Translate the text from Welsh to English.



 
Mae’n bwysig bod y trefniadau ar gyfer ymchwilio i gamymddwyn honedig gan uwch swyddogion llywodraeth leol yng Nghymru yn cael eu hadolygu o dro i dro er mwyn sicrhau eu bod yn parhau i fod yn addas at y diben. 


Mae’r trefniadau cyfredol wedi eu nodi yn Rheoliadau Awdurdodau Lleol (Rheolau Sefydlog) (Cymru) 2006, fel y’i diwygiwyd. Caiff awdurdodau lleol yng Nghymru gynnwys darpariaeth bellach ar gyfer ymchwiliadau i honiadau o gamymddwyn yn eu rheolau sefydlog.


Mae’r helynt yng Nghyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili dros y chwe blynedd ddiwethaf wedi arwain at alw o’r newydd am gynnal adolygiad o’r trefniadau hyn, gyda dinasyddion lleol a’r cyfryngau lleol a chenedlaethol yn codi nifer o bryderon am effaith y broses estynedig hirfaith honno.


Roedd y Prif Weinidog a minnau wedi ymrwymo i gynnal adolygiad o’r trefniadau sydd ar waith ledled Cymru i ymdrin â chamymddwyn honedig gan uwch swyddogion, unwaith i’r Person Annibynnol Dynodedig gwblhau ei waith yng Nghaerffili a bod y Cyngor wedi ystyried ei adroddiad. Mae’r broses honno wedi ei chwblhau erbyn hyn, ac nawr mae’n bryd i gynnal yr adolygiad hwn. 


Bydd yn bwysig ystyried y trefniadau sydd ar waith ledled y DU ac ystyried effaith unrhyw newidiadau a wnaed. Er enghraifft, yn 2015 newidiodd y trefniadau ar gyfer ymdrin â chamymddwyn honedig gan uwch swyddogion llywodraeth leol yn Lloegr. Dilëwyd y gofyniad gorfodol i benodi Person Annibynnol Dynodedig, a bellach caiff penderfyniadau ynghylch camymddwyn honedig eu gwneud gan y cyngor llawn, a rhaid i’r cyngor llawn ystyried unrhyw gyngor, safbwyntiau neu argymhellion gan banel annibynnol, casgliadau unrhyw ymchwiliad i’r diswyddo arfaethedig, ac unrhyw sylwadau gan y swyddog dan sylw. 


Rwyf wedi gofyn i Peter Oldham, Gwnsleriaid y Frenhines, gyda chymorth Cwnsler Iau, i gynnal adolygiad cyflym o’r trefniadau hyn, gan gynnwys:


• cymharu’r trefniadau yng Nghymru â’r trefniadau yn rhannau eraill o’r DU, gan ystyried p’un a ddylid argymell gwneud newidiadau yng Nghymru;


• i ba raddau y mae’r trefniadau cyfredol yn taro cydbwysedd priodol rhwng diogelu swyddogion rhag diswyddo diannod am gyfleu newyddion gwleidyddol drwg a chyflymder cynnal a chwblhau’r prosesau hynny;


• nodi gwelliannau / dewisiadau amgen – os oes rhai – i’r system gyfredol sy’n cynnal dibenion deublyg y trefniadau cyfredol. 


Rwy’n disgwyl y caiff yr adolygiad ei gwblhau ddechrau’r flwyddyn nesaf, a bod cyfiawnhad cadarn dros unrhyw argymhellion ar gyfer newidiadau. 


Er ei fod yn briodol i’r adolygiad ystyried sefyllfaoedd yr ymdriniwyd â hwy drwy’r trefniadau cyfredol, rhaid egluro y bydd yr adolygiad yn canolbwyntio ar y trefniadau ehangach a sut y mae’r trefniadau hynny’n gweithredu. Ni fydd yr adolygiad yn cynnal ail ymchwiliad i unrhyw achos penodol yng Nghymru nac yn unman arall yn y DU.   







Translation:


 
It is important the arrangements for investigating alleged misconduct of senior officers within local government in Wales are reviewed periodically to ensure they remain fit for purpose. 


The current arrangements are set out in the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (Wales) Regulations 2006 as amended. Local authorities in Wales can include further provision for misconduct investigations in their standing orders.


Events in Caerphilly County Borough Council, during the past six years have led to fresh calls for a review of these arrangements, with local citizens and both local and national media raising a number of concerns about the impact of the protracted process.


Both I and the First Minister committed to undertake a review of the Wales wide arrangements \- for dealing with alleged misconduct of senior officers \- once the Designated Independent Person concluded her work at Caerphilly and the Council had considered her report. This process has now been concluded and it is now timely for this review to be undertaken. 


It will be important to consider the arrangements in place across the UK and to consider the impact of any changes made. For example in 2015 the arrangements for dealing with alleged misconduct of senior officers in local government in England changed.  The mandatory requirement for a Designated Independent Person (DIP) to be appointed was removed and decisions about alleged misconduct are now taken by full council, who must consider any advice, views or recommendations from an independent panel, the conclusions of any investigation into the proposed dismissal, and any representations from the officer concerned. 


I have asked Peter Oldham QC, supported by Junior Counsel to undertake a rapid review of these arrangements which will include:


• a comparison of the arrangements in Wales with those in other parts of the UK and consideration of whether changes should be recommended for Wales;


• the extent to which the current arrangements achieve the right balance between  protecting officers from summary dismissal  \- for being the bearers of unwelcome political news \-  and the speed with which processes are conducted and concluded;


• to identify improvements / alternatives \- if any \- to the current system which maintains the dual purpose of the current arrangements. 


I expect the review to be concluded early next year and that any recommendation for change would be accompanied by a robust justification. 


While it is appropriate for the review to draw from situations dealt with through the current arrangements, I want to be clear it will focus on the wider arrangements and how they operate. It will not be a re\-investigation of any specific case in Wales or elsewhere in the UK.