That now brings us to voting time and, unless three Members wish for the bell to be rung, I will move directly to the first vote. That first vote is on item 6, the motion to amend Standing Orders on proxy voting. I call for vote on the motion, tabled in the name of Elin Jones. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 36, no abstentions, 12 against. And therefore the motion is agreed.

Item 6. Motion to amend Standing Orders - Proxy voting: For: 36, Against: 12, Abstain: 0

Motion has been agreed

The next vote is on item 8, the debate on a Member's legislative proposal, a Wales tourism Bill. I call for a vote on the motion, tabled in the name of Tom Giffard. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 24, 11 abstentions and 13 against. Therefore the motion is agreed. 

Item 8. Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal - A Wales tourism Bill: For: 24, Against: 13, Abstain: 11

Motion has been agreed

The next vote is on item 9, the Welsh Conservatives debate on local government funding. I call for a vote on the motion without amendment, tabled in the name of Darren Millar. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 12, no abstentions, 36 against. Therefore, the motion is not agreed. 

Item 9. Welsh Conservatives Debate - Local government funding. Motion without amendment: For: 12, Against: 36, Abstain: 0

Motion has been rejected

We'll move now to amendment 1, and, if amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2 and 3 will be deselected. So, a vote on amendment 1 in the name of Lesley Griffiths. Open the vote. Close the vote. The vote is equal. In favour 24, no abstentions, and 24 against. And therefore I exercise my casting vote against amendment 1. And therefore amendment 1 is not agreed. 

Item 9. Welsh Conservatives Debate - Local government funding. Amendment 1, tabled in the name of Lesley Griffiths: For: 24, Against: 24, Abstain: 0

As there was an equality of votes, the Llywydd used her casting vote in accordance with Standing Order 6.20(ii).

Amendment has been rejected

Which leads us to a vote on amendment 2, and the amendment was tabled in the name of Siân Gwenllian. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 36, no abstentions and 12 against. And therefore amendment 2 is agreed. 

Item 9. Welsh Conservatives Debate - Local government funding. Amendment 2, tabled in the name of Sian Gwenllian: For: 36, Against: 12, Abstain: 0

Amendment has been agreed

Amendment 3 is next, tabled in the name of Siân Gwenllian. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 36, no abstentions and 12 against. And therefore amendment 3 is agreed. 

Item 9. Welsh Conservatives Debate - Local government funding. Amendment 3, tabled in the name of Sian Gwenllian: For: 36, Against: 12, Abstain: 0

Amendment has been agreed

The final vote is on the motion as amended. 

Motion NDM8238 as amended

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that local authorities have an estimated £2.75 billion in useable reserves.

2. Recognises the vital role that local authorities play in delivering public services across Wales and the funding challenges they face.

3. Regrets that the average council tax rise in Wales for 2023-2024 is 5.5 per cent.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

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

5. Recognises that council tax is one of the most regressive forms of taxation and disproportionately impacts on poorer areas of the country.

6. Welcomes the commitment through the Plaid Cymru and Welsh Government Co-operation Agreement to make the council tax system fairer and more progressive.

Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 13, no abstentions and 35 against. And therefore the motion as amended is not agreed. 

Item 9. Welsh Conservatives Debate - Local government funding. Motion as amended: For: 13, Against: 35, Abstain: 0

Motion as amended has been rejected

That concludes voting for this afternoon, but our work is not complete.