Motion NDM6176 as amended

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes:

a) the impact of successful schemes such as small business Saturday which increases footfall in town centres across Wales;

b) the draft budget agreement with Plaid Cymru, which includes £3m for local authorities to run pilot schemes to evaluate the impact of free town centre parking;

c) that the current business rates system raises £1bn which supports public services in Wales that small businesses rely on;

d) that the revaluation of business rates by the independent Valuation Office Agency is not designed to raise additional revenue and that while some rateable values have increased, overall they have fallen;

e) the Welsh Government’s commitment to introducing a new permanent small business rates relief scheme in 2018;

f) that the National Procurement Service has increased the number of Welsh businesses winning contracts and

g) the Welsh Governments intention to:

i) ensure that the interests of small and medium sized businesses are given due weight in the work of the new National Infrastructure Commission for Wales and the Development Bank of Wales; and

ii) publish new economic priorities in 2017, to make Wales more prosperous and secure.