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I wish to update Assembly Members on the responses to the Protecting Community Assets consultation which closed on 11 September 2015\. A copy of the consultation response is available on the Welsh Government’s website.


The consultation found popular support for establishing a Welsh scheme which would enable community groups to nominate land or buildings, either public or privately owned, if they are judged to enhance a community’s social wellbeing or social interests. If a successfully nominated asset is subsequently put up for sale, this triggers a process whereby community groups are permitted the opportunity and time to bid for the asset during a moratorium period.


There was widespread support for the definition of an asset of community value (ACV) set out in the Localism Act 2011\. A majority of respondents felt decisions on the listing of assets are best made at a local level, informed by the local context. Local authorities are best placed to administer such a scheme and maintain the local registers. This could be undertaken alongside the local authorities’ planning functions. This process could inform local authorities' planning functions. "


However, many respondents to the consultation requested further guidance should be provided to local authorities to help them administer the scheme. Many respondents favoured the Welsh Government compiling a central list of assets on its website.


In view of the consultation responses favouring local control of asset registers, the legislative framework for establishing a Welsh ACV Scheme could be put in place by commencing Chapter 3 part 5 of the Localism Act 2011 and in subsequent Welsh regulation made under the act. I consider continuing engagement with stakeholders in Wales, inline with Welsh Government’s Principles for Working with Communities, will ensure the approach being taken is fully fit for the Welsh context.


The provision of appropriate support to community groups wishing to bid for assets was widely raised. It is vital robust and sound advice should be available to ensure any plans for community management of assets or services are realistic and sustainable. The pilot project I have funded in Gwent has so far been encouraging, however, this will need to be carefully evaluated to decide whether it provides a useful model for the rest of the country. I consider the support arrangements to be a necessary and integral part of any approach to protecting community assets.


The majority of respondents supported communities having greater opportunities to purchase assets when they are put up for sale.


The Localism Act does not provide for a ‘community right to first refusal’, where a community group would be able to apply to register an interest in an asset and be given the first opportunity to buy if it comes up for sale. This would require new primary legislation. Any future, detailed proposals would need to be fully assessed to ensure they are within the legislative competence of the Assembly.


Establishing a Welsh scheme involves resource requirements and would be subject to regulatory impact assessment to determine the expected costs, benefits and impact of the policy.


As I indicated in my Written Statement of 25 March 2015, legislation in relation to this issue, including making a commencement Order to bring into force the relevant provisions of the Localism Act 2011 will take place after the National Assembly for Wales election next year. I am not in a position to commit a future Government to any specific action, however, I believe there is cross\-party support for action on this issue.


Protecting assets of community value is one piece of the jigsaw of empowering communities to take control of their prized assets and facilities. Community asset transfer is another and the consultation found support for communities being able to initiate asset transfers from the public sector. Consideration is being given to the transfer of local authority assets as part of the ongoing development of the Local Government (Wales) Bill. Further views are being sought as part of the consultation.


From the perspective of community bodies, the issue raised most frequently as a barrier to asset transfer, was the quality of engagement between local authorities and community bodies. The period of notice given to community bodies of a disposal and the quality of information provided (including about liabilities) were frequently cited.


Community bodies were also looking to local authorities to adopt a partnership, rather than a transactional, approach and to recognise the need for ongoing support in the early stages of transfer. Local authorities identified the lack of capacity among community bodies, such as legal and health and safety expertise, as a barrier to doing business.


The response to our consultation has demonstrated lively interest in these issues from a wide range of stakeholders. As I have indicated, action to protect community assets will need to be closely aligned with other work to support and strengthen communities.







Translation:


 
Dymunaf roi’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i Aelodau’r Cynulliad ar yr ymatebion i’r ymgynghoriad ynglŷn ag Amddiffyn Asedau Cymunedol a ddaeth i ben ar 11 Medi 2015\. Mae copi o’r ymateb i’r ymgynghoriad ar gael ar wefan Llywodraeth Cymru.

 Canfu’r ymgynghoriad bod llawer iawn o gefnogaeth i sefydlu cynllun ar gyfer Cymru a fyddai’n galluogi grwpiau cymunedol i enwebu tir neu adeiladau, o eiddo cyhoeddus neu breifat, os bernir eu bod yn gwella lles cymdeithasol neu ddiddordebau cymdeithasol cymuned. Os caiff ased a gafodd ei enwebu’n llwyddiannus ei osod ar werth ar ôl hynny, mae hyn yn cychwyn proses lle y caniateir i grwpiau cymunedol gael cyfle ac amser i wneud cynnig am yr ased yn ystod cyfnod moratoriwm.

 Roedd cefnogaeth eang i’r diffiniad o Ased o Werth Cymunedol a nodir yn Neddf Lleoliaeth 2011\. Roedd y rhan fwyaf o’r ymatebwyr o’r farn mai’r modd gorau o wneud penderfyniadau ynglŷn â rhestru asedau yw ar lefel leol, wedi’i lywio gan y cyd\-destun lleol. Awdurdodau Lleol sydd yn y sefyllfa orau i weinyddu cynllun o’r fath a chynnal y cofrestri lleol. Gellid gwneud hyn ochr yn ochr â swyddogaethau Cynllunio Awdurdod Lleol. Gallai’r broses hon lywio swyddogaethau Cynllunio Awdurdodau Lleol.

 Fodd bynnag, dywedodd nifer o'r ymatebwyr i'r ymgynghoriad y dylai mwy o ganllawiau gael eu darparu i Awdurdodau Lleol i’w cynorthwyo i weinyddu’r cynllun. Roedd llawer o’r ymatebwyr o’r farn y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru gasglu rhestr ganolog o asedau ar ei gwefan.

 O ystyried bod ymatebion i'r ymgynghoriad o’r farn y dylai cofrestri asedau gael eu rheoli’n lleol, gallai’r fframwaith deddfwriaethol ar gyfer sefydlu Cynllun Asedau o Werth Cymunedol ar gyfer Cymru gael ei sefydlu trwy Orchymyn Cychwyn Pennod 3 rhan 5 o Ddeddf Lleoliaeth 2011 ac mewn rheoliad dilynol ar gyfer Cymru a wnaed o dan y Ddeddf. Rwyf o’r farn y bydd parhau i ymgysylltu â rhanddeiliaid yng Nghymru, yn unol ag Egwyddorion Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer Gweithio gyda Chymunedau, yn sicrhau bod y dull a weithredir yn gwbl addas yng nghyd\-destun Cymru.

 Cododd llawer o’r ymatebwyr y ddarpariaeth o gymorth priodol i Grwpiau Cymunedol sy’n dymuno gwneud cynnig am asedau. Mae’n hanfodol bod cyngor cryf a chadarn ar gael i sicrhau bod unrhyw gynlluniau i reoli asedau neu wasanaethau gan gymuned yn realistig ac yn gynaliadwy. Mae’r prosiect arbrofol yr wyf wedi’i ariannu yng Ngwent wedi bod yn galonogol hyd yn hyn, ond bydd angen gwerthuso hwn yn ofalus i benderfynu a yw’n darparu model defnyddiol ar gyfer gweddill y wlad. Rwyf o’r farn bod y trefniadau cymorth yn rhan angenrheidiol ac annatod o unrhyw ddull o amddiffyn asedau cymunedol.

 Roedd y rhan fwyaf o’r ymatebwyr yn cefnogi rhoi mwy o gyfle i gymunedau brynu asedau pan eu bod ar werth.

 Nid yw’r Ddeddf Lleoliaeth yn darparu ‘hawl cynnig cyntaf i gymunedau’, lle byddai grŵp cymunedol yn gallu cofrestru diddordeb mewn ased a chael y cyfle cyntaf i’w brynu os yw ar werth. Byddai angen deddfwriaeth sylfaenol newydd ar gyfer hyn. Byddai angen asesu’n llawn unrhyw gynigion manwl yn y dyfodol i sicrhau eu bod o fewn cymhwysedd deddfwriaethol y Cynulliad.

 Mae sefydlu cynllun ar gyfer Cymru yn cynnwys yr angen am adnoddau a byddai’n ddarostyngedig i asesiad effaith rheoleiddiol i benderfynu ar y costau disgwyliedig, y buddion ac effaith y polisi.

 Fel y nodais yn fy Natganiad Ysgrifenedig ar 25 Mawrth 2015, bydd deddfwriaeth sy’n gysylltiedig â’r mater hwn, gan gynnwys gwneud Gorchymyn Cychwyn i ddod â darpariaethau perthnasol Deddf Lleoliaeth 2011 i rym yn digwydd ar ôl Etholiad Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru y flwyddyn nesaf. Nid wyf mewn sefyllfa i ymrwymo Llywodraeth yn y dyfodol i unrhyw gamau gweithredu penodol, ond, rwyf yn credu bod cefnogaeth drawsbleidiol i gamau gweithredu ar y mater hwn.

 Mae amddiffyn asedau o werth cymunedol yn un darn o’r jig\-so o rymuso cymunedau i reoli’r asedau a’r cyfleusterau y maent yn falch ohonynt. Mae Trosglwyddo Asedau Cymunedol yn ddarn arall a chanfu’r ymgynghoriad bod cefnogaeth i gymunedau allu cychwyn trosglwyddiadau asedau o’r sector cyhoeddus. Rhoddir ystyriaeth i drosglwyddo asedau awdurdod lleol yn rhan o ddatblygiad parhaus Bil Llywodraeth Leol (Cymru). Rydym yn ceisio sylwadau ychwanegol yn rhan o’r ymgynghoriad.

 O safbwynt cyrff cymunedol, y mater a godwyd amlaf fel rhwystr i drosglwyddo ased oedd ansawdd yr ymgysylltu rhwng Awdurdodau Lleol a chyrff cymunedol. Nodwyd y cyfnod rhybudd a roddir i gyrff cymunedol am warediad ac ansawdd y wybodaeth a ddarperir (gan gynnwys ynglŷn ag atebolrwydd) yn aml.   
Roedd cyrff cymunedol hefyd yn disgwyl i Awdurdodau Lleol fabwysiadu partneriaeth, yn hytrach na dull trafodol ac i gydnabod yr angen am gymorth parhaus yng nghamau cynnar y broses drosglwyddo. Nododd Awdurdodau Lleol y diffyg gallu ymhlith cyrff cymunedol, er enghraifft arbenigedd cyfreithiol, iechyd a diogelwch, fel rhwystr i wneud busnes.

 Mae’r ymateb i’n hymgynghoriad wedi dangos diddordeb bywiog yn y materion hyn gan amrywiaeth eang o randdeiliaid. Fel rwyf wedi ei nodi, bydd angen i gamau gweithredu i amddiffyn asedau cymunedol fod wedi’u cyfochri’n agos â gwaith arall i gefnogi a chryfhau cymunedau.