English: Thank you for your statement, Minister, and I also thank you for providing us with an advance copy of the working group's recommendations. While it's clear that much work has been done on setting the agenda for reform, there has been, actually, very little reform. Minister, do you accept that the current model for local government is unsustainable, and considering the state of public finances, we need reform sooner rather than later? A new sub-committee is being set up within the partnership council. So, when will you be able to share the full remit of the sub-group, and, more importantly, what, if any, will the timescales be that they will work to? If you accept the premise that there are far too many local authorities doing things differently, which it appears that you do, given the drive to create greater regional working, then you must accept the urgency for change given the cuts to essential services and rising council tax bills. The public, our residents, are concerned about what they get for their money. When they pay their council tax, what are they getting back? So, Minister, how do you answer the allegations that this is simply a re-imaging of the old county council system and that this will not lead to better public services and savings for taxpayers? The public, our constituents, demand a greater pace of change. This has been talked about now for nearly two decades, and we're still not much closer to reform. So, Minister, when will we actually see change in local government? What is the timescale? We need action now rather than words. Thank you.
Welsh: Diolch ichi am eich datganiad, Gweinidog, a diolch ichi hefyd am ddarparu copi ymlaen llaw inni o argymhellion y gweithgor. Er ei bod yn amlwg bod llawer o waith wedi'i wneud ar osod yr agenda ar gyfer diwygio, ychydig iawn o ddiwygio a fu, mewn gwirionedd. Gweinidog, a ydych chi'n derbyn nad yw'r model presennol ar gyfer llywodraeth leol yn gynaliadwy, ac o ystyried cyflwr cyllid cyhoeddus, bod angen inni ddiwygio hynny cyn gynted ag y bo modd? Mae is-bwyllgor newydd yn cael ei sefydlu o fewn y cyngor partneriaeth. Felly, pa bryd fyddwch chi'n gallu rhannu cylch gwaith llawn yr is-grŵp, ac, yn bwysicach, beth fydd yr amserlenni, os o gwbl, y byddant yn gweithio iddyn nhw? Os ydych chi'n derbyn y rhagosodiad bod gormod o lawer o awdurdodau lleol yn gwneud pethau'n wahanol, fel y mae'n ymddangos eich bod chi, o ystyried yr ymgyrch i greu mwy o weithio rhanbarthol, rhaid ichi dderbyn y brys am newid o ystyried y toriadau i wasanaethau hanfodol a biliau treth cyngor sy'n cynyddu. Mae'r cyhoedd, ein trigolion, yn poeni am yr hyn a gânt am eu harian. Pan fyddant yn talu eu treth gyngor, beth maen nhw'n ei gael yn ôl? Felly, Gweinidog, sut ydych chi'n ateb yr honiadau nad yw hyn ond yn ail bobiad o hen system y cynghorau sir ac na fydd hyn yn arwain at well gwasanaethau cyhoeddus ac arbedion i drethdalwyr? Mae'r cyhoedd, ein hetholwyr, yn mynnu cael newid cyflymach. Mae'r mater hwn wedi'i drafod ers bron i ddau ddegawd, ac nid ydym ni'n llawer nes at ei ddiwygio o hyd. Felly, Gweinidog, pryd byddwn yn gweld newid mewn llywodraeth leol mewn gwirionedd? Beth yw'r amserlen? Mae angen gweithredu nawr yn hytrach na dim ond siarad. Diolch.