English: I don't want to spend too much time criticising the Government. That's an easy thing to do in terms of the politics of the thing, but the truth is that I genuinely want to see delivery on these issues as soon as possible, and it is only the Government that can take action. So I don't think I would have much success in convincing them by criticising them for the final minutes of this debate. But, it must be noted, before proceeding, that it is about time that the Government delivered on its promises. Yes, there are steps in place such as the community asset transfer, which, on paper, enables communities to take ownership of properties when a local authority or public body wants to dispose of them. But, and I speak from personal experience here, it is a very labour-intensive process that is very, very difficult to navigate, militating against community groups, with many giving up before achieving their ambition. I know this from experience. Heledd has spoken about the experiences in her contribution too. Over 10 years have passed since the Welsh Co-operatives and Mutuals Commission recommended that the Welsh Government should legislate to enable communities to register their community assets and to have first refusal when community assets go on the market. And seven years have passed since the then Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty announced a consultation on the idea of developing Welsh policy to empower communities, stating that there was strong support for the idea of establishing a scheme that would impose a moratorium on the sale of assets, whilst a local group is organising itself to make a bid. Indeed, a commitment was given that a legislative framework would be introduced to develop an assets of community value scheme here, and that this would happen following the 2016 elections. But, it is now 2022, and we are still waiting. Scotland has legislation that has been in place for over 20 years, as my colleague Peredur mentioned, and this legislation has been strengthened in that time. Communities across Scotland, be they rural or urban, have the right to bid for land and community assets, with a register of property and public land, and tens of millions of pounds are allocated to support community groups, with practical support also being given. That is what we need here. A great deal of this happens organically in Wales on the ground, but you need to understand the systems, and, above all, it takes resilience, time and commitment, which many people don't have. I want to take this opportunity, if I may, to pay tribute to one who did make the time and who came to understand the system, the father of the community action movement in modern Wales, if you will, namely the late Dr Carl Clowes, who worked so hard to revitalise the community in Llanaelhaearn, by establishing Antur Aelhaearn and then going on to establish Nant Gwrtheyrn. He also was one of the founders of Dolen Cymru, with that wonderful relationship between Lesotho and Wales. Carl passed away earlier this year, but what a legacy he left. He, along with the active Llanaelhaearn group, established the first community co-operative enterprise in the United Kingdom, having witnessed the damage and harm caused as the granite quarries in the area closed. He inspired the community to come together to launch an enterprise under local ownership that, at one point, sold clothes and other goods to major retailers in New York and Paris. I'm pleased to say that Antur Aelhaearn continues to operate in Llanaelhaearn to this day. Everybody, hopefully, knows about the astonishing history of Nant Gwrtheyrn, as Carl and the gang repurposed that isolated village, and turned it into a successful centre for learning Welsh, not only breathing new life into the buildings, but into the community, into people and into a language. Carl's legacy and the Antur's work can be seen to this day, from the co-operative pubs Y Fic in Llithfaen, Pengwern Cymunedol in Llan Ffestiniog, Y Plu in Llanystumdwy and Yr Heliwr in Nefyn, to the work of Cwmni Bro in Blaenau Ffestiniog and the dozens of co-operative enterprises scattered across Gwynedd. This is the spirit that we need to harness: the spirit of community co-operatives, as Peredur mentioned. The appetite, the enthusiasm and the love for communities are there. We only need to look at the excellent work done in communities across Wales over the past two years, as communities identified where there were vulnerabilities and came together to care for each other, as Sam mentioned in his contribution. How many times have we heard conversations in the pub or at the school gate, with people talking about a pub, old cinema, garage, old hotel, old chapel or an empty plot of land standing idle, and saying, 'I'm sure that something useful could be done with those properties'? How many times have we seen buildings of local historical importance being demolished to build blocks of offices or luxury flats, as Jenny spoke about in her contribution? One only has to go to central Cardiff to see the architectural and cultural damage following the loss of so many of our historic buildings. It is an all too familiar story, and unfortunately it's a situation that has deteriorated over the past 10 years, as Janet mentioned in her contribution, as local authorities have had to sell assets to compensate for financial losses as a result of cuts. But the Government here can act and can ensure that communities are empowered to take ownership of these assets and develop them to be of community benefit. What is of interest to me specifically is the exciting possibility that communities can begin developing affordable housing to meet the need in their own communities. Imagine that. As we face a housing crisis and a cost-of-living crisis - both interrelated, by the way - imagine if communities could identify local need and be given a parcel of land to develop homes of an appropriate size for their residents. They wouldn't be driven by profit, but by the need to ensure that their families and neighbours had a roof over their heads. This isn't a pipe dream; it's a genuine possibility. Think too about the possibility, through Ynni Cymru, of enabling communities to generate their own energy, and the economic benefit that the community would derive from this, or imagine a Wales with thriving co-operative shops, cinemas, allotments, leisure centres, creating quality jobs, with profits locked into the community. I do welcome the contribution made by the Minister, and I'm pleased to hear that the Minister won't be opposing the motion. The Minister spoke about and praised Flintshire, with its register of assets. Well, why not follow that example and ensure that there is a national register of community assets available? Why don't you follow the leadership of Flintshire? I also thank Huw Irranca-Davies for emphasising the need for legislation. I haven't heard today from the Minister what the intentions of the Government are in terms of legislation in this area, but I hope that there is scope for us to work on this going forward. So, Minister, and Government, do grasp this opportunity - an opportunity to develop policy and, hopefully, legislation that has the potential to transform the fortunes of our communities and their residents in Wales. It would be good to see legislation introduced on this matter, of course - community empowerment legislation, including a register of community assets and giving communities first refusal on assets, legislation co-produced with our communities, which would ensure that it's possible to transfer assets simply to structured community groups, and, yes, with clauses to ensure that that property isn't lost to public control. Do ensure that the funding is there, but also the practical support to guide communities on the journey, ensuring that they are in control. Thank you very much.
Welsh: Dwi ddim am dreulio gormod o amser yn lladd ar y Llywodraeth. Mae hynny'n beth hawdd iawn i wneud, o ran gwleidyddiaeth y peth, ond y gwir ydy fy mod i wirioneddol am weld hyn yn cael ei weithredu mor fuan â phosib, a dim ond y Llywodraeth all wneud hynny. Felly, dwi ddim yn meddwl y caf i lawer o lwyddiant drwy fwrw sen arnyn nhw am funudau olaf y drafodaeth. Ond mae'n rhaid nodi, cyn mynd ymhellach, ei fod yn hen bryd i'r Llywodraeth wireddu'r addewidion sydd wedi cael eu gwneud. Oes, mae yna gamau mewn lle, megis y community asset transfer, sydd, ar bapur, yn galluogi cymunedau i gymryd perchnogaeth o eiddo pan fo awdurdod lleol neu gorff cyhoeddus yn cael gwared ohono. Ond, a dwi'n siarad o brofiad personol fan hyn, mae'n broses lafurus ac anodd iawn, iawn i weithredu gan filwrio yn erbyn grwpiau cymunedol, gyda llawer yn rhoi'r ffidil yn y to cyn gwireddu'u huchelgais. Dwi'n gwybod hyn o brofiad. Mae Heledd wedi sôn am y profiadau yna yn ei chyfraniad hithau hefyd. Mae dros 10 mlynedd wedi mynd heibio ers i Gomisiwn Cwmnïau Cydweithredol a Chydfuddiannol Cymru argymell y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru ddeddfu er mwyn galluogi cymunedau i restru eu hasedau cymunedol a chael y cynnig cyntaf, wrth i asedau cymunedol ddod ar y farchnad. Mae'n saith mlynedd ers i'r Gweinidog, ar y pryd, dros gymunedau a thaclo tlodi gyhoeddi gwaith ymgynghori ar y syniad o ddatblygu polisi Cymreig i rymuso cymunedau, gan ddweud bod yna gefnogaeth gref i'r syniad o sefydlu cynllun fyddai'n rhoi moratoriwm ar werthu asedau tra bod grŵp lleol yn trefnu ei hun i wneud cais i'w brynu. Yn wir, rhoddwyd ymrwymiad y byddai fframwaith deddfwriaethol yn cael ei roi mewn lle i ddatblygu cynllun asedau o werth cymunedol yma, ac y byddai hynny'n digwydd yn dilyn etholiadau 2016. Ond, a ninnau bellach yn 2022, mi rydym ni dal yn aros. Mae gan yr Alban ddeddfwriaeth sydd wedi bod mewn lle ers dros 20 mlynedd, fel ddaru fy nghyfaill Peredur sôn, ac wedi cael ei gryfhau ers hynny. Mae gan gymunedau ar draws yr Alban, yn wledig ac yn drefol, yr hawl gyntaf i roi ceisiadau am dir ac asedau cymunedol efo cofrestr o eiddo a thir cyhoeddus. Ac mae degau o filiynau o bunnoedd yn cael eu rhoi tuag at gynorthwyo grwpiau cymunedol yno a chymorth ymarferol yn cael ei roi hefyd. Dyma sydd ei angen yma. Mae llawer o hyn yn digwydd yn organig yma yng Nghymru, ar lawr gwlad, ond mae angen dealltwriaeth o'r systemau, ac, yn fwy na dim, mae'n cymryd dygnwch, amser ac ymroddiad, sydd ddim efo nifer o bobl. Dwi am gymryd y cyfle yma, os caf i, i dalu teyrnged i un a wnaeth yr amser ac a ddaeth i ddeall y system, tad y mudiad gweithredu cymunedol yng Nghymru fodern, os leiciwch chi, y diweddar Dr Carl Clowes, a weithiodd mor galed er mwyn ailfywiogi cymuned Llanaelhaearn, drwy sefydlu Antur Aelhaearn, ac yna mynd ymlaen i sefydlu Nant Gwrtheyrn. Ef hefyd, gyda llaw, oedd un o sylfaenwyr Dolen Cymru, efo'r berthynas odidog yna rhwng Lesotho a Chymru. Bu farw Carl yn gynharach eleni, ond am waddol ar ei ôl. Ef a chriw gweithgar Llanaelhaearn sefydlodd y fenter gymunedol gydweithredol gyntaf yn y Deyrnas Gyfunol ar ôl gweld difrod a'r niwed a grëwyd wrth i'r chwareli gwenithfaen gau yn yr ardal. Ysbrydolodd y gymuned i ddod ynghyd, a chreu menter o dan berchnogaeth leol, oedd, ar un pwynt, yn gwerthu dillad a nwyddau i rai o siopau mwyaf Efrog Newydd a Pharis. Dwi'n falch dweud bod y fenter, Antur Aelhaearn, yn parhau i weithredu yn Llanaelhaearn hyd heddiw. Gŵyr pawb, gobeithio, am hanes rhyfeddol Nant Gwrtheyrn, wrth i Carl a'r criw adfeddiannu'r hen bentref diarffordd hwnnw, a'i droi yn ganolfan dysgu Cymraeg cwbl lwyddiannus, gan nid yn unig rhoi bywyd newydd i adeiladau ond i gymuned, i bobl ac i iaith. Mae gwaddol Carl a gwaith yr antur i'w weld heddiw, o dafarndai cydweithredol Y Fic yn Llithfaen, Pengwern Cymunedol yn Llan Ffestiniog, Y Plu yn Llanystumdwy a'r Heliwr yn Nefyn i waith cwmni Bro Blaenau Ffestiniog a'r dwsinau o fentrau cydweithredol sydd yn britho Gwynedd. Dyma'r ysbryd sydd angen ei harnesu: yr ysbryd cydweithredol, cymunedol, fel ddaru Peredur sôn. Mae'r awydd a brwdfrydedd a'r cariad at fro yno. Rhaid inni ond edrych ar y gwaith cymunedol rhagorol a wnaed mewn cymunedau yng Nghymru dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf, wrth i gymunedau adnabod y gwendidau a dod ynghyd i ofalu am ei gilydd, fel ddaru Sam sôn yn ei gyfraniad. Sawl gwaith ydyn ni wedi clywed sgyrsiau yn y tŷ tafarn neu wrth giât yr ysgol, gyda pobl yn sôn am dafarn, hen sinema, garej, hen westy, hen gapel neu darn o dir gwag yn sefyll yn segur, a hwythau'n dweud, 'Dwi'n siŵr bod yna rhywbeth y fedrwn ni ei wneud efo'r deunydd hwnnw'? Sawl gwaith ydyn ni wedi gweld adeiladau sydd ag iddyn nhw bwysigrwydd hanesyddol lleol yn cael eu dymchwel er mwyn codi blociau o swyddfeydd neu fflatiau moethus, fel ddaru Jenny sôn yn ei chyfraniad? Rhaid inni ond fynd allan i ganol Caerdydd i weld y difrod pensaernïol a diwylliannol yma wrth inni golli nifer o'n hen adeiladau. Mae'n stori llawer rhy gyfarwydd, ac yn anffodus mae'n un sydd wedi gwaethygu dros y 10 mlynedd ddiwethaf, fel ddaru Janet sôn yn ei hymyrraeth, wrth i awdurdodau lleol orfod gwerthu asedau er mwyn gwneud i fyny am golledion ariannol yn sgil y toriadau a gafwyd. Ond mae gan y Llywodraeth yma'r gallu i weithredu a sicrhau bod cymunedau yn cael eu grymuso i gymryd perchnogaeth o'r asedau yma a'u datblygu ar gyfer budd cymunedol. A beth sydd o ddiddordeb i fi yn benodol ydy'r posibilrwydd cyffrous gwirioneddol y gall cymunedau gychwyn datblygu tai fforddiadwy i gyfarch y galw yn eu cymuned. Meddyliwch am hynny. A ninnau'n dioddef argyfwng tai ac argyfwng costau byw - ill dau'n gysylltiedig, gyda llaw - meddyliwch beth fedrai cymunedau, wrth iddyn nhw adnabod anghenion lleol a chael parsel o dir i ddatblygu tai o'r maint perthnasol ar gyfer eu trigolion, ei wneud. Nid elw fyddai yn eu cyflyru, ond yr angen i roi to uwchben eu teulu a'u cymdogion. Nid breuddwyd gwrach mo hyn; mae'n bosibilrwydd go iawn. Meddyliwch am y posibilrwydd, drwy Ynni Cymru, i alluogi cymunedau i ddatblygu eu hynni eu hunain, a'r budd economaidd cymunedol a ddaw yn sgil hynny, neu meddyliwch am Gymru wedi'i britho â siopau, sinemâu, rhandiroedd, canolfannau hamdden cydweithredol, yn creu swyddi o ansawdd, efo'r pres wedi'i gloi mewn yn y gymuned. Dwi yn croesawu cyfraniad y Gweinidog, a dwi'n falch o glywed na fydd y Gweinidog yn gwrthwynebu'r cynnig. Ddaru'r Gweinidog sôn am a chanmol sir y Fflint yn cynnig rhestr o'r asedau. Wel, beth am ddilyn esiampl sir y Fflint a sicrhau bod yna restr genedlaethol o'r asedau cymunedol ar gael? Pam ddim dilyn arweiniad sir y Fflint? Diolch hefyd i Huw Irranca-Davies am bwysleisio'r angen am ddeddfwriaeth. Dwi heb glywed yma heddiw gan y Gweinidog beth ydy bwriadau'r Llywodraeth o ran deddfwriaeth, ond dwi'n gobeithio bod yna sgôp yno inni weithio arni yn symud ymlaen. Felly, i chi, Weinidog, ac i'r Llywodraeth, cydiwch yn y cyfle yma - cyfle i ddatblygu polisi a, gobeithio, deddfwriaeth sydd efo'r potensial i wyrdroi rhagolygon ein cymunedau a'n trigolion yma yng Nghymru. Buasai'n dda gweld deddfu yn y maes, wrth gwrs - deddfwraeth grymuso cymunedau, yn cynnwys cofrestr o asedau cymunedol a'r gallu i gymunedau gael y cynnig cyntaf ar asedau, deddfwriaeth wedi cael ei chyd-greu efo'n cymunedau fydd yn sicrhau ei bod hi'n bosib trosglwyddo asedau yn syml i grwpiau cymunedol strwythyredig, ac, ie, efo cymalau fydd yn golygu nad ydyw'r eiddo hynny yn cael ei golli o reolaeth gyhoeddus. Sicrhewch fod y gyllideb yno, ond hefyd y cymorth ymarferol i hebrwng cymunedau ar hyd y daith, gan sicrhau mai nhw sydd mewn rheolaeth. Diolch yn fawr iawn.