techiaith/cofnodycynulliad_en-cy huggingface dataset:
English: Well, if you expect local authorities to do this voluntarily, I think you're kidding yourself to some extent, Minister. I think that the Government needs to be proactive in encouraging the local authorities to adopt this new system. So, do you agree with, for example, the Electoral Reform Society that you need to work with some local authorities to pilot this, perhaps? Perhaps there's a need to create some sort of fund to give them that incentive. There's local educational work to be doing in terms of the new voting system and without those elements being in place, it's just not going to happen. So, what I want to hear from you is whether there is an intention for you to be proactive rather than sitting back and ultimately seeing there's nothing happening.
Welsh: Wel, os ŷch chi'n disgwyl i awdurdodau lleol wneud hyn o'u gwirfodd, dwi'n meddwl eich bod chi'n twyllo'ch hunan i raddau, Weinidog. Dwi'n meddwl bod angen i'r Llywodraeth yma fod yn rhagweithiol i annog yr awdurdodau lleol i fabwysiadu'r gyfundrefn yma. Felly, ydych chi'n cytuno gyda, er enghraifft, y Gymdeithas Diwygio Etholiadol bod angen gweithio gyda rhai awdurdodau lleol i beilota hyn, efallai? Efallai bod angen creu rhyw fath o gronfa er mwyn rhoi anogaeth iddyn nhw. Mae gwaith addysgu lleol yn angenrheidiol o safbwynt cyfundrefn etholiadol newydd ac yn y blaen a heb fod yr elfennau yma yn eu lle, dyw e jest ddim yn mynd i ddigwydd. Felly, beth dwi eisiau ei glywed ganddoch chi yw: a oes yna fwriad ganddoch chi i fod yn rhagweithiol yn lle eistedd yn ôl, ac yn y pen draw gweld bod yna ddim byd yn digwydd?
English: So, of course the 2021 Act is following the same principle as the Wales 2017 Act did when it gave the Senedd the right to choose its voting system, so it is following that established process which would be applied to us here. But I did have an excellent meeting with the Electoral Reform Society earlier on this week, and they told me about work that they'd done with councillors to understand the appetite for STV amongst councillors here in Wales, and one of the things they reflected on quite significantly was the fact that quite a significant number of councillors didn't know and they didn't feel that they knew enough about STV and knew enough about the implications, how it might work and so forth, to make that decision, so I agreed that there was work that we could be doing jointly to provide information to councillors and to support that education work that the ERS wants to do to ensure that councillors are able to make at least an informed choice about the options available to them.
Welsh: Wrth gwrs, mae Deddf 2021 yn dilyn yr un egwyddor ag y gwnaeth Deddf Cymru 2017 pan roddodd yr hawl i'r Senedd ddewis ei system bleidleisio, felly dilyn y broses sefydledig honno y byddem yn ei wneud yma. Ond cefais gyfarfod rhagorol gyda'r Gymdeithas Diwygio Etholiadol yn gynharach yr wythnos hon, a dywedasant wrthyf am waith roeddent wedi'i wneud gyda chynghorwyr i ddeall yr awydd am y bleidlais sengl drosglwyddadwy ymhlith cynghorwyr yma yng Nghymru, ac un peth y gwnaethant roi cryn dipyn o sylw iddo oedd y ffaith nad oedd nifer eithaf sylweddol o gynghorwyr yn gwybod nac yn teimlo eu bod yn gwybod digon am y bleidlais sengl drosglwyddadwy nac am y goblygiadau, sut y gallai weithio ac ati, i wneud y penderfyniad hwnnw, felly cytunais fod yna waith y gallem ei wneud ar y cyd i ddarparu gwybodaeth i gynghorwyr ac i gefnogi'r gwaith addysgu y mae'r Gymdeithas Diwygio Etholiadol yn awyddus i'w wneud i sicrhau o leiaf y gall cynghorwyr wneud dewis gwybodus am yr opsiynau sydd ar gael iddynt.
English: Minister, during my election count in May, council officers and volunteers were verifying and counting ballots for the Senedd constituency vote, the Senedd regional vote, police and crime commissioner election, and votes for council and community council by-elections. Going forward, it's not an unrealistic expectation to see a scenario where every one of these ballots could be counted under a different voting system. Does the Minister agree that this is a scenario that should be avoided, as not only will it lead to confusion amongst the electorate but it will hamper efforts to increase engagement in those democratic processes such as local council elections, that already struggle with voter turnout?
Welsh: Weinidog, yn ystod y cyfrif etholiadol ym mis Mai, bu swyddogion cynghorau a gwirfoddolwyr yn gwirio ac yn cyfrif pleidleisiau ar gyfer pleidlais etholaethol y Senedd, pleidlais ranbarthol y Senedd, etholiadau comisiynwyr heddlu a throseddu, a phleidleisiau ar gyfer isetholiadau cynghorau a chynghorau cymuned. Yn y dyfodol, nid yw'n afrealistig i ddisgwyl senario lle gallai pob un o'r pleidleisiau hyn gael eu cyfrif o dan system bleidleisio wahanol. A yw'r Gweinidog yn cytuno bod hon yn senario y dylid ei hosgoi, oherwydd nid yn unig y bydd yn arwain at ddryswch ymhlith yr etholwyr, bydd hefyd yn llesteirio ymdrechion i gynyddu'r nifer sy'n cymryd rhan yn y prosesau democrataidd hynny megis etholiadau cynghorau lleol, lle ceir anhawster eisoes i annog pobl i bleidleisio?
English: I think there is perhaps a tendency to overstate the complexities and the likelihood of voter confusion, because as you say, voters are already able to cope with a variety of voting systems, and as you've described, voters have different approaches in Senedd, UK parliamentary, and police and crime commissioner elections. So, the counting system under STV might be complicated, but the voting process certainly isn't in terms of ranking your candidates using one, two, three and so on, and it is important that ballot papers have clear instructions for voters as to how to cast their votes. So, I don't think that necessarily it will be beyond the wit of voters to be able to use a number of different systems when casting their ballots.
Welsh: Credaf efallai fod tuedd i orbwysleisio'r cymhlethdodau a'r tebygolrwydd o ddrysu pleidleiswyr, oherwydd fel y dywedwch, mae pleidleiswyr eisoes yn gallu ymdopi ag amrywiaeth o systemau pleidleisio, ac fel rydych wedi disgrifio, mae gan bleidleiswyr wahanol ymagweddau yn etholiadau'r Senedd, etholiadau seneddol y DU, ac etholiadau'r comisiynwyr heddlu a throseddu. Felly, efallai fod y system gyfrif o dan drefn y bleidlais sengl drosglwyddadwy yn gymhleth, ond yn sicr, nid yw'r broses bleidleisio'n gymhleth o ran gosod eich ymgeiswyr yn eu trefn gan ddefnyddio un, dau, tri ac ati, ac mae'n bwysig fod gan bapurau pleidleisio gyfarwyddiadau clir ar gyfer pleidleiswyr ynglŷn â sut i fwrw eu pleidleisiau. Felly, ni chredaf o reidrwydd y bydd defnyddio nifer o wahanol systemau wrth fwrw eu pleidleisiau y tu hwnt i allu'r pleidleiswyr.
English: Can I ask the Minister to look at the number of spoilt ballot papers we had the length and breadth of Wales when we had the Senedd elections? But I can think of no worse electoral system than STV. Can I ask the Minister to look at the size of the wards and results from the Scottish council elections, which were held under STV? Can the Minister provide information to the public, not just to councils, on exactly how STV works? Because I think people talk about STV a lot and everybody says how wonderful it is until people start looking at it.
Welsh: A gaf fi ofyn i'r Gweinidog edrych ar nifer y papurau pleidleisio a ddifethwyd ledled Cymru pan gawsom etholiadau'r Senedd? Ond ni allaf feddwl am system etholiadol waeth na'r bleidlais sengl drosglwyddadwy. A gaf fi ofyn i'r Gweinidog edrych ar faint y wardiau a chanlyniadau etholiadau cyngor yr Alban, a gynhaliwyd o dan drefn y bleidlais sengl drosglwyddadwy? A all y Gweinidog ddarparu gwybodaeth i'r cyhoedd, nid i'r cynghorau yn unig, ynglŷn â sut yn union y mae'r bleidlais sengl drosglwyddadwy yn gweithio? Oherwydd credaf fod pobl yn sôn llawer am y bleidlais sengl drosglwyddadwy ac mae pawb yn dweud pa mor wych yw hi hyd nes y bydd pobl yn dechrau edrych arni.
English: So, in terms of the Scottish council elections, I'm not aware of any problems that we've had in 2017 or 2012, but it is absolutely the case that 2007 was a very difficult year for those particular elections, which did combine the elections for the Scottish Parliament and local government on the same day. But I think the consensus is that those problems arose mainly because they were combined on a single ballot paper, and introduced a series of significant innovations on the same day, so namely the single-sided parliamentary ballot paper, electronic counting and the new STV voting system for local government. So, I think it is incumbent on us to look at experiences elsewhere to learn from the positive, but also obviously more difficult experiences, which I think that Scotland seems to have managed to have resolved.
Welsh: O ran etholiadau cyngor yr Alban, nid wyf yn ymwybodol o unrhyw broblemau rydym wedi'u cael yn 2017 neu 2012, ond mae'n hollol wir fod 2007 yn flwyddyn anodd iawn o ran yr etholiadau hynny, a oedd yn cyfuno etholiadau ar gyfer Senedd yr Alban a llywodraeth leol ar yr un diwrnod. Ond credaf mai'r consensws yw bod y problemau hynny wedi codi'n bennaf oherwydd iddynt gael eu cyfuno ar un papur pleidleisio, a'u bod wedi cyflwyno cyfres o ddatblygiadau arloesol sylweddol ar yr un diwrnod, sef y papur pleidleisio seneddol un ochr, cyfrif electronig a system bleidleisio newydd y bleidlais sengl drosglwyddadwy ar gyfer llywodraeth leol. Felly, credaf ei bod yn ddyletswydd arnom i edrych ar brofiadau mewn mannau eraill i ddysgu o'r profiadau cadarnhaol, ond hefyd, yn amlwg, o'r profiadau anos y credaf fod yr Alban wedi llwyddo i'w datrys yn ôl pob golwg.
English: My ministerial colleagues and I have had regular discussions with local government leaders on the effect of the pandemic, including the financial impacts. Welsh Government officials have worked with local government finance directors to understand the sector's needs, and we've responded with significant support, with funding of more than £1 billion.
Welsh: Mae fy nghyd-Weinidogion a minnau wedi cael trafodaethau rheolaidd gydag arweinwyr llywodraeth leol ar effaith y pandemig, gan gynnwys yr effeithiau ariannol. Mae swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gweithio gyda chyfarwyddwyr cyllid llywodraeth leol i ddeall anghenion y sector, ac rydym wedi ymateb gyda chymorth sylweddol, a gwerth mwy na £1 biliwn o gyllid.
English: Thank you, Minister. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank local council workers for going above and beyond during the pandemic. Rhondda Cynon Taf's budget hasn't only been hit by the costs of COVID - we also have a bill of £12 million for the landslide remedial works in Tylorstown, and let's not forget millions to enhance culverts and drainage systems following the dreadful floods. Our forefathers in Rhondda worked their fingers to the bone to make this country rich, many paying the ultimate price of coal. It wouldn't be fair to expect our communities to cover the costs to make our coal tips safe. I was proud to stand on a manifesto that committed to a coal tip safety Act, and I welcome the support from both Welsh Government and the UK Government for the work so far. Will the Minister continue to work closely with UK Government Ministers to ensure we receive the much-needed financial support?
Welsh: Diolch, Weinidog. Hoffwn achub ar y cyfle hwn i ddiolch i weithwyr cynghorau lleol am fynd y tu hwnt i'r galw yn ystod y pandemig. Nid yn unig fod cyllideb Rhondda Cynon Taf wedi'i tharo gan gostau COVID - mae gennym fil o £12 miliwn hefyd am waith adfer wedi'r tirlithriad yn Tylorstown, ac nad anghofier y miliynau i wella cwlfertau a systemau draenio yn dilyn y llifogydd ofnadwy. Gweithiodd ein cyndadau yn y Rhondda eu bysedd at yr asgwrn i wneud y wlad hon yn gyfoethog, gyda llawer yn talu'r pris eithaf ei gellid ei dalu am y glo. Ni fyddai'n deg disgwyl i'n cymunedau dalu costau sicrhau bod ein tomenni glo yn ddiogel. Roeddwn yn falch o sefyll ar faniffesto a oedd yn ymrwymo i Ddeddf diogelwch tomenni glo, ac rwy'n croesawu'r gefnogaeth gan Lywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y DU i'r gwaith hyd yn hyn. A wnaiff y Gweinidog barhau i weithio'n agos gyda Gweinidogion Llywodraeth y DU i sicrhau ein bod yn cael y cymorth ariannol mawr ei angen?
English: I'd like to echo Buffy Williams's admiration and thanks for local government workers who, as she said, have gone absolutely above and beyond through the course of the pandemic, and keep doing so as we try and move through this current period as well. It is absolutely the case that communities such as the one Buffy represents have played an incredibly important part in our history, and sacrificed a great deal as a result of it. The coal tip legacy that we have here in Wales is exactly that - it's a legacy, and it's something that the UK Government also needs to play its part in helping resolve. There is a large piece of work going on that looks at coal tip safety across Wales and coal tip remediation, to explore what work needs to be done there, but that work, I have to say, is a huge piece of work. It will span 10 years and it will take a lot of financial resources, too, so we are trying to work with the UK Government to secure funding to support us with that work. The First Minister wrote to the Prime Minister on 19 March proposing ways that we could move forward on that. He is currently awaiting a response, but it's something that we will continue to press the UK Government to work with us constructively on.
Welsh: Hoffwn adleisio edmygedd a diolch Buffy Williams i weithwyr llywodraeth leol sydd, fel y dywedodd, wedi mynd ymhell y tu hwnt i'r galw drwy gydol y pandemig, ac maent yn parhau i wneud hynny wrth inni geisio symud drwy'r cyfnod presennol hefyd. Mae'n hollol wir fod cymunedau fel yr un y mae Buffy yn ei chynrychioli wedi chwarae rhan anhygoel o bwysig yn ein hanes, ac wedi aberthu llawer iawn o ganlyniad i hynny. Etifeddwyd y tomenni glo sydd gennym yma yng Nghymru, ac mae'r broblem yn rhywbeth y mae angen i Lywodraeth y DU hefyd chwarae ei rhan yn helpu i'w datrys. Mae cryn dipyn o waith yn mynd rhagddo i edrych ar ddiogelwch tomenni glo ledled Cymru ac adfer tomenni glo, i archwilio pa waith y mae angen ei wneud yn hynny o beth, ond mae'r gwaith hwnnw, mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, yn sylweddol iawn. Bydd yn cymryd 10 mlynedd i'w gwblhau ac yn galw am lawer o adnoddau ariannol hefyd, felly rydym yn ceisio gweithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU i sicrhau cyllid i'n cefnogi gyda'r gwaith hwnnw. Ysgrifennodd y Prif Weinidog at Brif Weinidog y DU ar 19 Mawrth i argymell ffyrdd y gallem symud ymlaen ar hynny. Mae'n dal i aros am ymateb ar hyn o bryd, ond mae'n rhywbeth y byddwn yn parhau i bwyso ar Lywodraeth y DU i weithio'n adeiladol arno gyda ni.
English: Let me join also in paying tribute to the hard work of local authorities during this time, and pay credit to all the efforts made by those at the front face of this, but also to those behind the scenes in those support services who have been doing things like balancing the books to ensure that the services have been able to continue and support our communities. One of the issues this pandemic has shone a light on is the preparedness of governments at all levels for events of national crisis and significance. So in light of this, what funding will you make available to local authorities to enable them to be fully prepared for similar events in the future?
Welsh: Gadewch i minnau hefyd dalu teyrnged i waith caled awdurdodau lleol yn ystod y cyfnod hwn, a rhoi clod am yr holl ymdrechion a wnaed gan y rheini ar y rheng flaen, ond hefyd i'r rheini y tu ôl i'r llenni yn y gwasanaethau cymorth sydd wedi bod yn gwneud pethau fel mantoli'r cyfrifon i sicrhau bod y gwasanaethau wedi gallu parhau i gefnogi ein cymunedau. Un mater y mae'r pandemig hwn wedi taflu goleuni arno yw parodrwydd llywodraethau ar bob lefel ar gyfer argyfyngau cenedlaethol sylweddol. Felly, yng ngoleuni hyn, pa gyllid y byddwch yn ei ddarparu i awdurdodau lleol i'w galluogi i fod yn hollol barod ar gyfer digwyddiadau tebyg yn y dyfodol?
English: Thank you for raising this issue. We do have a civil contingencies unit within the Welsh Government, and work is under way to examine the preparations and planning of all parts of Welsh Government in terms of what we need to do alongside partners for future pandemics, learning from our experiences during this one. Of course, funding forms part of those considerations, but it is dependent on the upcoming comprehensive spending review in terms of providing that certainty through multi-year budgets. I do think, moving forward, we have really, really strong foundations on which to build. The work that we've done in partnership with local authorities and through our support in the local government COVID hardship fund has really been, I think, exemplary in many ways in terms of meeting local communities' needs. So, we'll need to find ways in which we can continue to build on what we have so that we are ready for anything that requires a civil contingencies response. Of course, we fervently hope that there is not another pandemic, but absolutely, we need to prepare for everything.
Welsh: Diolch am godi'r mater hwn. Mae gennym uned argyfyngau sifil yn Llywodraeth Cymru, ac mae gwaith yn mynd rhagddo ar archwilio paratoadau a chynlluniau pob rhan o Lywodraeth Cymru mewn perthynas â'r hyn sydd angen i ni ei wneud ochr yn ochr â phartneriaid ar gyfer pandemigau yn y dyfodol, gan ddysgu o'n profiadau yn ystod y pandemig hwn. Wrth gwrs, mae cyllid yn rhan o'r ystyriaethau hynny, ond mae'n dibynnu ar yr adolygiad cynhwysfawr o wariant sydd ar y ffordd o ran darparu'r sicrwydd drwy gyllidebau aml-flwyddyn. Wrth symud ymlaen, credaf fod gennym seiliau cryf iawn i adeiladu arnynt. Mae'r gwaith a wnaethom mewn partneriaeth ag awdurdodau lleol a thrwy ein cymorth gyda'r gronfa galedi COVID ar gyfer llywodraeth leol wedi bod yn rhagorol mewn sawl ffordd yn fy marn i o ran diwallu anghenion cymunedau lleol. Felly, bydd angen inni ddod o hyd i ffyrdd y gallwn barhau i adeiladu ar yr hyn sydd gennym fel ein bod yn barod am unrhyw beth sy'n galw am ymateb argyfwng sifil. Wrth gwrs, rydym yn mawr obeithio na fydd pandemig arall, ond yn sicr, mae angen inni baratoi ar gyfer popeth.
English: COVID has undoubtedly had a big impact on public finances and local authorities have been no exception. The way in which the public sector has come together and given up resources to help in the fight against the pandemic has been inspiring. I'm also aware that some councils in Wales have been unable to spend some of their budgets, as operations have ceased or been curtailed in certain sectors. For example, I'm aware of some community councils who have built up significant reserves as the things that they normally spend money on, they haven't been able to because those have been on stop. Is there any advice that this Government can issue to councils, whether it county or community, about the use of reserves in mitigating against the impact of reduced income in other areas, and easing the burden on council tax payers?
Welsh: Heb os, mae COVID wedi cael effaith sylweddol ar gyllid cyhoeddus ac nid yw awdurdodau lleol wedi bod yn eithriad. Mae'r ffordd y mae'r sector cyhoeddus wedi dod at ei gilydd ac wedi darparu adnoddau i helpu gyda'r frwydr yn erbyn y pandemig wedi bod yn ysbrydoledig. Rwy'n ymwybodol hefyd nad yw rhai cynghorau yng Nghymru wedi gallu gwario peth o'u cyllidebau gan fod gweithgarwch wedi'i atal neu ei gwtogi mewn rhai sectorau. Er enghraifft, rwy'n ymwybodol fod gan rai cynghorau cymuned gronfeydd sylweddol wrth gefn gan nad ydynt wedi gallu gwario arian ar y pethau yr arferant wario arnynt am fod y rheini ar stop. A oes unrhyw gyngor y gall y Llywodraeth hon ei roi i gynghorau sir neu gymuned ynglŷn â defnyddio cronfeydd wrth gefn i liniaru effaith llai o incwm mewn meysydd eraill, a lleddfu'r baich ar y bobl sy'n talu'r dreth gyngor?
English: Thank you for raising that important issue. We've been really conscious of lost income for local authorities in particular and, as a result, Welsh Government has provided £190.5 million to support local government in terms of lost income. And that includes lost income from adult social services for which they would normally make a charge, other services such as planning where they might look to make income, services such as theatres, which lots of local authorities run, and catering services, and so forth. So, we worked really closely with local government, and that figure of £190.5 million was identified. And we were able to provide the support there to meet that cost. And we've also provided additional funding for local government to recognise the fact that they have not been able to collect all of the council tax that they would have normally collected as well. So, we've been able to support local authorities in that respect. Of course, if there is additional income now in reserve, I think it could be an opportunity for local authorities and those local town and community councils to be considering what their contribution might be as we move into the recovery, and what their own local communities are telling them that they would like to see that investment in.
Welsh: Diolch am godi'r mater pwysig hwn. Rydym wedi bod yn ymwybodol iawn o incwm a gollwyd gan awdurdodau lleol yn enwedig, ac o ganlyniad, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi darparu £190.5 miliwn i gefnogi llywodraeth leol gydag incwm a gollwyd. Ac mae hynny'n cynnwys incwm a gollwyd o wasanaethau cymdeithasol i oedolion y byddent fel arfer yn codi tâl amdanynt, gwasanaethau eraill fel cynllunio lle gallent fod yn disgwyl gwneud incwm, gwasanaethau fel theatrau, y mae llawer o awdurdodau lleol yn eu rhedeg, a gwasanaethau arlwyo ac ati. Felly, buom yn gweithio'n agos iawn gyda llywodraeth leol, a nodwyd y ffigur hwnnw o £190.5 miliwn. A bu modd inni ddarparu'r cymorth i dalu'r gost honno. Ac rydym hefyd wedi darparu cyllid ychwanegol i lywodraeth leol i gydnabod y ffaith nad ydynt wedi gallu casglu'r holl dreth gyngor y byddent fel arfer wedi'i chasglu ychwaith. Felly, rydym wedi gallu cefnogi awdurdodau lleol yn y ffordd honno. Wrth gwrs, os oes incwm ychwanegol wrth gefn bellach, credaf y gallai fod yn gyfle i awdurdodau lleol a'r cynghorau tref a chymuned lleol ystyried beth y gallai eu cyfraniad fod wrth inni gychwyn ar yr adferiad, a beth y mae eu cymunedau lleol eu hunain yn dweud wrthynt yr hoffent weld buddsoddi ynddo.
English: Our package of business support is the most generous available anywhere in the UK, and we have provided more in business support than we've received from the UK Government in respect of support in England. I have earmarked up to £200 million of additional business support in 2021-22 to respond to the evolving changes of the pandemic.
Welsh: Ein pecyn o gymorth i fusnesau yw'r mwyaf hael yn unrhyw le yn y DU, ac rydym wedi darparu mwy mewn cymorth i fusnesau nag a gawsom gan Lywodraeth y DU mewn perthynas â'r cymorth yn Lloegr. Rwyf wedi clustnodi hyd at £200 miliwn o gymorth ychwanegol i fusnesau yn 2021-22 i ymateb i newidiadau sy'n esblygu o'r pandemig.