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On 27 June, I issued a statement confirming my intention to provide Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council with formal support under section 28 of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009\.  That can be found here.


On 18 July I confirmed in a further statement (here) that I had appointed two experienced advisers to deliver the first phase of support, involving an initial scoping review of the issues, on my behalf. 


Mr John Gilbert, a former experienced local authority Chief Executive, was appointed as an external adviser on corporate matters to undertake the scoping review in order to provide a rigorous independent perspective of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council's current challenges and advise on actions required to make the necessary changes which would inform further support and advice.


Ms Kate Allsop is a former elected mayor of Mansfield Council, standing as a member of the ‘Mansfield Independent Forum’.  Her role in Merthyr was very clear: she was appointed as an adviser to provide members with politically non\-aligned advice and support on effective governance, engaging across political parties and balancing strategic priorities with local needs.  On the basis of her work she would then provide a report to me on what steps would need to be taken for future support and improvement.   Ms Allsop needed to work closely and effectively with the Leader, Cabinet and other council members from all political parties in the Council to develop and strengthen working relationships.  


However, on Friday 2 August, without giving me or my officials advance notice, Ms Allsop announced that she would be standing at the next general election as a parliamentary candidate for the Brexit party.   On Saturday 3 August, in light of this announcement, it was agreed Ms Allsop could no longer continue as a political adviser for this initial phase of formal support. 


Ms Allsop was appointed following a thorough selection process. My officials worked with the Welsh Local Government Association, who liaised with the Local Government Association, as a recognised source of credible expertise, to assist in identifying suitable candidates to fulfil the role of an independent peer adviser. A number of these candidates came from outside Wales.  I am always seeking to learn from practice elsewhere and not constrain my choices by geography.  Much can be learned by engaging advisers with expertise from outside of Wales.  Welsh Government Ministers and the Welsh Local Government Association have often in the past balanced a range of inputs to our advice. In this case I was content that the candidates I considered could bring a useful mix of relevant experience and fresh perspectives.  Previous packages of support that the Welsh Government has offered to councils have benefited significantly from this form of external input.


Given the current political make up of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council and after discussion with the Leader, an adviser with an independent political background was a key factor in identifying a candidate with whom the majority of members would work.  


Ms Allsop gave us no indication either in her CV or subsequent conversations that she was currently affiliated to any political party, or that she was considering standing for a political party when my officials considered her suitability for the role.  I therefore made her appointment on this basis as an independent peer adviser, based on her undoubted extensive experience working at the highest level over a number of years as an independent councillor in local government.  However, Ms Allsop’s declaration to stand as an MP fundamentally changed the nature of her status as independent and therefore compromised the basis on which I made her appointment.  I would not appoint a candidate to any adviser post who was prominently engaged in national political activity.  


This has been a surprising and unwelcome series of events.  But we must not allow them to deflect from the issue at hand.  Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council’s current position is serious and our focus should remain on supporting the Council to ensure it is able to serve the people of Merthyr Tydfil effectively and efficiently; and working hard to ensure this initial phase of support is completed as quickly as possible. 


My external adviser Mr John Gilbert will continue his role to undertake the initial review of the Council. As I have said previously the review will scope the main challenges facing the Council and at the end of it Mr Gilbert will provide a report setting out his findings which will be used to identify immediate actions and also inform the next phase of the support package. Mr Gilbert is due to report in mid September and I will reflect then on the nature of political support which will be provided to the Council.


I have discussed this with the Leader of the Council, Councillor Kevin O’Neill, and he is in agreement on the way forward. 


This statement is being issued during recess in order to keep members informed. Should Members wish me to make a further statement or to answer questions on this when the Assembly returns I would be happy to do so.







Translation:


 
Ar 27 Mehefin, cyhoeddais ddatganiad yn cadarnhau fy mod yn bwriadu darparu cymorth ffurfiol i Gyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr Tudful dan adran 28 o Fesur Llywodraeth Leol (Cymru) 2009\. Gellir gweld y datganiad yma.


Ar 18 Gorffennaf, mi wnes i gadarnhau mewn datganiad pellach (yma) fy mod wedi penodi dau gynghorydd profiadol i gyflawni cam cyntaf y cymorth, sef adolygiad cwmpasu cychwynnol, ar fy rhan. 


Penodwyd Mr John Gilbert, cyn Brif Weithredwr awdurdod lleol profiadol, yn gynghorydd allanol ar faterion corfforaethol er mwyn cynnal yr adolygiad cwmpasu cychwynnol. Y bwriad oedd iddo ddarparu barn annibynnol drylwyr ynghylch yr heriau sy'n wynebu Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr Tudful ar hyn o bryd, a rhoi cyngor ynghylch y camau sydd angen eu cymryd i wneud newidiadau angenrheidiol, fel sylfaen ar gyfer cymorth a chyngor pellach.


Mae Ms Kate Allsop yn gyn faer etholedig gyda Chyngor Mansfield, a safodd fel aelod o Fforwm Annibynnol Mansfield. Roedd ei rôl ym Merthyr yn gwbl glir: cafodd ei phenodi yn gynghorydd i ddarparu cyngor a chymorth gwleidyddol ddi\-duedd i aelodau ar lywodraethiant effeithiol, gan drafod gyda’r holl bleidiau gwleidyddol a chydbwyso blaenoriaethau strategol gydag anghenion lleol. Ar sail ei gwaith, byddai’n darparu adroddiad i mi ar y camau y byddai angen eu cymryd i roi cymorth a sicrhau gwelliannau yn y dyfodol. Roedd angen i Ms Allsop weithio’n agos ac yn effeithiol gyda'r Arweinydd, y Cabinet ac aelodau eraill o'r cyngor o bob plaid i ddatblygu a chryfhau'r berthynas waith. 


Fodd bynnag, ar ddydd Gwener 2 Awst, heb fy rhybuddio i na'm swyddogion o flaen llaw, cyhoeddodd Ms Allsop y byddai'n sefyll yn yr etholiad cyffredinol nesaf fel ymgeisydd seneddol ar ran plaid Brexit. Ddydd Sadwrn 3 Awst, yn sgil y cyhoeddiad hwn, cytunwyd na fyddai modd i Ms Allsop barhau bellach fel cynghorydd gwleidyddol ar gyfer y cam cychwynnol hwn o gymorth ffurfiol. 


Penodwyd Ms Allsop yn dilyn proses ddethol drylwyr. Bu fy swyddogion yn gweithio gyda Chymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru, mewn cysylltiad â'r Gymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol fel ffynhonnell gydnabyddedig o arbenigedd, wrth ddod o hyd i ymgeiswyr addas i lenwi rôl cynghorydd annibynnol. Roedd nifer o'r ymgeiswyr hynny yn dod o'r tu allan i Gymru. Rwyf wedi bod yn awyddus erioed i geisio dysgu gan arferion o fannau eraill, ac nid wyf yn barod i osod cyfyngiadau daearyddol ar fy newisiadau. Gallwn ddysgu llawer drwy gynnwys cynghorwyr ag arbenigedd o’r tu allan i Gymru. Mae Gweinidogion Llywodraeth Cymru a Chymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru wedi bod yn pwyso a mesur cyngor o sawl cyfeiriad yn aml iawn yn y gorffennol. Yn yr achos hwn, roeddwn yn hyderus y byddai modd i’r holl ymgeiswyr dan ystyriaeth gynnig cymysgedd ddefnyddiol o brofiad perthnasol a phersbectif newydd. Mae pecynnau cymorth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'u cynnig i gynghorau yn y gorffennol wedi elwa’n sylweddol ar y math hwn o fewnbwn allanol.


Yn sgil cyfansoddiad gwleidyddol Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr Tudful ar hyn o bryd, ac yn dilyn trafodaeth gyda'r Arweinydd, roedd sicrhau cynghorydd o gefndir gwleidyddol annibynnol yn ffactor allweddol wrth ddewis ymgeisydd y gallai'r rhan fwyaf o aelodau weithio gydag ef neu hi.   


Ni roddodd Ms Allsop unrhyw awgrym i ni yn ei CV nac mewn sgyrsiau dilynol ei bod yn ymwneud mewn unrhyw ffordd ag unrhyw blaid wleidyddol, na'i bod yn ystyried sefyll ar ran plaid wleidyddol wrth i’m swyddogion ystyried a oedd yn addas ar gyfer y rôl. Penderfynais ei phenodi felly fel cynghorydd annibynnol, ar sail ei phrofiad helaeth diamheuol yn gweithio ar y lefel uchaf dros nifer o flynyddoedd fel cynghorydd annibynnol mewn llywodraeth leol. Fodd bynnag, roedd penderfyniad Ms Allsop i sefyll i fod yn Aelod Seneddol yn newid ei statws annibynnol yn llwyr, ac felly’n tanseilio’r holl sail ar gyfer ei phenodiad. Ni fyddwn wedi penodi unrhyw ymgeisydd i fod yn gynghorydd os oedd yn cymryd rhan amlwg mewn gweithgarwch gwleidyddol ar lwyfan cenedlaethol. 


Rydym ni wedi gweld cyfres o ddigwyddiadau annisgwyl ac anffodus. Ond rhaid i ni beidio â chaniatáu i hynny dynnu sylw oddi wrth y mater sydd dan sylw. Mae sefyllfa bresennol Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr Tudful yn un ddifrifol, a rhaid i ni barhau i ganolbwyntio ar gefnogi'r Cyngor i sicrhau bod modd iddo wasanaethu pobl Merthyr Tudful mewn ffordd effeithiol ac effeithlon; a gweithio'n galed i sicrhau bod y cam cyntaf hwn o gymorth yn cael ei gwblhau cyn gynted â phosib. 


Bydd fy nghynghorydd allanol, Mr John Gilbert yn parhau i gynnal ei adolygiad cychwynnol o'r Cyngor. Fel y dywedais yn flaenorol, bydd yr adolygiad yn edrych ar y prif heriau sy'n wynebu'r Cyngor, ac ar y diwedd bydd Mr Gilbert yn darparu adroddiad yn nodi ei ganfyddiadau. Bydd yr adroddiad hwnnw yn cael ei ddefnyddio i bennu camau sydd angen eu cymryd ar unwaith a hefyd i gynnig sylfaen ar gyfer cam nesaf y pecyn cymorth. Disgwylir i Mr Gilbert adrodd ganol mis Medi, ac yna fe fyddaf yn ystyried natur y cymorth gwleidyddol a fydd yn cael ei ddarparu i'r Cyngor.


Rwyf wedi trafod y mater hwn gydag Arweinydd y Cyngor, y Cynghorydd Kevin O’Neill, ac mae’n cytuno mai dyma’r ffordd ymlaen.


Caiff y datganiad ei gyhoeddi yn ystod y toriad er mwyn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i Aelodau. Os bydd aelodau eisiau i mi wneud datganiad pellach neu ateb cwestiynau ynglŷn â hyn pan fydd y Cynulliad yn dychwelyd, byddwn yn hapus i wneud hynny.