Translate the text from Welsh to English.



 
Ar 21 Mai 2012, cyhoeddodd y Gweinidog Tai, Adfywio a Threftadaeth y Papur Gwyn ar Dai, Papur Gwyn ar gyfer Bywyd Gwell a Chymunedau Gwell, ar gyfer ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus. Roedd yn amlinellu ymrwymiad Llywodraeth Cymru i sicrhau bod cartrefi fforddiadwy o ansawdd da ar gael i bawb yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys ymrwymiad i foderneiddio'r sector rhentu preifat drwy gyflwyno mesurau i wella safonau rheoli a chyflwr eiddo.

Un o’r blaenoriaethau ar gyfer gweithredu oedd mynd i’r afael ag eiddo gwag.  Yn ogystal â chyflwyno Troi Tai'n Gartrefi, menter tai gwag genedlaethol lwyddiannus yn cymell perchnogion i ddefnyddio eu heiddo unwaith eto, roedd y Papur Gwyn yn cynnwys cynigion ar gyfer pŵer disgresiwn i ganiatáu i Awdurdodau Lleol godi cyfradd uwch o'r dreth gyngor ar eiddo gwag hirdymor.  Rydym wedi nodi’r ymatebion i'r ymgynghoriad, a hefyd wedi ystyried sylwadau eraill a wnaed fel rhan o’r ymatebion hynny.  Roedd rhai ymatebion yn cyfeirio at godi treth gyngor ychwanegol ar “ail gartrefi”. O ystyried hyn, ac er mwyn cael mwy o sylwadau, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymgynghori ar godi treth gyngor ychwanegol ar ail gartrefi.

Mae’r amcanion sydd wrth wraidd codi treth gyngor uwch ar eiddo gwag hirdymor yn glir. Mae cartrefi gwag yn adnodd tai y dylid dechrau ei ddefnyddio unwaith eto, yn enwedig ar adeg pan mae angen mwy o gartrefi fforddiadwy. Maent hefyd yn gallu denu ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol a chael effaith andwyol ar yr amgylchedd, ac yn gallu arwain at drobwll o ddirywiad mewn rhai cymunedau.

Nid yw’r un problemau yn berthnasol i ail gartrefi. Fodd bynnag, mae’n bosibl bod cymunedau â mwy o ail gartrefi – gyda rhai ohonynt yn cael eu defnyddio fel cartrefi gwyliau o bosibl – yn wynebu problemau gwahanol. Gallai’r problemau hyn gynnwys cynaliadwyedd trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus a gwasanaethau a chyfleusterau lleol, er enghraifft. Felly, mae'r Llywodraeth yn dymuno cynnal ymgynghoriad ar y mater hwn.

Heddiw, rydym yn lansio’r ymgynghoriad hwn i wahodd sylwadau ar roi pŵer disgresiwn i Awdurdodau Lleol godi treth gyngor ychwanegol ar ail gartrefi fel ffordd bosibl o helpu Awdurdodau i fynd i'r afael â nifer y tai fforddiadwy sydd ar gael, ac i gynnal cymunedau a'r gwasanaethau cyhoeddus y maent yn dibynnu arnynt.  

Bydd yr ymgynghoriad yn para am chwe wythnos.  Gofynnir am ymatebion erbyn 28 Hydref 2013\. Mae'r papur ymgynghori yn cael ei roi i Awdurdodau Lleol, cymdeithasau tai, asiantaethau cynghori a chyrff perthnasol eraill sydd â diddordeb mewn trethi lleol, tai, a lles dinasyddion yng Nghymru. Bydd yn cael ei gyhoeddi ar\-lein.

Mae’r datganiad hwn yn cael ei gyflwyno yn ystod y toriad er mwyn rhoi’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i aelodau. Os bydd aelodau yn dymuno i mi wneud datganiad pellach neu ateb cwestiynau ar hyn pan fydd y Cynulliad yn ailgychwyn, rwyf yn fwy na pharod i wneud hynny. 







Translation:


 
On 21 May 2012, the Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage published, for public consultation, the Housing White Paper, A White Paper for Better Lives and Communities.  It outlined the Welsh Government’s commitment to ensure the provision of good quality, affordable homes for everyone in Wales, including a commitment to modernise the private rented sector by introducing measures to improve standards of management and property condition.


One priority for action was tackling empty properties.  Over and above the introduction of the successful Houses into Homes national empty homes initiative as another incentive for owners to bring their properties back into use, the White Paper included proposals for a discretionary power to allow Local Authorities to charge a higher rate of council tax on long\-term empty properties.  We have noted the responses to the consultation and we have also taken into account other comments made as part of those responses.  Some responses referred to charging additional council tax on “second homes”.  Given this, and in order to obtain more views, the Welsh Government is consulting on the topic of charging additional council tax on second homes.


The objectives of charging higher council tax on long\-term empty properties are clear. Empty homes are a housing resource that should be brought back into use, particularly at a time when more affordable homes are needed.  They can also be a magnet for anti\-social behaviour and can have an adverse effect on the environment and can lead to a spiral of decline in certain communities.


The same issues do not apply to second homes.  However, communities which have larger numbers of second homes, some of which may be used as holiday homes, may face different issues.  These might include, for example, the sustainability of public transport and other local services and facilities.  The Government, therefore, wishes to consult on this matter.


Today, we are launching this consultation to invite views on providing a discretionary power for Local Authorities to charge additional council tax on second homes as a potential means of helping Authorities to address the availability of affordable housing and to sustain communities and the public services on which they rely.  


The consultation will run for a period of six weeks.  Responses are requested by 28 October 2013\.  The consultation paper is being issued to Local Authorities, housing associations, advice agencies and other relevant organisations with an interest in local taxation, housing and citizen welfare in Wales.  It will also be published online.


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.