English: Thank you to the Cabinet Secretary. I know we have met and we have had conversations on these proposals going forward, and I have to say that I'm certainly very supportive of a lot - . There's a lot of ambition here, and, of course, with ambition and legislation and making it deliverable comes resource, and I fear that you will have resource implications, but I don't think anyone could actually knock the vision that you seek to move forward with. Obviously, I'll start off - . I'll go through the threads, really. The reform of town and community councils can't come quick enough. This is a level of democracy that does cost our taxpayer and should be transparent and accountable, and should actually have deliverable outcomes. And, regrettably, on numerous occasions, I've received complaints and concerns from residents regarding the openness and transparency at that level, and I am aware that the members on the board, of course, are former AMs: Gwenda Thomas, Rhodri Glyn Thomas, and, of course, we have William Graham. So, I think those are three people who I have every confidence in, going forward. Uncontested seats are a problem not just in town council seats but also in principal authorities. There were 92 local authority - principal authority - candidates who actually just went in without contest in the last local government elections, and I know that this was raised numerous times in Aberconwy, as to why people were turning up to vote and weren't aware that no election was going forward, because somebody had just walked into a council seat. So, your main overall aim is about accessibility, allowing people a better opportunity to vote, but I think also, too, we do need to be mindful that people do need candidates that they are then able to vote for, so that's something that maybe we can work on, going forward. The consultation on the potential reform of the local government electoral system is interesting, and, again, it's all about opening up and engaging, improving accessibility to increase voter turnout at local government elections. Who could argue with that? I do endorse a number of the proposals outlined. We do need to increase flexibility to enable council employees to stand for election as councillors. I know of a situation - and I've raised this with the Cabinet Secretary - of somebody who did a four hour a week contract and was unable to actually go forward standing as a council candidate. Clearly, there would only be a conflict of interest once that person was elected, if elected, so we need to look at that. We need to simplify postal voting. I'm sure other Members - even with Assembly elections or parliamentary, the postal voting system, probably across the UK, but I know in Wales, is very confusing for the elderly, when they have to put it in different envelopes, and, you know, their signatures and everything. I've witnessed so many spoilt ballot papers, when people think that they've voted correctly. So, I'd like to ask the Cabinet Secretary - you know, you do intend to put more meat on the bone where that's concerned. Proxy voting is another one. It's a method of people being able to vote when they're not actually present on that day. I know that your plans for electronic voting and having the single electoral register is a good idea, but nonetheless there is that mechanism currently there called proxy voting, and I know whenever I've suggested to people not about postal voting, about proxy voting, they have looked at me in some disbelief, not understanding what proxy voting means. I'm not sure the actual word 'proxy' is the best way to describe it. So, if you could look to simplifying that process, it's another mechanism to get people over that line if they want to vote. I note your proposal for authorities to choose between the electoral systems - first-past-the-post or single transferable vote. I just wonder whether there would be some confusion across the boundaries. Are you actually looking at doing this on a local authority basis, individual basis? Or is this going to be uniform across Wales? Moving on to directly-elected mayors, which I've already made it clear that I'm quite in favour of, in terms of a local authority - not on the regional working basis - in England, it's a 10 per cent requirement for the referendum. No, it's not; it's the other way around: 5 per cent in England, 10 per cent here in Wales. I think, again, if there's a way perhaps that we could look at bringing that threshold down so that local authorities - or people, the community within local authority areas, can actually maybe go out and - . It's a better figure to go for, isn't it, 5 per cent? I've raised this with you before - remuneration of councils across the border is on average about half that of Wales, with councillors representing more than twice the number of constituents. An example: England, an average of £6,893, and they have to represent 8,959. In Wales, they can be on £13,300 and their average is 3,300. So, we do need to actually look at providing value for our constituents and electorate, and there's a balance there that needs addressing. Now, reform of principal councils - certainly, I agree and welcome joint working on back-office functions. There's much good practice, and I discovered some myself only last week. Five Somerset district councils share a central call centre for enquiries and payments. Now, if it can be done over the border, it can be done here. But, of course, because I've held this portfolio for quite some time, I'm aware of all the guidance and everything to do with the collaboration agenda, and that was a failed programme for this Welsh Government. So, I'd really be interested in knowing what methods - the stick, the carrot, or a bit of both - you're going to use that will actually ensure that there is better working together. I do not see it feasible that we are going to still continue to have 22 chief executives, 22 heads of finance, 22 heads of social services. I welcome the integration of health and social care, and there is a model here that you've mentioned in your statement, and that should be rolled out, I think, across Wales. You mentioned flexibility below the three main regional joint governance committees. The north Wales health board, for instance, has often been described as unwieldy and too large. We have a health board there now in special measures. So, if you're looking to model local government on that basis, then there's some more work to be done there. Cabinet Secretary, you know you have my support and that of my group for a lot of this, going forward. We will look for the finer detail, and we will scrutinise and challenge where we feel that it may become over-burdensome, confusing for the electorate, and more costly. Thank you.
Welsh: Diolch yn fawr i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Rwy'n gwybod ein bod wedi cyfarfod ac wedi cael sgyrsiau am ddatblygu'r cynigion hyn, ac mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud fy mod i'n sicr yn gefnogol iawn i lawer-. Ceir llawer o uchelgais yma, ac, wrth gwrs, mae uchelgais a deddfwriaeth a chyflawni yn golygu adnoddau, ac rwy'n ofni na fydd digon o adnoddau gennych chi, ond nid wyf yn credu y byddai neb mewn gwirionedd yn dilorni'r weledigaeth yr ydych chi'n ceisio ei gwireddu. Yn amlwg, byddaf yn dechrau-. Edrychaf ar bob elfen yn ei thro a dweud y gwir. Mae angen dybryd i ddiwygio cynghorau tref a chymuned. Dyma haen o ddemocratiaeth sy'n gost i'n trethdalwr ac fe ddylai fod yn dryloyw ac yn atebol, ac fe ddylai fod modd gwireddu'r amcanion mewn gwirionedd. Ond, yn anffodus, ar sawl achlysur, rwyf wedi derbyn cwynion a phryderon gan drigolion ynghylch didwylledd ac eglurder ar yr haen honno o lywodraeth, ac rwy'n ymwybodol bod yr aelodau ar y bwrdd, wrth gwrs, yn gyn Aelodau Cynulliad: Gwenda Thomas, Rhodri Glyn Thomas, ac, wrth gwrs, mae gennym ni William Graham. Felly, dyma dri pherson y mae gen i bob ffydd ynddyn nhw, wrth symud ymlaen. Mae seddi diwrthwynebiad yn broblem nid yn unig ar gynghorau tref ond hefyd mewn prif awdurdodau. Yn yr etholiadau lleol diwethaf cafodd 92 ymgeisydd awdurdod - ymgeiswyr prif awdurdod - sedd heb gystadleuaeth, ac rwy'n gwybod bod hyn wedi ei grybwyll sawl gwaith yn Aberconwy, sef pam roedd pobl yn mynd i bleidleisio ac nad oeddent yn ymwybodol nad oedd unrhyw etholiad yn digwydd, oherwydd bod rhywun wedi hawlio'r sedd ar y cyngor yn ddi-wrthwynebiad. Felly, mae a wnelo eich prif nod cyffredinol â hygyrchedd, â chaniatáu gwell cyfle i bobl bleidleisio, ond rwyf hefyd o'r farn bod yn rhaid i ni gofio bod angen ymgeiswyr ar bobl y gallan nhw bleidleisio drostynt, felly mae hynny'n rhywbeth y gallwn ni weithio arno o bosib, wrth symud ymlaen. Mae'r ymgynghoriad ynghylch y posibilrwydd o ddiwygio system etholiadol llywodraeth leol yn ddiddorol, ac, unwaith eto, mae'n ymwneud â bod yn agored ac ennyn diddordeb pobl, gwneud pethau'n fwy hwylus i gynyddu'r nifer sy'n pleidleisio mewn etholiadau llywodraeth leol. Pwy allai ddadlau â hynny? Rwy'n cefnogi nifer o'r cynigion a amlinellwyd. Mae angen i ni fod yn fwy hyblyg er mwyn galluogi gweithwyr mewn cynghorau i sefyll etholiad fel cynghorwyr. Fe wn i am sefyllfa - ac rwyf wedi codi'r mater hwn gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet - lle roedd rhywun ar gytundeb o bedair awr yr wythnos ac na châi sefyll i fod yn ymgeisydd ar gyfer y cyngor. Yn amlwg, ni fyddai achos o wrthdaro buddiannau heblaw ar ôl person i'r hwnnw gael ei ethol, petai yn cael ei ethol, felly mae angen i ni edrych ar hynny. Mae angen i ni symleiddio pleidleisio drwy'r post. Rwy'n siŵr bod Aelodau eraill - hyd yn oed gydag etholiadau'r Cynulliad neu Seneddol, mae'r system bleidleisio trwy'r post, yn ôl pob tebyg ar draws y DU, ond rwy'n gwybod ei fod yn wir yng Nghymru, yn ddryslyd iawn ar gyfer yr henoed, pan eu bod yn gorfod rhoi pethau mewn gwahanol amlenni, ac yna, wyddoch chi, eu llofnodion ac ati. Rwyf wedi gweld cymaint o bapurau pleidleisio wedi eu difetha, pan fo pobl yn meddwl eu bod wedi pleidleisio yn gywir. Felly, hoffwn i ofyn i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet - a ydych chi'n bwriadu rhoi mwy o gig ar yr asgwrn ynglŷn â hyn. Mae pleidleisio drwy ddirprwy yn elfen arall. Mae'n ffordd o alluogi rhywun i bleidleisio pan nad yw'n bresennol ar y diwrnod hwnnw mewn gwirionedd. Rwy'n gwybod bod eich cynlluniau ar gyfer pleidleisio electronig a chael un gofrestr etholiadol yn syniad da, ond serch hynny mae mecanwaith yn bod ar hyn o bryd o'r enw pleidleisio drwy ddirprwy, ac rwy'n gwybod pryd bynnag yr wyf i wedi sôn wrth bobl, nid ynghylch pleidleisio drwy'r post, ond am bleidleisio drwy ddirprwy, maen nhw wedi edrych arnaf gydag elfen o anghrediniaeth, heb ddeall beth yw pleidleisio drwy ddirprwy. Nid wyf yn sicr ai'r gair 'procsi' yw'r ffordd orau i'w ddisgrifio mewn gwirionedd. Felly, pe gallech chi ystyried symleiddio'r broses honno, mae'n ddull arall o'i gwneud yn haws i bobl bleidleisio os ydyn nhw'n awyddus i wneud hynny. Nodaf eich cynnig i awdurdodau gael dewis rhwng systemau etholiadol - y cyntaf i'r felin neu bleidlais sengl drosglwyddadwy. Meddwl oeddwn i tybed a fyddai rhywfaint o ddryswch rhwng gwahanol awdurdodau. Ydych chi mewn gwirionedd yn ystyried cyflwyno hyn ar sail awdurdod lleol, yn unigol? Neu a yw hyn yn mynd i fod yn unffurf ledled Cymru? Gan symud ymlaen at y mater o feiri wedi eu hethol yn uniongyrchol, rwyf eisoes wedi datgan yn glir fy mod i o blaid hyn, o ran awdurdod lleol - nid yn rhanbarthol - . Yn Lloegr, mae gofyniad o 10 y cant ar gyfer refferendwm. Nac oes, fel arall y mae hi: 5 y cant yn Lloegr, 10 y cant yma yng Nghymru. Rwy'n meddwl, unwaith eto, tybed a oes modd efallai inni ystyried gostwng y trothwy hwnnw er mwyn i awdurdodau lleol - neu bobl, y gymuned o fewn ardaloedd awdurdodau lleol, y gallan nhw mewn gwirionedd efallai fynd allan a - .Mae'n ffigur gwell i'w ddewis, onid yw, 5 y cant? Rwyf wedi codi'r mater hwn gyda chi o'r blaen - mae cynghorau ar draws y ffin yn talu cyflogau sydd ar gyfartaledd tua hanner yr hyn a delir yng Nghymru, ac mae cynghorwyr yn cynrychioli mwy na dwywaith y nifer o etholwyr. Dyma enghraifft: Yn Lloegr, cyfartaledd o £6,893, ac maen nhw'n cynrychioli 8,959. Yng Nghymru, gallan nhw fod ar £13,300 a'u cyfartaledd yw 3,300. Felly, mae angen i ni edrych mewn gwirionedd ar gynnig gwerth i'n hetholwyr a'n pleidleiswyr, ac mae yna gydbwysedd yn y fan yma y mae angen mynd i'r afael ag ef. Nawr, diwygio'r prif gynghorau - yn sicr, rwy'n cytuno ac yn croesawu cydweithio ar swyddogaethau cefn swyddfa. Mae yna lawer o arfer da, ac fe wnes i ddarganfod hynny fy hun mor ddiweddar â'r wythnos diwethaf. Mae pum cyngor dosbarth yng Ngwlad yr Haf yn rhannu canolfan alwwadau ganolog ar gyfer ymholiadau a thaliadau. Nawr, os gellir gwneud hynny dros y ffin, gellir ei wneud yma. Ond, wrth gwrs, oherwydd bod y portffolio hwn wedi bod gennyf ers peth amser, rwy'n ymwybodol o'r holl ganllawiau a phopeth sy'n ymwneud â'r agenda cydweithio, ac roedd honno'n rhaglen a fethodd i Lywodraeth Cymru. Felly, byddai gen i ddiddordeb mawr mewn gwybod pa ddulliau - y ffon, y foronen, neu ychydig o'r ddau - yr ydych chi am eu defnyddio a fydd mewn gwirionedd yn sicrhau y ceir gwell cydweithio. Nid wyf yn ei gweld hi'n ymarferol ein bod ni'n mynd i barhau â 22 prif weithredwr, 22 pennaeth cyllid, 22 pennaeth gwasanaethau cymdeithasol. Rwy'n croesawu cyfuno iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, a cheir model yma yr ydych chi wedi ei grybwyll yn eich datganiad, ac y dylid ei gyflwyno, rwy'n credu, ledled Cymru. Soniasoch am hyblygrwydd o dan y tri phrif gyd- bwyllgor llywodraethu rhanbarthol. Mae bwrdd iechyd gogledd Cymru, er enghraifft, wedi ei ddisgrifio yn aml fel un sy'n anhylaw a rhy fawr. Mae gennym ni fwrdd iechyd yno nawr sydd mewn mesurau arbennig. Felly, os ydych chi'n bwriadu modelu llywodraeth leol ar y sail honno, yna mae mwy o waith i'w wneud yn hynny o beth. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, fe wyddoch chi bod gennych chi fy nghefnogaeth i a fy ngrŵp ar gyfer llawer o hyn, wrth symud ymlaen. Byddwn yn chwilio am y glo mân, a byddwn yn craffu ac yn herio pan fyddwn ni'n teimlo y gallai fod yn or-feichus ac yn ddryslyd i'r etholwyr, ac yn fwy costus. Diolch.