A MOTION submitted for a Torfaen council meeting tomorrow was pulled as it breached an election law.

The motion, proposed by Fairwater councillor Jeff Rees, said: "Torfaen council supports full law-making powers within the devolved areas for the Welsh Assembly.

“This will speed up the democratic process in Wales and do away with the cumbersome process we currently have, for the benefit of both national and local government."

The motion would have been voted on just two days before the Referendum on Thursday but was pulled from the meeting's agenda after it was found to contravene part of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.

St Dials ward councillor Elizabeth Haynes contacted the Electoral Commission about the proposed motion.

"The wording of the motion “Torfaen council supports” in my opinion directs the council as a whole of voting in a certain way. That’s not right and that’s not appropriate," she said.

Cllr Haynes said she emailed the council’s mayor, chief executive and the legal and monitoring officer saying she thought it could be seen as directing staff on how to vote in the Referendum.

"I attempted to get it rectified through the council but the only response I had was that it was included in the constitution. I felt I had no option but to take it further," she said.

The councillor said she reiterated her concern to the legal and monitoring officer and specifically asked for the motion to be pulled but had no response.

Cllr Haynes then contacted the Electoral Commission on Wednesday to pass on her concerns.

A spokesman for Torfaen council said it took advice from the Electoral Commission and are satisfied the motion infringes election law so should not be allowed to proceed.

Cllr Rees said: "I put the motion forward to raise awareness of the importance of a Yes vote in the Referendum, a Yes vote will mean that laws that effect only Wales can be made in Wales."