Translate the text from Welsh to English.



 
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n Un wedi rhoi cryn flaenoriaeth i dai ac rwy'n falch o'r cyfle heddiw i roi'r diweddaraf ar nifer o ymrwymiadau i'r aelodau. Un o'm blaenoriaethau oedd codi safonau tai cymdeithasol ac mae adroddiad wedi'i gyhoeddi heddiw ar brosiect peilot o'r enw Perfformiad Landlordiaid Cymdeithasol o ran Cyrraedd Safon Ansawdd Tai Cymru. Ei nod yw datblygu mecanweithiau mwy cadarn ar gyfer asesu llwyddiannau yn erbyn safonau.


Un o'm tasgau cyntaf yn rhinwedd fy swydd fel y Dirprwy Weinidog dros Dai oedd comisiynu adolygiad annibynnol o Dai Fforddiadwy o dan gadeiryddiaeth Sue Essex. Gofynnwyd i bawb yn y maes tai yng Nghymru roi eu barn a'u hawgrymiadau ynghylch ffyrdd posibl o wella'r system, ac fe'u defnyddiwyd i lunio adroddiad gyda 43 o argymhellion i'w rhoi ar waith. Derbyniais yr adroddiad a rhoddais system gydweithredol newydd ar waith i fynd i'r afael â phob un o'r heriau a nodwyd.


Un o'r argymhellion oedd adolygiad llawn o'r trefniadau ar gyfer gosod cyfraddau rhent tai cymdeithasol. Sefydlwyd grŵp adolygu traws sector, sy'n cynnwys cymdeithasau tenantiaid, i ddatblygu cynigion ar gyfer polisi newydd ar gyfer landlordiaid cymdeithasol a fyddai'n decach ac yn fwy tryloyw. Heddiw cytunais i gynnal ymgynghoriad ar bolisi cyfraddau rhent cymdeithasol arfaethedig.


Yn fwy diweddar, comisiynais adolygiad annibynnol o Gymorth Tai o dan gadeiryddiaeth Syr Mansel Aylward. Yn ei adroddiad gwnaeth grŵp yr adolygiad gyfres o argymhellion ac unwaith eto rwyf wedi cyflwyno proses gydweithredol i fynd trwyddynt a rhoi'r argymhellion ar waith. Rwyf wedi cymeradwyo'r Fframwaith Canlyniadau Cenedlaethol Cefnogi Pobl sydd wedi'i baratoi'r drwy'r broses hon.


Rwyf wedi cydweithredu'n agos â phartneriaid allweddol yn y sector tai. Hoffwn ddiolch iddynt am eu hymrwymiad i wella tai yng Nghymru a hoffwn roi'r diweddaraf ynghylch y llwyddiannau cyffredinol yn ystod y llywodraeth hon.


### Yr egwyddorion a'r dull sy'n ategu'r broses o ddatblygu polisïau tai


Mae ein gweledigaeth ar gyfer tai i'w gweld yn Cymru'n Un ac yn y Strategaeth Dai Genedlaethol a gyhoeddwyd y llynedd. Mae ymgysylltu yn gynnar ac yn agored gyda phartneriaid i drafod polisi a chyflenwi wedi bod yn rhan hollbwysig o'm dull gweithredu a'n llwyddiannau.


Gan ychwanegu at argymhellion Adroddiad Beecham, Ar Draws Ffiniau: Gwasanaethau Lleol sy'n Canolbwyntio ar y Dinesydd, rydym wedi mynd ati i sicrhau mai buddiannau dinasyddion a defnyddwyr gwasanaethau sydd wrth wraidd polisïau a chyflenwi, ac rydym wedi gweithio gyda phartneriaid i ddatblygu polisïau a chynllunio gweithredu a sicrhau'r gwerth gorau i'r bunt Gymreig. O wneud hyn, mae Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru wedi sbarduno newidiadau ym maes tai yng Nghymru.


Mae'r dull gweithredu cydweithredol hwn, a ddefnyddiwyd yn gyntaf ym maes tai fel ffordd o fwrw ymlaen ag argymhellion y Tasglu Tai Fforddiadwy a oedd o dan gadeiryddiaeth Sue Essex ar y pryd, wedi'i werthuso'n annibynnol. Daeth yr adroddiad annibynnol i'r casgliad bod y dull gweithredu wedi sicrhau cyfeiriad cliriach ar gyfer polisi tai gyda llawer mwy o gyfranogiad gan bartneriaid cyflenwi.


Dyma oedd prif elfennau fy null gweithredu ar gyfer polisi a chyflenwi:


* Dull gweithredu gwirioneddol o gydweithredol ar gyfer llunio polisïau a'u gweithredu, sy'n rhoi cyfle cyfartal i bob partner ddylanwadu ar y canlyniadau a chyfrannu atynt;
* Drafftio polisïau gan roi buddiannau defnyddwyr y gwasanaeth yn ganolbwynt;
* Rolau a chyfrifoldebau clir, gyda'r Llywodraeth yn parhau i chwarae rôl strategol sydd ar wahân i'r rheini y'n cyflawni swyddogaethau cynllunio/comisiynu;
* Mwy o berchnogaeth dros yr atebion drwy wahodd pob partner i gyfrannu at adnoddau i fynd i'r afael â phroblemau cyffredin;
* Bod yn agored ac yn dryloyw er mwyn gwella cysylltiadau a galluogi trafodaethau anodd lle mae buddiannau'n wahanol;
* Mwy o bwyslais ar brofi angen a mesur canlyniadau;
* Hybu arloesi ac arferion da;
* Defnyddio pwerau deddfwriaethol lle bo'n briodol i gryfhau polisïau.
* Codi proffil materion tai a disgyblaethau cysylltiedig a sicrhau bod y llywodraeth yn cael ei herio drwy sefydlu grwpiau allanol â chadeiryddion annibynnol i gynghori ar feysydd allweddol;
* Sefydlu dull rheoleiddio seiliedig ar risg a chanlyniadau ar gyfer Cymdeithasau Tai.


### Y llwyddiannau


Drwy'r dull gweithredu hwn a'r egwyddorion ategol, rydym wedi sicrhau canlyniadau gwell o safbwynt tai a thenantiaid yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys:


* Rhagori ar ein targed o ddarparu 6500 o gartrefi dros gyfnod pedair blynedd y llywodraeth;
* Buddsoddi £430 miliwn o arian Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru yn ein stoc tai, gyda'r sector cymdeithasau tai'n cyfrannu £265 miliwn yn ychwanegol drwy fenthyca ychwanegol;
* Creu 1200 o gyfleoedd hyfforddi a swyddi yn sgil buddsoddi mewn tai gan ddefnyddio pecynnau cymorth i2i a dulliau recriwtio a hyfforddi a dargedir;
* Parhau i roi ar waith, a sicrhau bod y gwahanol sectorau yn cytuno â, newidiadau i Cymorth Cysylltiedig â thai er mwyn defnyddio adnoddau'n fwy effeithiol a sicrhau mai buddiannau defnyddwyr gwasanaethau sydd wrth wraidd y broses darparu gwasanaethau;
* Cynnydd sylweddol mewn buddsoddiad yn ein stoc tai cymdeithasol drwy ganolbwyntio ar gyrraedd Safon Ansawdd Tai Cymru, sydd wedi gwella cyflwr stoc ac ynghyd ag arbed, wedi gostwng costau ynni i denantiaid.
* Fframwaith Rheoleiddio newydd cadarn a heriol i gymdeithasau tai sy'n canolbwyntio ar denantiaid a defnyddwyr gwasanaethau ac sydd â'r nod o sicrhau canlyniadau clir.


### Yr Angen am Dai a'r Cyflenwad Tai


Bellach, dyrennir arian ar gyfer buddsoddiadau mewn tai cymdeithasol newydd ar sail yr angen am dai yng Nghymru. Yn y gorffennol, roedd angen penderfynu a oedd datblygiad tai yn ymarferol ac wedyn seilio penderfyniadau cyllid ar hyn. Comisiynwyd ymchwil gan Alan Holmans i bennu'r angen am dai fesul Awdurdod Lleol a seiliwyd penderfyniadau ynghylch bwrw ymlaen ar yr ymchwil hwn.


Mae rôl Awdurdodau Lleol hefyd wedi'i chryfhau fel eu bod yn pennu'r blaenoriaethau ar gyfer datblygiadau newydd yn lleol a'u bod yn fwy cyfrifol am eu penderfyniadau drwy orfod paratoi Datganiadau Datblygu Tai Fforddiadwy blynyddol.


Mae'r gofyniad hwn wedi'i gryfhau drwy ddarparu hyfforddiant, cymorth ac arweiniad i sicrhau'r manteision mwyaf o ddefnyddio 'Cytundebau Adran 106'. Mecanwaith cynllunio yw hwn sy'n gofyn i ddatblygwyr gyfrannu at ddarparu tai fforddiadwy wrth adeiladu cartrefi ar gyfer y sector preifat.


### Atal Digartrefedd


Rydym wedi canolbwyntio ar roi cyngor a chymorth i'r rheini sy'n wynebu perygl o golli'u cartrefi, gan leihau nifer y bobl a gofnodir yn ddigartref gan Awdurdodau Lleol.


Yn ogystal, defnyddiodd y cynllun llwyddiannus Achub Morgeisi grant tai cymdeithasol i alluogi'r rheini sy'n wynebu perygl o orfod rhoi eu cartrefi i fenthycwyr morgeisi eu rhentu yn lle. Rhoddwyd cymorth i 384 o aelwydydd gan atal 808 o oedolion a 383 o blant rhag bod yn ddigartref.


### Cymorth cysylltiedig â Thai


Ymrwymodd Cymru'n Un i roi cyllid ychwanegol i'r rhaglen Cefnogi Pobl. Rydym wedi cyflawni hyn er gwaethaf y toriadau yn y gyllideb ac mae ein cyllideb derfynol a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Chwefror yn diogelu hyn, gyda £140 miliwn yn cael ei neilltuo ar gyfer y rhaglen Cefnogi Pobl yn 2010/11\.


Ym mis Rhagfyr 2009, comisiynais Syr Mansel Aylward i arwain adolygiad o'r rhaglen gyfan. Roedd yr argymhellion a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Tachwedd 2010 yn radical o ran y ffordd orau o roi cymorth cysylltiedig â thai. Mae darparwyr, comisiynwyr a landlordiaid yn gweithio gyda'm swyddogion i wneud y newidiadau angenrheidiol.


Chwiliodd y grŵp adolygu hefyd am dystiolaeth o werth am arian, gan adeiladu ar astudiaeth gan Matrix yn 2006\. Daeth y grŵp i'r casgliad fod pob punt a wariwyd drwy'r rhaglen hon wedi arbed o leiaf £1\.68 o arian cyhoeddus.


### Safonau Tai


Safon Ansawdd Tai Cymru yw'r prif fecanwaith ar gyfer sicrhau bod buddsoddi yn parhau i gael ei ddefnyddio i foderneiddio pob cartref yn y sector. Mae'n rhaid i bob landlord cymdeithasol gyrraedd y safon erbyn 2012 oni bai bod estyniad wedi'i gymeradwyo. Rydym wedi cynnal cyfnod peilot ar gyfer mecanweithiau mwy cadarn i asesu cyflawniad yn erbyn safonau. Heddiw cyhoeddais yr adroddiad Perfformiad Landlordiaid Cymdeithasol o ran Cyrraedd Safon Ansawdd Tai Cymru.


### Caffael a'r Pecyn Cymorth i2i


Mae'r pecyn cymorth Gallu Gwneud, a gafodd ei ddatblygu gan y Sefydliad Tai Siartredig ac i2i, yn rhoi'r canllawiau a'r cyngor penodol sydd eu hangen i sicrhau bod hyfforddiant a chyfleoedd gwaith yn cael eu cynnig naill ai drwy adeiladu tai newydd neu drwy gontractwyr sydd wedi ennill contracrau Safon Ansawdd Tai Cymru. Drwy ddefnyddio'r mecanwaith hwn a Dulliau Recriwtio a Hyfforddiant a dargedir (menter debyg i'r un a fabwysiadwyd gan gonsortiwm Integrate) mae'r sector tai wedi creu bron 1200 o gyfleoedd hyfforddiant a gwaith hyd yma. Awgrymir bod meysydd eraill o fuddsoddiad cyhoeddus heblaw tai yn dilyn yr arferion da hyn.


### Sicrhau cynifer o Adnoddau â phosibl drwy'r Sector Preifat


Cydnabu'r Strategaeth Dai Genedlaethol Gwella Bywydau a Chymunedau, y lansiais y llynedd, na fyddai'r sector tai cymdeithasol byth yn gallu diwallu anghenion tai ar ei ben ei hun, a bu'n hybu defnyddio'r sector preifat.


Yn benodol, mae Llywodraeth y Cynulliad yn annog Landlordiaid Cymdeithasol Cofrestredig i sefydlu asiantaethau gosod tai cymdeithasol. Mae'r asiantaethau hyn yn defnyddio sgiliau ac arbenigedd y sector i reoli cartrefi preifat ac yn cynnig opsiynau i bobl sydd ar restri aros am gartrefi.


### Tai a'r Newid yn yr Hinsawdd


Mae Safon Ansawdd Tai Cymru yn gwella safonau effeithlonrwydd ynni yn y sector tai cymdeithasol. O dan gam cyntaf arbed, mae cartrefi cymdeithasau tai mewn ardaloedd adfywio wedi bod drwy brosesau ôl\-ffitio gan gynnwys defnyddio ynni'r haul i gynhesu dŵr a chynhyrchu trydan. Mae ail gam arbed bellach yn cael ei ddatblygu, a bydd yn cael cyllid Ewropeaidd i estyn darpariaeth ar draws cartrefi preifat a chartrefi awdurdodau lleol.


Yn ogystal, mae cynllun peilot o oddeutu 300 o gartrefi wedi'i ddatblygu ar lefel Cod 4 a 5 y Cod Cartrefi Cynaliadwy, sef safon achredu ar gyfer cynaliadwyedd. Gellir defnyddio'r adborth gwerthfawr sydd wedi deillio o'r cyfnodau peilot i ddatblygu polisi yn y maes hwn.


Bydd y cynlluniau hyn yn lleihau allyriadau carbon ac yn cynnig manteision i denantiaid drwy leihau costau ynni.


### Fframwaith Rheoleiddio newydd


Daeth i'r amlwg drwy Adolygiad Essex fod angen cynnal adolygiad manwl o drefniadau rheoleiddio ar gyfer Cymdeithasau Tai.


Mae nifer o'r prosesau wedi'u hail\-lunio bellach ac mae Fframwaith Rheoleiddio newydd ar fin cael ei gyflwyno. Mae'n cydnabod ac yn cefnogi rôl adfywio cymunedol ehangach ar gyfer Cymdeithasau Tai, gan ychwanegu at y gwasanaethau landlordiaid y maent yn eu darparu ar hyn o bryd. Mae hefyd yn disgwyl iddynt ddefnyddio'r holl adnoddau y gallant i ddarparu mwy o dai a sicrhau mwy o fanteision cymunedol. Mae'r trefniant newydd yn seiliedig ar bwerau ymyrraeth cryfach.


Bydd y Mesur Tai, a gafodd ei gymeradwyo gan Gynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru yr wythnos diwethaf, yn rhoi statws statudol i'n fframwaith rheoleiddio. Bydd hyn yn helpu i godi hyder benthycwyr ynghylch benthyg i Gymdeithasau Tai yng Nghymru.


### Diwygio'r Cyfrif Refeniw Tai


Mae ad\-dalu arian dros ben o Gyfrifon Refeniw Tai Awdurdodau Lleol Cymru ers 1999 wedi bod yn fwy o faich ar Gymru nag ar Awdurdodau Lloegr neu'r Alban. Yn ystod y cyfnod hwnnw, Awdurdodau Lleol Cymru sydd wedi talu 66% o'r cymorthdaliadau negyddol er eu bod nhw'n berchen ar 6% yn unig o stoc tai y tair gwlad. Mae Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru wedi egluro bod hyn yn anghyfiawn a bod angen ei ddiwygio ar unwaith. Mae trafodaethau gyda'r Trysorlys yn parhau ac rydym am sicrhau cydraddoldeb â'r Alban gan symud i ffwrdd o'r trefniadau yn Lloegr drwy sicrhau ymreolaeth yn y maes hwn.


### Denu buddsoddiad ychwanegol


Un o effeithiau cyntaf y dirwasgiad oedd i nifer o gyrff ariannol ddechrau peidio â rhoi benthyg arian ar gyfer tai cymdeithasol. Oherwydd hynny, cydnabuwyd bod y sector yn rhy ddibynnol ar y math hwn o gyllid hirdymor a bod angen ystyried defnyddio marchnadoedd cyfalaf. Mae Tai Cymunedol Cymru, a ariennir gan Lywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru, yn cydweithio ag eraill i ystyried a allai arian cyfalaf helpu i sicrhau mwy o werth am y Grant Tai Cymdeithasol ac yn cynnig ffynhonnell ariannu arall. Penderfynwyd y gallai hyn fod y ffordd fwyaf effeithiol o ddarparu mwy o gartrefi canolradd. Mae nifer o Gymdeithasau Tai yn gwneud gwaith pellach i asesu a oes modd defnyddio'r model hwn yn ehangach.


### Yr heriau o'n blaen


Mae canlyniadau cadarnhaol wedi'u sicrhau i denantiaid, i'r rheini sy'n chwilio am dŷ a chymunedau ehangach drwy'r polisïau tai a buddsoddiadau dros oes y llywodraeth hon. Fodd bynnag, bydd y llywodraeth nesaf yn wynebu nifer o heriau, gan gynnwys y toriadau sylweddol i gyllideb Llywodraeth y Cynulliad. Mae'r gyllideb yn cael ei thorri wrth i ddigartrefedd godi a'r galw gynyddu am stoc tai cymdeithasol. Yn sgil rhaglen O Fudd\-dâl i Waith Llywodraeth y DU mae budd\-daliadau lles yn cael eu torri'n gyffredinol ac mae'r Budd\-dal Tai yn cael ei dorri'n benodol. Bydd y toriadau hyn ynghyd â TAW cynyddol a chostau bwyd a thanwydd uwch yn golygu y bydd incwm nifer o denantiaid ychydig yn llai, gan greu caledi ac anawsterau i gymunedau. Yn sgil hyn, bydd yn arbennig o bwysig denu adnoddau allanol ychwanegol i ddarparu tai fforddiadwy yng Nghymru a sicrhau bod system annheg y Cyfrif Refeniw Tai Awdurdodau Lleol yn cael ei diwygio.







Translation:


 
Housing has been a high priority for the One Wales Government and I am pleased to update members on a number of commitments today. Raising standards in social housing has been one of my priorities and a report has been published today on the pilot project to develop more robust mechanisms for assessing achievement against standards, Social Landlords’ Performance in Achieving Welsh Quality Housing Standard.


One of my first activities as Deputy Minister for Housing was to commission an independent review of Affordable Housing which was chaired by Sue Essex. All those involved in housing in Wales were invited to give their views and offer suggestions for how the system could be improved, resulting in a report with 43 recommendations for action. I accepted the report and put into place a new collaborative system to work through each of the challenges identified.


One of the recommendations was a full review of the arrangements for setting social housing rents. A cross sector review group including tenants associations was established to develop proposals for a new policy that would be fairer and more transparent and apply to social landlords. Today I agreed to a consultation on a proposed new social rents policy.


More recently, I commissioned an independent review of Housing Related Support chaired by Sir Mansel Aylward. The review group report made a series of recommendations and I have again put in place a collaborative process to work through and implement the recommendations. I have approved the Supporting People National Outcomes Framework which has been developed through this process.


My approach has been to work in close collaboration with key partners in the housing sector and I would like to thank them for their commitment to improving housing in Wales and provide an update on overall achievements during this government.


### The principles and approach underpinning the development of housing policy


Our vision for housing is set out in One Wales and the National Housing Strategy, published last year. Fundamental to my approach has been early and open engagement with partners on both policy and delivery and this has been essential to our achievements.


Building on the recommendations of the Beecham Report, Beyond Boundaries: Citizen\-centred local services for Wales, we have sought to ensure the interests of citizens and service users are at the heart of policy and delivery, to work with partners to develop policy and plan implementation and to maximise the value that can be achieved for the Welsh pound. In doing this, the Welsh Assembly Government has been driving change within housing in Wales.


This collaborative approach first used in housing as a way of taking forward the recommendations from the Affordable Housing Task Force chaired by Sue Essex has been evaluated independently. The independent report concluded that the approach resulted in a clearer direction for housing policy with much greater buy in from delivery partners.


The main elements of my approach to housing policy and delivery as been:


* A truly collaborative approach to policy formation and implementation, with all partners equally able to influence and contribute to outcomes
* Policy drafted with the interests of the service user being central to its formation
* Clear roles and responsibilities, with the Government’s role remaining strategic and separate from those whose role relates to delivery or planning/ commissioning
* Ownership of solutions increased by inviting all partners to contribute resources to resolve collective problems;
* Openness and transparency to improve relationships and enable difficult conversations to take place when interests diverge;
* A stronger emphasis on providing evidence of need and measuring outcomes
* Encouraging innovation and good practice
* Using legislative powers where appropriate to strengthen policy
* Raising the profile of housing and housing related disciplines and ensuring government is challenged by setting up independently chaired external groups to advise on key areas
* Establishing a risk based and outcome focused regulatory approach for Housing Associations.


### What has been achieved


This approach and underpinning principles have enabled us to achieve improved outcomes for housing and tenants in Wales, including:


* Exceeding our target to create 6500 homes over the 4 year period of the government
* £430 million of Welsh Assembly Government investment in our housing stock with an additional £265m being contributed by the housing association sector in extra borrowing
* 1200 training opportunities and jobs created on the back of housing investment, by using the i2i toolkits and targeted recruitment and training techniques
* Cross sector agreement to, and current implementation of, changes to Housing Related Support to deliver more effective use of resources and ensure that the interests of service users are placed at the heart of service delivery
* Major increased investment in our social housing stock through a focus on achieving the Welsh Quality Housing Standard resulting in improved stock condition and also, along with arbed, has reduced energy costs for tenants.
* A robust and challenging new Regulatory Framework for housing associations which puts tenants and service users at its heart, based on clear delivery outcomes.


### **Housing Need and Housing Supply**


Housing need across Wales is now the basis for allocating investment in new social housing. Previously, a judgement was made on the deliverability of housing development and this determined how funding decisions were reached. Research was commissioned from Alan Holmans to quantify housing need by Local Authority and this became the basis for decisions going forward.


The role of Local Authorities has also been strengthened so that they decide priorities for new development locally, and they are made more accountable for their decisions by the requirement to produce annual Affordable Housing Development Statements.


This requirement has been strengthened by providing training, support and guidance to enable maximum benefit to be gained through the use of “Section 106 agreements”. This is a planning mechanism that requires developers to contribute to the supply of affordable housing when they are building homes for the private sector.


### Homelessness Prevention


We have concentrated on providing advice and support to those in danger of losing their homes, resulting in a decrease in the numbers of those presenting as homeless to Local Authorities.


In addition, the successful Mortgage Rescue Scheme used Social Housing Grant to enable those in danger of having their homes re\-possessed by mortgage lenders, to rent them instead. This helped 384 households preventing 808 adults and 383 children from becoming homeless.


### Housing Related Support


One Wales committed to provide extra funding for the Supporting People programme. We have achieved this despite budgetary cuts and our final budget published in February protects this going forward, with £140 million allocated for 2010/11 for the Supporting People programme.


In December 2009, I commissioned Professor Sir Mansel Alyward to lead a review into all aspects of the programme. The recommendations which were published in November 2010 were radical in terms of how housing related support could best be delivered. Providers, commissioners and landlords are working together with my officials to deliver the changes necessary.


The review group also looked for evidence of value for money building on a study conducted by Matrix in 2006\. They concluded that for every £1 spent through this programme, a minimum of £1\.68 was saved from the public purse.


### Housing Standards


The Welsh Housing Quality Standard has been the main mechanism to ensure that investment continues to be used to bring all homes in the sector to a modern standard. The standard must be met by all social landlords by 2012, unless an extension has been approved. We have piloted a more robust mechanisms for assessing achievement against standards today I published the report Social Landlords’ Performance in Achieving the Welsh Housing Quality Standard.


### Procurement and the i2i Toolkit


The Can Do tool kit, developed by the Chartered Institute of Housing and i2i, provides guidance and specific advice necessary to ensure training and work opportunities are provided either through new build or by contractors who have been successful in winning WHQS contracts.  Using this mechanism and Targeted Recruitment and Training (a similar initiative adopted by the Integrate consortium) nearly 1200 training and job opportunities have been created by the housing sector to date. This good practice is also being encouraged for wider take up in other areas of public investment outside of housing.


### Maximising Resources by using the Private Sector


The National Housing Strategy Improving Lives and Communities which I launched last year recognised that housing need would never be met by the social housing sector alone, and encouraged the use of the private sector.


Specifically, the Welsh Government is encouraging Registered Social Landlords to establish social lettings agencies. These use the skills and experience of the sector to manage homes that are owned privately, and enable access for people on housing waiting lists.


### Housing and Climate Change


Welsh Housing Quality Standard is driving up standards of energy efficiency in the social housing sector. In Regeneration Areas, Housing Association homes have benefitted from Retrofit measures that have included the use of solar energy for heating hot water and generating electricity under the first phase of arbed. The second phase of arbed is now being developed and it will access European funding to extend provision across private and local authority homes.


In addition, a pilot of nearly 300 homes has been developed at Code 4 and 5 levels of the Code for Sustainable Homes, an accreditation standard for sustainability. The valuable feedback gained from the pilots can be used to develop policy in this area.


These schemes will reduce carbon emissions as well as benefitting tenants by reducing energy costs.


### A new Regulatory Framework


The Essex Review revealed the need for a thorough review of the regulatory arrangements for Housing Associations.


Many of the processes have now been reformed, and a new Regulatory Framework is in the process of being introduced. It recognises and supports a wider community regeneration role for Housing Associations, building on the landlord services they currently provide. It also expects them to use all of the resources within their power to increase housing supply and community benefits. This new regime is based upon increased intervention powers.


The Housing Measure, passed by the National Assembly just last week, will now put our regulatory framework on  a statutory footing. This will increase confidence of lenders to lend to Housing Associations in Wales.


### Reform of the Housing Revenue Account


Payment back to Treasury from surpluses made on the Housing Revenue Accounts of Welsh Local Authorities since 1999, has been a disproportionate burden, compared to English or Scottish Authorities. In that period 66% of total negative subsidies were paid by Welsh Local Authorities despite owning only 6% of housing stock across the three countries. The Welsh Assembly Government has been clear that this is inequitable and in need of urgent reform. Negotiations are ongoing with Treasury and we are seeking parity with Scotland by seeking separation from the arrangements in England and autonomy in this area.


### Attracting additional investment


One of the early impacts of the recession was a withdrawal from the lending market for social housing by a number of the financial institutions involved. It led to recognition that the sector was over reliant on this form of long term funding and that the capital markets should be explored as an option. The Welsh Government funded Community Housing Cymru to work in collaboration with others to explore whether capital finance could help bring more value from Social Housing Grant as well as provide an alternative source of finance. They concluded that this may be most effective in increasing the supply of intermediate housing. Further work is being done by a number of Housing Associations to assess the wider applicability of this model.


### Challenges going forward


There have been positive outcomes for tenants, for those looking for a home and for wider communities as a result of housing policy and investment during this government. However, there are a number of challenges that will face the next government, not least the drastic reductions to the Welsh Government’s budget. This comes at a time when homelessness is increasing and there are additional demands on social housing stock. The UK Government’s Welfare to Work programme is bringing cuts to welfare benefits generally and Housing Benefit specifically. Coupled with the rise in VAT and increasing food and fuel costs, many tenants will receive a significant decrease in income, creating hardship and disruption to communities. In light of this, it will be particularly important to attract additional external resources into the provision of affordable housing in Wales and to secure reform of the unfair Local Authority Housing Revenue Account system.