English: Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Following a critical inspection by Care Inspectorate Wales of Powys County Council's children's services, my colleague Rebecca Evans, the then Minister for Social Services and Public Health, issued a warning notice to the council under Part 8 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014. On 16 April, my colleague Huw Irranca-Davies, Minister for Children and Social Care, provided an update on progress on the actions arising from the warning notice. Earlier today, Care Inspectorate Wales published their report of their inspection of Powys's adult services. The inspection highlights areas of significant concern for Powys to address. It was clear in the previous report on children's services and in today's report on adults' services that improvement in the authority as a whole is necessary to enable improvement in social services. In November last year I received a request for formal support from Powys's leader, Councillor Rosemarie Harris. I subsequently exercised my powers under the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009 to provide Powys with a comprehensive package of support to assist with corporate improvement. This was developed in partnership with Powys County Council and the Welsh Local Government Association. In December 2017 I appointed Sean Harriss, an experienced and well-respected local authority chief executive, to carry out a rapid review of the council. I tasked him to scope the main challenges facing the council and to provide a report setting out his findings and the steps required to address them. His report, 'Review of Leadership, Governance, Strategy and Capacity', was published in February 2018, and I provided an update to the Members on his key findings. The report highlighted that the council had made progress but still faced significant challenges in strengthening its corporate leadership and capacity. The report also stressed that those challenges could be overcome with, and I quote, an 'increased capacity and capability in the local authority coupled with an enhanced and intense package of sector led improvement'. To ensure continuity and consistency, I asked Sean Harriss to continue his work with Powys County Council and oversee a second phase of support. He has provided them with support in the following key areas: performance and quality, vision, organisational change, and, finally, strengthening the budget position. We met again, yesterday, and he provided an update on progress at the end of his second phase of work. His assessment was that progress is evident, but significant challenges remain, and enhanced corporate leadership capacity is necessary to deliver and sustain the level of change required. This requirement was reflected in his February report, which recommended the appointment of an experienced interim chief executive with a proven track record of transformational change. Powys council has been following up this recommendation and I would like to congratulate Mohammed Mehmet, previously chief executive of Denbighshire County Council, on his appointment as the interim chief executive of Powys County Council. His track record in Denbighshire speaks for itself, having led the council through a period of significant challenge to being one of the best performing authorities in Wales. With the appointment of a new acting chief executive, Mr Harriss's time and work with Powys will now draw to a close. I would like to thank him for his work with the council, but also, Deputy Presiding Officer, I would like to recognise the work of David Powell, the interim chief executive, and also the positive way in which the council, its staff and members have responded to these challenges. The leader of the council and the new acting chief executive will be supported by the new improvement and assurance board, which has been established with a broader remit and replaces the former social services improvement board. I am pleased to say that Jack Straw, who chaired the social services improvement board, is continuing as chair. The Welsh Government and Powys County Council have appointed Bozena Allen, a former director of social services, to the role of the social services external member, and Jaki Salisbury, a former chief executive and director of finance, to the corporate role on the board. They will provide support, challenge and guidance to the council. They are experts in their field, with a proven track record of successfully implementing and leading organisations during periods of transformational change. The board held its first meeting on Wednesday, 25 April, and the board will provide regular updates on progress and will advise on where further sector-led or Welsh Government support is required. Deputy Presiding Officer, I believe the actions for the council are clear. They must deliver the social services improvement plan they have in place for children's services and ensure a similar plan is delivered for adult services. They must also follow through on the recommendations in Sean Harriss's review of leadership, governance, strategy and capacity. I will expect the council to implement an up-to-date, robust and sustainable medium-term financial strategy that prioritises its spending in key services and can deliver the package of measures needed to transform the council. I have provided some investment to assist with this. I have met the leader of the council today, and she has assured me of her commitment to driving through progress and ensuring Powys County Council is able to offer the same high-quality services that people have a right to expect. The Minister for social services also joined us in that meeting. Both I and my colleague the Minister for Children and Social Care will continue to update Members on progress. Thank you.
Welsh: Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Yn dilyn arolygiad beirniadol gan Arolygiaeth Gofal Cymru o wasanaethau plant Cyngor Sir Powys, cyhoeddodd fy nghyd-Aelod, Rebecca Evans, y Gweinidog Iechyd y Cyhoedd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol ar y pryd, hysbysiad rhybuddio i'r cyngor o dan Ran 8 o Ddeddf Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru) 2014. Ar 16 Ebrill, cafwyd diweddariad gan fy nghyd-Aelod, Huw Irranca-Davies, y Gweinidog Gofal Cymdeithasol a Phlant ar gynnydd y camau gweithredu a oedd wedi deillio o'r hysbysiad rhybuddio. Yn gynharach heddiw, cyhoeddodd Arolygiaeth Gofal Cymru ei hadroddiad o'i harolygiad o wasanaethau oedolion ym Mhowys. Mae'r arolygiad yn tynnu sylw at feysydd o bryder sylweddol y mae angen i Bowys fynd i'r afael â nhw. Roedd yn glir yn yr adroddiad blaenorol ar wasanaethau plant ac yn adroddiad heddiw ar wasanaethau oedolion fod angen gwelliannau yn yr awdurdod yn ei gyfanrwydd er mwyn caniatáu ar gyfer gwelliannau mewn gwasanaethau cymdeithasol. Ym mis Tachwedd y llynedd, cefais gais am gymorth ffurfiol gan arweinydd Powys, y Cynghorydd Rosemarie Harris. Yn dilyn hynny, fe wnes i arfer fy mhwerau o dan Fesur Llywodraeth Leol (Cymru) 2009 i ddarparu pecyn cynhwysfawr o gymorth i Bowys er mwyn helpu i sicrhau gwelliannau corfforaethol. Datblygwyd hyn mewn partneriaeth â Chyngor Sir Powys a Chymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru. Ym mis Rhagfyr 2017, penodais Sean Harriss, prif weithredwr awdurdod lleol profiadol ac uchel ei barch, i gynnal adolygiad cyflym o'r cyngor. Rhoddais iddo'r dasg o bennu cwmpas y prif heriau a oedd yn wynebu'r cyngor a llunio adroddiad yn nodi ei ganfyddiadau a'r camau yr oedd eu hangen i fynd i'r afael â nhw. Cyhoeddwyd ei adroddiad, 'Adolygiad o Arweinyddiaeth, Llywodraethu, Strategaeth a Gallu', ym mis Chwefror 2018, a rhoddais ddiweddariad i'r Aelodau ar ei ganfyddiadau allweddol. Amlygodd yr adroddiad fod y cyngor wedi gwneud cynnydd ond ei fod yn dal i wynebu heriau sylweddol wrth gryfhau ei arweinyddiaeth a'i allu corfforaethol. Pwysleisiodd yr adroddiad hefyd y gellid goresgyn yr heriau hynny, ac rwy'n dyfynnu, drwy 'gynyddu capasiti a gallu yn yr awdurdod lleol, ynghyd â phecyn dwys o welliannau dan arweiniad y sector'. Er mwyn sicrhau parhad a chysondeb, gofynnais i Sean Harriss barhau i weithio gyda Chyngor Sir Powys a goruchwylio ail gam o gymorth. Mae wedi rhoi cymorth i'r cyngor yn y meysydd allweddol canlynol: perfformiad ac ansawdd, gweledigaeth, newid sefydliadol, ac, yn olaf, cryfhau sefyllfa'r gyllideb. Cawsom gyfarfod eto ddoe, a rhoddodd ddiweddariad ar y cynnydd ar ddiwedd ail gam y gwaith. Yn ôl ei asesiad ef, mae'n amlwg bod cynnydd wedi'i wneud, ond mae heriau sylweddol yn parhau, ac mae angen arweinyddiaeth gorfforaethol well er mwyn cyflawni a chynnal lefel y newid sydd ei hangen. Roedd y gofyniad hwn wedi'i adlewyrchu hefyd yn ei adroddiad ym mis Chwefror, a oedd yn argymell penodi prif weithredwr dros dro profiadol, â record wedi'i brofi o weddnewid. Mae Cyngor Powys wedi bod yn cymryd camau yn dilyn yr argymhelliad hwn, a hoffwn longyfarch Mohammed Mehmet, cyn-brif weithredwr Cyngor Sir Dinbych, ar gael ei benodi'n brif weithredwr dros dro Cyngor Sir Powys. Mae ei hanes yn Sir Ddinbych yn siarad drosto'i hun, wedi iddo arwain y cyngor drwy gyfnod o her sylweddol i fod yn un o'r awdurdodau sy'n perfformio orau yng Nghymru. Gan fod prif weithredwr dros dro newydd wedi'i benodi, bydd amser a gwaith Mr Harriss gyda Phowys yn dirwyn i ben yn awr. Hoffwn ddiolch iddo am ei waith gyda'r cyngor, ond hefyd, Dirprwy Lywydd, hoffwn gydnabod gwaith David Powell, y prif weithredwr gweithredol, a'r ffordd gadarnhaol y mae'r cyngor, ei staff a'i aelodau wedi ymateb i'r heriau hyn. Caiff arweinydd y cyngor a'r prif weithredwr dros dro newydd eu cefnogi gan fwrdd gwella a sicrwydd newydd, sydd wedi'i sefydlu â chylch gwaith ehangach ac sy'n disodli'r bwrdd gwella gwasanaethau cymdeithasol blaenorol. Rwy'n falch o ddweud bod Jack Straw, a gadeiriodd y bwrdd gwella gwasanaethau cymdeithasol, yn parhau yn gadeirydd. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru a Chyngor Sir Powys wedi penodi Bozena Allen, cyn-gyfarwyddwr gwasanaethau cymdeithasol, yn aelod allanol gwasanaethau cymdeithasol, a Jaki Salisbury, cyn-brif weithredwr a chyfarwyddwr cyllid, yn aelod corfforaethol ar y Bwrdd. Byddan nhw'n darparu cymorth, her ac arweiniad i'r cyngor. Maen nhw'n arbenigwyr yn eu maes, ac mae ganddyn nhw hanes o weithredu llwyddiannus ac arwain sefydliadau yn ystod cyfnodau o weddnewid. Cynhaliodd y bwrdd ei gyfarfod cyntaf ddydd Mercher, 25 Ebrill, a bydd y bwrdd yn rhoi diweddariadau rheolaidd ar gynnydd ac yn rhoi cyngor ar ba gymorth pellach sydd ei angen dan arweiniad Llywodraeth Cymru neu'r sector. Dirprwy Lywydd, rwy'n credu bod y camau gweithredu ar gyfer y cyngor yn amlwg. Mae'n rhaid iddo gyflawni'r cynllun gwella gwasanaethau cymdeithasol sydd ganddyn nhw ar waith ar gyfer gwasanaethau plant, a sicrhau bod cynllun tebyg yn cael ei weithredu ar gyfer gwasanaethau oedolion. Mae'n rhaid iddo hefyd gymryd y camau dilynol priodol yn unol â'r argymhellion yn adolygiad Sean Harriss o arweinyddiaeth, llywodraethu, strategaeth a gallu. Byddaf yn disgwyl i'r cyngor weithredu strategaeth ariannol tymor canolig gyfoes, gadarn a chynaliadwy, sy'n blaenoriaethu ei wariant ar wasanaethau allweddol, ac a all gyflawni'r pecyn o fesurau sydd ei angen i weddnewid y cyngor. Rwyf wedi darparu rhywfaint o fuddsoddiad i helpu yn hyn o beth. Rwyf i wedi cyfarfod ag arweinydd y cyngor heddiw, ac mae hi wedi fy sicrhau ei bod yn ymrwymedig i gyflawni'r cynnydd a sicrhau bod Cyngor Sir Powys yn gallu cynnig y gwasanaethau o ansawdd uchel y mae gan bobl bob hawl i'w disgwyl. Ymunodd y Gweinidog Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol â ni yn y cyfarfod hwnnw hefyd. Byddaf i a fy nghyd-Aelod, y Gweinidog Plant a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, yn parhau i roi diweddariadau i Aelodau ar y cynnydd a wneir. Diolch.