.

2. Regrets that too many public services have been "poor and patchy" and characterised by a "poverty of ambition", as described by the Williams Commission.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

(a) increase accountability of local government through electoral reform and lowering the voting age to 16;

(b) examine the way in which local government finance can be reformed to ensure a fairer and more sustainable system;

(c) introduce a nationally decided set of pay scales, terms and conditions to control senior and chief officer pay through a national framework; and

(d) establish regional combined authorities as part of the Welsh Government's local government reform for improved regional cooperation between existing local authorities.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

7

0

44

51

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1. Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire):

Delete point 3 and replace with:

Calls on the Welsh Government to:

(a) examine the way in which local government is financed, to ensure that rural authorities receive fair funding equivalent to all communities across Wales; and

(b) increase transparency in local authority senior staff budgeting to ensure that executive officer pay is sustainable and cost effective for council tax payers, and not to the detriment of the delivery of local services.

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

17

0

34

51

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2. Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan):

Delete point 3 and replace with:

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

(a) increase accountability of local government through electoral arrangements and lowering the voting age to 16;

(b) examine the way in which local government finance can be reformed to ensure a fairer and more sustainable system;

(c) continue to examine the case for a nationally decided set of pay scales, terms and conditions to control senior and chief officer pay through a national framework; and

(d) establish regional arrangements as part of the Welsh Government's local government reform for improved regional cooperation between existing local authorities.

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

27

11

13

51

Amendment 2 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM6121 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the importance of good local government in contributing towards the local economy, health service and educational outcomes.

2. Regrets that too many public services have been "poor and patchy" and characterised by a "poverty of ambition", as described by the Williams Commission.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

(a) increase accountability of local government through electoral arrangements and lowering the voting age to 16;

(b) examine the way in which local government finance can be reformed to ensure a fairer and more sustainable system;

(c) continue to examine the case for a nationally decided set of pay scales, terms and conditions to control senior and chief officer pay through a national framework; and

(d) establish regional arrangements as part of the Welsh Government's local government reform for improved regional cooperation between existing local authorities.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

34

11

6

51

The motion as amended was agreed.

 

(60 mins)

6.

Welsh Conservatives debate

NDM6120
 
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Neil Hamilton (Mid and West Wales)
Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)
Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Resolves to establish a youth parliament for Wales.

 

Minutes:

The item started at 16.30

NDM6120
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Neil Hamilton (Mid and West Wales)
Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)
Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Resolves to establish a youth parliament for Wales.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

(60 mins)

7.

Debate on the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee's report on its inquiry on the UK Government's Wales Bill

NDM6119 Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the report of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee on its inquiry on the UK Government's Wales Bill, laid in the Table Office on 6 October 2016.

 

Minutes:

The item started at 17.23

NDM6119 Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the report of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee on its inquiry on the UK Government's Wales Bill, laid in the Table Office on 6 October 2016.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

8.

Voting time

Minutes:

The item started at 18.10

 

Votes Summary

Supporting documents:

(30 mins)

9.

Short Debate

NDM6118 Neil McEvoy (South Wales Central)
 
Bringing lobbying in Wales out into the open.

Minutes:

The item started at 18.12

NDM6118 Neil McEvoy (South Wales Central)

Bringing lobbying in Wales out into the open.