English: Well, as somebody who was once a community councillor, some time ago, I know how important community councils are. I think there are several issues there that the Member raises that will need to be looked at as part of the process. First of all, we have a lot of community councils. There are 700 of them. They vary wildly in size. Some represent barely more than 100 people, others many thousands of people. I don't think it's realistic for us to expect the same of all of them, given their differences in size. For example, Barry Town Council compared to Merthyr Mawr Community Council in my part of the world has an enormous difference in size, and there are some parts of Wales, the Rhondda, for example, where there are no community councils at all. So, as part of the review, I think it's hugely important to look at numbers, to look at capacity, to look at how we can give more powers to town and community councils - it may be asymmetric, because of the size difference - and how we can empower them in the future. All that will form, is forming, part of the review that's moving forward. I think I'm right in saying - the Member for Monmouth will enlighten me on this - there is one, I think, community council in Monmouthshire where literally one in eight of the population have to be on the council in order for the council to have a full quota of members. That's what I've been told. Well, in those circumstances it is hugely difficult to have a situation where all seats are contested. And it's right to say that in a vigorous democracy - not necessarily on party political grounds, but, in a vigorous democracy, you want as many people to stand for community councils as possible.
Welsh: Wel, fel rhywun a oedd yn gynghorydd cymuned ar un adeg, beth amser yn ôl, gwn pa mor bwysig yw cynghorau cymuned. Rwy'n credu bod sawl mater yn y fan yna y mae'r Aelod yn eu codi y bydd angen eu hystyried yn rhan o'r broses. Yn gyntaf oll, mae gennym ni lawer o gynghorau cymuned. Ceir 700 ohonyn nhw. Maen nhw'n amrywio'n eang o ran maint. Mae rhai yn cynrychioli fawr mwy na 100 o bobl, eraill miloedd lawer o bobl. Nid wyf i'n meddwl ei bod hi'n realistig i ni ddisgwyl yr un peth gan bob un ohonynt, o ystyried eu gwahaniaethau o ran maint. Er enghraifft, ceir gwahaniaeth enfawr o ran maint rhwng Cyngor Tref y Barri o'i gymharu â Chyngor Cymuned Merthyr Mawr yn fy rhan i o'r byd, a cheir rhai rhannau o Gymru, y Rhondda, er enghraifft, lle nad oes unrhyw gynghorau cymuned o gwbl. Felly, yn rhan o'r adolygiad, rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n hynod bwysig edrych ar niferoedd, edrych ar gapasiti, edrych ar sut y gallwn ni roi mwy o bwerau i gynghorau tref a chymuned - gallai fod yn anghymesur, oherwydd y gwahaniaeth o ran maint - a sut y gallwn eu grymuso yn y dyfodol. Bydd hyn i gyd yn ffurfio, mae yn ffurfio, rhan o'r adolygiad sy'n symud ymlaen. Rwy'n credu fy mod i'n iawn yn dweud - bydd yr Aelod dros Drefynwy yn fy ngoleuo ar hyn - ceir un Cyngor Cymuned, rwy'n credu, yn Sir Fynwy lle mae'n rhaid i un o bob wyth o'r boblogaeth yn llythrennol fod yn aelodau o'r cyngor er mwyn i'r cyngor gael cwota llawn o aelodau. Dyna ddywedwyd wrthyf i. Wel, o dan yr amgylchiadau hynny, mae'n hynod anodd cael sefyllfa lle ceir cystadleuaeth am bob sedd. Ac mae'n iawn i ddweud, mewn democratiaeth fywiog - nid ar sail pleidiau gwleidyddol o reidrwydd, ond, mewn democratiaeth fywiog, eich bod chi eisiau cymaint â phosibl o bobl i sefyll etholiad i gynghorau cymuned.