Translate the text from Welsh to English.



 
Ers 2011, mae rhaglenni archwilio, rheoleiddio ac arolygu yng Nghymru wedi mynegi pryderon ynghylch gwendidau yn y ffordd y caiff Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Blaenau Gwent ei redeg ac wedi pwysleisio, oni bai bod gwaith yn cael ei wneud i fynd i’r afael â’r rhain, ei bod yn annhebygol y byddai’r Cyngor yn cynnal gwelliant sylweddol. Daeth Adroddiad Gwella Blynyddol diweddaraf Archwilydd Cyffredinol Cymru, a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Ebrill 2013, i’r casgliad bod angen arweinyddiaeth effeithiol a rheolaeth a threfniadau cyflawni cyson ar y Cyngor er mwyn bod yn llwyddiannus a sicrhau’r gwelliannau gofynnol.

  


Mae gwaith asesiad gwella diweddaraf Swyddfa Archwilio Cymru yn dangos, ers mis Mai 2012, bod y Cyngor wedi bod yn gweithio i wneud cynnydd o ran mynd i’r afael â’r heriau sylweddol y mae’n eu hwynebu. Fodd bynnag, nid yw hyn wedi bod yn ddigonol. Felly, mae’n annhebygol y bydd y Cyngor yn gwneud y trefniadau angenrheidiol i wella a newid ar raddfa ddigon mawr a chyflym i fodloni’r hyn sydd ei angen yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon. Mae Llythyr Asesiad Gwella Archwilydd Cyffredinol Cymru at Gyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Blaenau Gwent, a anfonwyd heddiw, yn datgan yn glir bod y trefniadau arwain a phenderfynu yn anghyson o hyd ac nad yw’r Cyngor wedi cyflwyno cynigion i fynd i’r afael ar ddigon o frys â’r pwysau ariannol a ragwelir a’r amrywiadau ym mherfformiad gwasanaethau. Mae pryder hefyd ynghylch lefel ac ansawdd yr wybodaeth y mae Aelodau etholedig yn ei derbyn i’w galluogi i wneud penderfyniadau gwybodus a phriodol.  

Yng ngoleuni’r casgliadau hyn, mae Archwilydd Cyffredinol Cymru wedi gwneud dau argymhelliad statudol i’r Cyngor fynd i’r afael â’i drefniadau ar gyfer cynllunio ariannol, gwneud penderfyniadau a chraffu. Mae’r llythyr hefyd yn cynnwys argymhelliad i mi ddefnyddio fy mhwerau Gweinidogol (o dan Adran 28 Mesur Llywodraeth Leol (Cymru) 2009\) i gynnig cymorth tymor byr i’r Cyngor er mwyn iddo unioni’i broblemau, cyn gynted â phosibl, gan nad oes gan y Cyngor y gallu i fwrw ymlaen â’r camau gweithredu sy’n angenrheidiol i fynd i’r afael â nhw. Mae Archwilydd Cyffredinol Cymru yn awgrymu y dylid rhoi cymorth o’r fath ar ffurf cymorth allanol â sgiliau a phrofiad addas i alluogi’r Cyngor i gymryd camau buan ac arwyddocaol yn y meysydd dan sylw.

  


Rwyf wedi cymryd argymhelliad Archwilydd Cyffredinol Cymru o ddifrif. Mae’n amlwg o’i asesiad manwl bod angen mynd i’r afael â’r sefyllfa ar frys. Rwyf hefyd yn falch o weld ymrwymiad Arweinydd Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Blaenau Gwent i fynd i’r afael ag anawsterau’r Cyngor drwy wneud cais ffurfiol am gymorth i helpu i ymdrin â’r anwsterau ariannol uniongyrchol a’r heriau ehangach y mae’n eu hwynebu.

  


Rwy’n bwriadu defnyddio fy mhwerau o dan Adran 28 y Mesur i roi pecyn cymorth ffurfiol i’r Cyngor. Ni fu’n rhaid i mi arfer y pwerau hyn o’r blaen. Fodd bynnag, ni allaf anwybyddu natur argymhelliad Archwilydd Cyffredinol Cymru o ystyried cynnwys y Llythyr Asesiad Gwella. Bydd fy swyddogion nawr yn gweithio gyda’r Cyngor i benderfynu ar becyn cymorth priodol i fynd i’r afael â’i flaenoriaethau ariannol uniongyrchol a’i faterion capasiti a chynaliadwyedd corfforaethol ehangach.  

Ar ôl cytuno ar y pecyn cymorth hwn, byddaf yn gwneud Datganiad pellach i Aelodau’r Cynulliad yn amlinellu’r manylion a’r amserlen.

    





Translation:


 
Since 2011, audit and regulation inspection programmes in Wales have raised concerns at weaknesses in how Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council is run and have emphasised until these were addressed, it was unlikely the Council would sustain significant improvement.  The Auditor General for Wales’ most recent Annual Improvement Report, published in April 2013, concluded the Council needed effective leadership, consistent management and delivery in order to be successful and secure the necessary improvements.


The most recent improvement assessment work carried out by the Wales Audit Office has shown that since May 2012, the Council has been working to make  progress to address the significant challenges it faces.  However, this action has not been sufficient. The Council is, therefore, unlikely to make the necessary arrangements to improve and achieve the scale and pace of change needed this financial year.  The Auditor General for Wales’ Improvement Assessment Letter to Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, issued today, makes clear leadership and decision making are still inconsistent and the Council has not introduced proposals to address its predicted financial pressures and varied service performance with sufficient urgency.  There is also concern about the level and quality of information being received by elected Members to enable them to take informed and appropriate decisions. 


In light of these conclusions, the Auditor General for Wales has made two statutory recommendations to the Council for them to address their financial planning, decision making and scrutiny arrangements.  The letter also includes a recommendation for me to use my Ministerial powers (under Section 28 of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009\) to provide short term support to the Council in order for it to remedy its problems, as soon as possible, as the Council does not have the capacity to take forward the actions necessary to address them.  The Auditor General for Wales suggests this support should be in the form of suitably skilled and experienced external support to enable the Council to take prompt and significant action in the areas identified.


I have taken the recommendation from the Auditor General for Wales extremely seriously. It is evident from his detailed assessment the situation needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.  I am also pleased by the commitment of the Leader of Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council to address the Council’s difficulties by formally requesting support to help address the immediate financial difficulties and wider challenges it is facing.  


I now intend to use my powers under Section 28 of the Measure to provide the Council with a formal package of support.  I  have not had to exercise these powers before. However, the nature of the recommendation from the Auditor General for Wales is not one I can ignore given the content of the Improvement Assessment Letter.  My officials will now work with the Council to determine an appropriate package of support to address its immediate financial priorities and wider corporate capacity and sustainability issues.  


Once this package of support has been agreed, I will make a further Statement to Assembly Members outlining the details and timescales for delivery.