Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
A Review of the Community and Town Council Sector was established in July 2017 by the Welsh Government to consider how community and town councils can be strengthened so they are best able to support their communities.  The independent cross\-party Review Panel included representation from Labour, Plaid Cymru, the Welsh Conservative and Welsh Liberal Democrats and was jointly chaired by Gwenda Thomas and Rhodri Glyn Thomas. 


The Panel spent around a year gathering evidence and listening to views of a range of stakeholders.  They submitted their final report to me on 3 October. I am grateful to them for the time and consideration they have given to the Review and for their report on Community and Town Councils in Wales.  It has provided a good basis on which to move forward and has informed the policy approach I am setting out today.


I have read and considered the Panel’s report and I believe their analysis of the sector and the opportunities and challenges it faces is sound.  They make the case for both retaining the community and town council sector and for significantly enhancing the contribution it makes.


I agree with the direction of travel set out in the report which calls for an expanded role for the sector.  After careful consideration and discussion at Cabinet, I believe an enabling approach is the right way to deliver this expanded role – strengthening community councils, and encouraging change to happen naturally by creating an environment for community and town councils to expand their activities where they could, and should, play a greater role, based on local need.


The emphasis should be on encouraging and enabling the sector to develop; providing an element of choice for community and town councils to decide how far and how quickly they progress, particularly in terms of their role in commissioning and delivering services.  This provides a clear, national statement of ambition which recognises the diversity of the sector and the communities they serve.


There are key actions we can take now to strengthen community councils and support them through changes they may wish to make.  Where there is broad agreement – and where we are building on what is already happening – there is no need to delay.  For example, the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill, which I intend to introduce early next year, will provide additional powers and flexibilities for community councils by enabling those which meet certain conditions to exercise the General Power of Competence. 


I intend to increase the accountability and transparency of the sector by encouraging better use of digital tools to engage communities and, through the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill, ensuring people have the right to make representations on any business conducted at a council meeting.  I also intend to require, through legislation, community and town councils to report annually.  I believe this will increase visibility of their work, improve local accountability and lead to better engagement with and interest from, local communities in the work of community councils.


Strengthening the capability of the sector will continue to be a priority and I will be supporting through continuing to make bursaries available to both councillors and their staff to undertake training.  In addition, the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill will place an obligation on community councils to consider and plan for their training needs and review this plan regularly.


Some of the issues identified by the Review Panel merit further consideration and consultation on how to proceed.  For example, further consideration is required as to whether a clearer distinction between what communities councils are responsible for and what principal councils are responsible for would help clarify the role of the sector; and whether additional, proportionate, intervention and support arrangements should be put in place.


I also want to facilitate a conversation between community and town councils and  local authorities about how services are funded and sustained – recognising that this is a key determinate of community councils’ capacity to play an expanded role.


I look forward to exploring these wider ranging and, in some cases, more contested ideas with local government and wider stakeholders.


I see this as a start of a conversation about how an expanded role for community councils can be achieved \- with community councils, principal councils and others that work with communities.


In setting out Welsh Government policy it should also be remembered that the findings of the Review Panel are not only for Government to reflect on but for all partners in local government to consider and respond to, including community councils, principal councils and their representative bodies; taking responsibility for the role each of us play in improving local communities.


I believe the policy approach I have outlined is considered, proportionate and measured and forms the starting point of a conversation with the sector itself and those it works with.  It responds to the calls in the report for greater clarity for the sector; provides opportunity for councils to strengthen through building their capacity and capability; and puts in place processes to increase accountability and increase participation.







Translation:


 
Cafodd Adolygiad o'r Sector Cynghorau Cymuned a Thref ei sefydlu gan Lywodraeth Cymru ym mis Gorffennaf 2017, i ystyried sut y gellir cryfhau cynghorau cymuned a thref gan sicrhau eu bod yn y sefyllfa orau i gefnogi eu cymunedau. Panel Adolygu trawsbleidiol ac annibynnol oedd hwn a oedd yn cynnwys cynrychiolwyr o'r Blaid Lafur, Plaid Cymru, y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, a Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol Cymru, ac a oedd yn cael ei gadeirio ar y cyd gan Gwenda Thomas a Rhodri Glyn Thomas.    


Treuliodd y Panel oddeutu blwyddyn yn casglu tystiolaeth ac yn gwrando ar farn y gwahanol randdeiliaid cyn cyflwyno ei adroddiad terfynol imi ar 3 Hydref. Rwy'n ddiolchgar i aelodau'r Panel am yr amser y maent wedi ei roi a'u hymroddiad wrth gynnal yr adolygiad hwn, ac am baratoi eu hadroddiad ar Gynghorau Cymuned a Thref yng Nghymru. Mae'r adroddiad wedi darparu sail gadarn ar gyfer symud ymlaen, a llunio'r polisi gweithredu yr wyf yn ei ddisgrifio heddiw.


Rwyf wedi darllen ac ystyried adroddiad y Panel, ac rwy'n credu bod ei ddadansoddiad o'r sector, a'r cyfleoedd a'r heriau a ddaw iddo yn y dyfodol, yn un trylwyr. Mae'n gwneud achos dros gadw'r sector cynghorau cymuned a thref, a chynyddu'n sylweddol y cyfraniad y mae'r cynghorau hyn yn ei wneud.


Rwy'n cytuno â'r cyfeiriad a osodir yn yr adroddiad, sy'n galw am ehangu rôl y sector. Ar ôl i'r Cabinet ei drafod a'i ystyried yn ofalus, rwy'n credu mai dull gweithredu sy'n galluogi cynghorau yw'r ffordd orau i ehangu eu rôl, ac y bydd yn bosibl cryfhau cynghorau cymuned a'u hannog i newid drwy greu amgylchedd lle y gall cynghorau cymuned a thref ehangu eu gweithgareddau lle bo hynny'n bosibl, yn seiliedig ar anghenion lleol.


Dylid rhoi pwyslais ar annog a galluogi'r sector i ddatblygu; gan sicrhau elfen o ddewis i gynghorau cymuned a thref er mwyn iddynt gael penderfynu pa mor gyflym y maent yn cymryd camau a pha mor bell y maent am fynd, yn enwedig o ran eu rôl mewn comisiynu a darparu gwasanaethau. Mae hyn yn adlewyrchu datganiad cenedlaethol clir o uchelgais sy'n cydnabod amrywiaeth y sector a'r cymunedau y mae'n eu gwasanaethu.


Mae camau gweithredu allweddol y gallwn eu cymryd nawr i gryfhau cynghorau cymuned a'u cefnogi wrth iddynt gyflwyno'r newidiadau y maent yn awyddus i'w gwneud. Lle bo cytundeb cyffredinol a ninnau'n adeiladu ar yr hyn sy'n digwydd eisoes, nid oes angen oedi.  Er enghraifft, bydd Bil Llywodraeth Leol ac Etholiadau (Cymru), a fydd yn cael ei gyflwyno gennyf y flwyddyn nesaf, yn darparu mwy o bwerau a hyblygrwydd ar gyfer cynghorau cymuned, drwy alluogi'r rhai sy'n bodloni amodau penodol i arfer y Pŵer Cymhwysedd Cyffredinol.   


Fy mwriad yw sicrhau bod mwy o atebolrwydd a thryloywder yn y sector drwy ei annog i ddefnyddio adnoddau digidol yn fwy effeithiol wrth ymgysylltu â chymunedau. Drwy Fil Llywodraeth Leol ac Etholiadau (Cymru), byddaf yn sicrhau bod gan bobl yr hawl i gyflwyno sylwadau am unrhyw fater sy'n cael ei drafod mewn cyfarfod cyngor. Hefyd, drwy ddeddfwriaeth, byddaf yn ei wneud yn ofynnol i gynghorau cymuned a thref baratoi adroddiad blynyddol. Rwy'n credu y bydd hyn yn sicrhau bod eu gweithgareddau'n fwy gweladwy, yn ogystal â gwella atebolrwydd lleol a sicrhau bod y cynghorau'n effeithiol yn y modd y maent yn ymgysylltu â chymunedau lleol, er mwyn ennyn mwy o ddiddordeb yng ngwaith ei chyngor o du'r gymuned.


Bydd cryfhau gallu'r sector yn parhau'n flaenoriaeth, a byddaf yn cefnogi'r gwaith hwn drwy barhau i sicrhau bod bwrserïau ar gael i alluogi'r cynghorwyr a'u staff i ymgymryd â hyfforddiant. Hefyd, bydd Bil Llywodraeth Leol ac Etholiadau (Cymru) yn rhoi rhwymedigaeth ar gynghorau cymuned i ystyried eu hanghenion hyfforddi a chynllunio, ac i adolygu eu cynlluniau'n rheolaidd.


Mae rhai o'r materion a nodwyd gan y Panel Adolygu yn haeddu cael eu hystyried ymhellach, a dylid cynnal ymgynghoriad arnynt er mwyn dod o hyd i'r ffordd orau o fwrw ymlaen â nhw. Er enghraifft, a fyddai'n helpu i egluro rolau o fewn y sector pe baem yn ystyried a oes angen gwahaniaethu'n fwy eglur rhwng yr hyn y mae cynghorau cymuned yn gyfrifol amdano a'r hyn y mae'r prif gynghorau'n gyfrifol amdano; ac a ddylid rhoi trefniadau ymyrryd a chefnogi cymesur ychwanegol ar waith?


Rwyf hefyd yn awyddus i hwyluso sgwrs rhwng cynghorau cymuned a thref ac awdurdodau lleol ynghylch sut y mae gwasanaethau'n cael eu hariannu a'u cynnal – gan gydnabod bod hynny'n un o'r pethau allweddol sy'n penderfynu gallu cynghorau cymuned i chwarae rôl ehangach.


Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at ymchwilio i'r syniadau mwy pellgyrhaeddol, rhai ohonynt hefyd yn fwy dadleuol, gyda llywodraeth leol a rhanddeiliaid eraill.


Rwy'n gweld hyn fel dechrau sgwrs gyda chynghorau cymuned, prif gynghorau ac eraill sy'n gweithio gyda chymunedau i drafod sut y gallwn ehangu rôl cynghorau cymuned. 


Wrth osod polisi Llywodraeth Cymru, dylid cofio hefyd bod casgliadau'r Panel Adolygu yn cael eu cyflwyno i'r Llywodraeth, er mwyn inni a'r holl bartneriaid mewn llywodraeth leol, gan gynnwys cynghorau cymuned, prif gynghorau a'r cyrff sy'n eu cynrychioli, eu hystyried ac ymateb iddynt; yn unol â chyfrifoldebau'r rôl y mae pob un ohonom yn ei chwarae yn yr ymgyrch i wella cymunedau lleol.


Rwyf o'r farn bod y dull gweithredu yr wyf wedi ei amlinellu yn un rhesymol, cymesur, ac ymarferol, a'i fod yn darparu man cychwyn ar gyfer cynnal sgwrs â'r sector ei hun a'r rheini sy'n cydweithio ynddo. O weithredu fel hyn, gallwn ymateb i'r galwadau yn yr adroddiad am fwy o eglurder o fewn y sector; creu cyfle i gryfhau cynghorau drwy ddatblygu eu capasiti a'u gallu; a rhoi ar waith brosesau i sicrhau mwy o ymatebolrwydd a chyfranogiad.