English: Apologies, Deputy Presiding Officer, I couldn't get my microphone to unmute. I hope it's working now. The coronavirus pandemic is impacting all our lives. An enormous amount of work has taken place across the Welsh Government and within our public services in a very short space of time to respond to the pandemic. My aim this afternoon is to provide Members with an account of the most recent and significant developments in the housing and local government portfolio. Firstly, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the Welsh Local Government Association and to local authorities across Wales who have worked so hard and been so responsive in mobilising to address the situation. Local government leaders raised with me at the outset the need to support local authorities' cash flow so there would be no delay to urgent decisions and spending. I am therefore very pleased that we were able to bring forward the May and June settlement payments into April to support them. This provided an advance of £526 million across local government. I am also considering work carried out by the WLGA quantifying both the additional costs and the loss of income they will experience as a result of the pandemic. We provided funding to local authorities so they can apply the rates relief and issue the business support grants that were announced at the end of March. They have worked extremely hard to distribute these so efficiently - a huge thank you to them for all of that. A single emergency funding stream for local authorities has been established to help meet the pressures arising from COVID-19. Welsh Government made £30 million available for this in the first instance. This included the provision of up to £7 million to urgently provide financial assistance to families of pupils who rely on free school meals but were unable to receive them due to school closures. It also included £10 million to ensure that, with their third sector partners, local authorities can put in place urgent and necessary arrangements to protect rough-sleepers. This has since been enhanced to provide a further £40 million to support social care delivery and a further £33 million to extend free school meal provision. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a considerable challenge to recycling, waste collection and processing in Wales. I am very proud that, during this difficult time, our local authorities have continued to operate their waste and recycling services with the vast majority only making minor temporary changes. This is a reflection of our work over the last 20 years to develop high-quality resilient collection regimes. We have a goal for a resilient Wales and we have an opportunity to learn lessons here and work to support greater resilience in the future. One of our key priorities in Government has always been working to prevent and end homelessness in all its forms. The vulnerability of those sleeping rough has rightly needed to be a focus for action during this emergency. I want to extend my thanks to local authorities' housing and homelessness teams, together with Community Housing Cymru, Cymorth Cymru, registered social landlords and other third sector partners who have been focusing on helping people into accommodation. This means that they have been able to self-isolate, have access to hand washing and hygiene facilities, and adhere to social distancing rules. I have been heartened by the collaborative and innovative practice that is going on despite the challenging environment people are working in. I was clear from the outset that this wasn't simply about placing people in accommodation and leaving them to fend for themselves. Accommodation has to come with the wraparound support to enable people to sustain it. We introduced clear guidance on the approach that local authorities should take and provided an additional £10 million to enable them to enact it. In the last few weeks, 500 people have been supported into accommodation, and rough-sleeper numbers are in single digits in every local authority in Wales. Local authorities and their partners continue to support those few people who are still sleeping rough. We have also been working to see how our Housing First projects may be able to assist these individuals. No-one should be left without accommodation and support during this emergency. This includes those with no recourse to public funds and those leaving institutions, such as prisons. We are working very closely with Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service, local authorities and health colleagues to ensure both the potential early-release prisoners and standard release prisoners are supported into accommodation. My officials have been working directly with a number of local authorities to help secure more accommodation. We are also working closely with local authorities and wider stakeholders to consider the exit strategy from this current emergency. The work recently done by the homelessness action group provides us with a blueprint on how to end homelessness in Wales, and this will be vital in informing the approach to our exit strategy. Let me be clear: we cannot go back. We have an opportunity to engage with individuals who have never been in services before. The assistance being offered now can provide the foundation to rebuild lives once this crisis ends. While there has rightly been a focused effort in these areas, my officials are heavily engaged across a range of issues. For example, we have already taken action to ensure that tenants experiencing financial hardship as a result of COVID-19 cannot be evicted. I would like to extend my thanks to all landlords and letting agents for taking a pragmatic and supportive approach to helping tenants through this crisis. We recognise that there is still much to do to prevent an increase in evictions, and welcome the ongoing collaborative work across the social and private sectors to ensure that evictions really are the last resort. We have worked with our construction partners and the association representing building supply merchants to establish what outlets are open, what they can supply and to whom. This is critical in terms of allowing agencies such as Care and Repair to continue their invaluable work. We have acted quickly to make changes to our planning and building control systems so that local authorities and the NHS can provide additional healthcare capacity. This has allowed the construction of the Nightingale hospitals across Wales at great speed. I would also like to extend my thanks to the fire and rescue services, who have proved to be remarkably resilient during this pandemic. Absence levels due to COVID-19 are no more than 4 per cent, and the service has maintained full operational capability across Wales. The Deputy Minister wrote to all fire and rescue service staff urging them to lend support to the NHS where possible, and the response has been overwhelming. Over 450 staff have volunteered to drive ambulances and are available for deployment as necessary. Others have assisted in setting up temporary mortuaries and delivering vital supplies. We have also set up five of the service's mass decontamination units at hospitals across Wales, where they serve as temporary triage facilities for suspected COVID-19 patients. It is, though, very disappointing to see widespread outbreaks of deliberately set grass fires. Even in a normal year this is highly irresponsible. It devastates the environment and puts communities in genuine fear. This year it is doubly so. Our firefighters and police officers have far better things to do during the outbreak than responding to grass fires. The smoke such fires causes is also a serious health hazard for many of those in the shielded group and for COVID-19 sufferers themselves. I'm sure all Members would join me in strongly condemning this senseless behaviour. And finally, the cross-Government group on vulnerable people has been focusing on practical support for those extremely vulnerable people who have been asked to undertake shielding for 12 weeks. This includes food and medical supplies, transport, emotional and social support such as advice lines, telephone befriending and technology. Data on those who have been advised to shield has now been shared with all supermarkets in Wales, and a pilot scheme to provide additional capacity for the delivery of medicines from community pharmacies was launched last week. The steps that we are taking to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic will save lives. However, sadly, as has already been said, people will lose loved ones as a result of this disease. The death of a family member or friend is a very distressing event, and we have amended our regulations to clarify the arrangements for funerals at crematoriums. These are very difficult times, requiring rapid and flexible responses from everyone in Government and in our public services. Welsh Government will continue to provide leadership and support as we deal with this crisis, and thank all our partners for working with us. I'm very clear that when normality begins to return, these collaborations will provide clear lessons and a deal of good practice that we can and should adopt, going forward. Diolch.
Welsh: Ymddiheuriadau, Dirprwy Lywydd, nid oeddwn yn gallu cael y sain yn ôl ar fy meicroffon. Rwy'n gobeithio ei fod yn gweithio nawr. Mae pandemig y coronafeirws yn effeithio ar fywydau pob un ohonom. Mae llawer iawn o waith wedi ei wneud ar draws Llywodraeth Cymru ac o fewn ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus mewn cyfnod byr iawn i ymateb i'r pandemig. Fy nod i y prynhawn yma yw rhoi adroddiad i'r Aelodau am y datblygiadau diweddar a mwyaf sylweddol yn y portffolio tai a llywodraeth leol. Yn gyntaf, hoffwn i fynegi fy niolch diffuant i Gymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru ac i awdurdodau lleol ledled Cymru sydd wedi gweithio mor ddiwyd ac wedi ymateb mor gyflym wrth geisio mynd i'r afael â'r sefyllfa. Soniodd arweinwyr llywodraeth leol wrthyf i ar y dechrau am yr angen i gefnogi llif arian awdurdodau lleol fel na fyddai unrhyw oedi o ran gwneud penderfyniadau a gwario ar frys. Felly, rwy'n falch iawn ein bod wedi gallu dwyn ymlaen daliadau setliad mis Mai a mis Mehefin i fis Ebrill i'w cefnogi. Darparodd hyn flaendal o £526 miliwn ar draws llywodraeth leol. Rwyf hefyd yn ystyried gwaith a wnaed gan Gymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru i fesur y costau ychwanegol a'r golled incwm yn sgil y pandemig. Fe wnaethom ni ddarparu cyllid i awdurdodau lleol er mwyn iddyn nhw allu defnyddio'r rhyddhad ardrethi a dyrannu'r grantiau cymorth busnes a gyhoeddwyd ddiwedd mis Mawrth. Maen nhw wedi gweithio'n eithriadol o ddiwyd i'w dosbarthu mewn modd mor effeithlon - diolch yn fawr iawn iddyn nhw am hynny i gyd. Mae un ffrwd cyllid frys wedi'i sefydlu ar gyfer awdurdodau lleol er mwyn helpu i ymdrin â'r pwysau sy'n deillio o COVID-19. Darparodd Llywodraeth Cymru £30 miliwn ar gyfer hyn yn y lle cyntaf. Roedd hyn yn cynnwys hyd at £7 miliwn i ddarparu cymorth ariannol ar frys i deuluoedd disgyblion sy'n dibynnu ar brydau ysgol am ddim ond nad oedden nhw'n gallu eu derbyn oherwydd bod ysgolion wedi cau. Yr oedd hefyd yn cynnwys £10 miliwn i sicrhau, gyda'u partneriaid yn y trydydd sector, y gall awdurdodau lleol roi trefniadau brys ac angenrheidiol ar waith i ddiogelu'r rhai sy'n cysgu ar y stryd. Mae hyn wedi ei ategu ers hynny i ddarparu £40 miliwn arall i gefnogi'r gwaith o ddarparu gofal cymdeithasol a £33 miliwn arall i ymestyn y ddarpariaeth prydau ysgol am ddim. Mae'r pandemig COVID-19 wedi cyflwyno her sylweddol i ailgylchu, casglu a phrosesu gwastraff yng Nghymru. Rwy'n falch iawn bod ein hawdurdodau lleol, yn ystod y cyfnod anodd hwn, wedi parhau i weithredu eu gwasanaethau gwastraff ac ailgylchu ac mai mân newidiadau dros dro yn unig y mae'r mwyafrif helaeth wedi eu gwneud. Mae hyn yn adlewyrchu ein gwaith dros yr 20 mlynedd diwethaf i ddatblygu cyfundrefnau casglu cadarn o ansawdd uchel. Mae gennym ni nod ar gyfer Cymru gydnerth ac mae gennym ni gyfle i ddysgu gwersi a gweithio i gefnogi gwell cydnerthedd yn y dyfodol. Un o'n prif flaenoriaethau yn y Llywodraeth erioed fu gweithio i atal a rhoi terfyn ar ddigartrefedd o bob math. Yn gywir ddigon, mae pa mor agored i niwed y mae'r rhai sy'n cysgu ar y stryd wedi gorfod bod yn bwyslais ar gyfer gweithredu yn ystod yr argyfwng hwn. Hoffwn ddiolch i dimau tai a digartrefedd awdurdodau lleol, ynghyd â Cartrefi Cymunedol Cymru, Cymorth Cymru, landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig a phartneriaid eraill yn y trydydd sector sydd wedi bod yn canolbwyntio ar helpu pobl i gael llety. Mae hyn yn golygu eu bod wedi gallu hunanynysu, cael mynediad at gyfleusterau golchi dwylo a hylendid, a chadw at reolau cadw pellter cymdeithasol. Rwyf wedi fy nghalonogi gan yr arfer cydweithredol ac arloesol sy'n mynd rhagddo er gwaethaf yr amgylchedd heriol y mae pobl yn gweithio ynddo. Roeddwn yn glir o'r cychwyn fod hyn yn ymwneud â mwy na lleoli pobl mewn llety a'u gadael i ofalu amdanynt eu hunain. Mae'n rhaid i ddarparu llety'n gynnwys cymorth cynhwysfawr i alluogi pobl i'w gynnal. Fe wnaethom ni gyflwyno canllawiau clir ar y dull gweithredu y dylai awdurdodau lleol ei ddilyn, gan ddarparu £10 miliwn ychwanegol i'w galluogi i wneud hynny. Yn ystod yr wythnosau diwethaf, mae 500 o bobl wedi cael cymorth i gael llety, ac mae'r niferoedd sy'n cysgu ar y stryd mewn digidau sengl ym mhob awdurdod lleol yng Nghymru. Mae awdurdodau lleol a'u partneriaid yn parhau i gefnogi'r ychydig o bobl hynny sy'n dal i gysgu ar y stryd. Rydym ni hefyd wedi bod yn gweithio i weld sut y gall ein prosiectau Tai yn Gyntaf gynorthwyo'r unigolion hyn. Ni ddylai neb fod heb lety a chefnogaeth yn ystod yr argyfwng hwn. Mae hyn yn cynnwys y rhai nad oes ganddyn nhw fynediad at arian cyhoeddus a'r rhai sy'n gadael sefydliadau, fel carchardai. Rydym yn gweithio'n agos iawn gyda Gwasanaeth Carchardai a Phrawf ei Mawrhydi, awdurdodau lleol a chydweithwyr ym maes iechyd i sicrhau bod y carcharorion a allai gael eu rhyddhau yn gynnar neu eu rhyddhau yn safonol o'r carchar, yn cael eu cynorthwyo i gael llety. Mae fy swyddogion wedi bod yn gweithio'n uniongyrchol gyda nifer o awdurdodau lleol i helpu i sicrhau mwy o lety. Rydym hefyd yn gweithio'n agos gydag awdurdodau lleol a rhanddeiliaid ehangach i ystyried y strategaeth ymadael o'r argyfwng presennol hwn. Mae'r gwaith a wnaed yn ddiweddar gan y grŵp gweithredu ar ddigartrefedd yn rhoi glasbrint i ni ar gyfer sut i roi terfyn ar ddigartrefedd yng Nghymru, a bydd hyn yn hanfodol o ran llywio'r dull gweithredu ar gyfer ein strategaeth ymadael. Gadewch i mi fod yn glir: ni allwn ni fynd yn ôl. Mae gennym ni gyfle i ymgysylltu ag unigolion nad ydyn nhw erioed wedi bod mewn gwasanaethau o'r blaen. Gall y cymorth sy'n cael ei gynnig yn awr ddarparu'r sylfaen i ailadeiladu bywydau ar ôl i'r argyfwng hwn ddod i ben. Er bod ymdrechion wedi eu canolbwyntio yn y meysydd hyn, a hynny'n gwbl briodol, mae fy swyddogion yn ymwneud yn helaeth â nifer o faterion. Er enghraifft, rydym eisoes wedi cymryd camau i sicrhau na ellir troi tenantiaid sy'n dioddef caledi ariannol o ganlyniad i COVID-19 allan o'u llety. Hoffwn i ddiolch i'r holl landlordiaid ac asiantau gosod tai am eu hymagwedd bragmatig a chefnogol at helpu tenantiaid drwy'r argyfwng hwn. Rydym yn cydnabod bod llawer i'w wneud o hyd i atal cynnydd mewn achosion o droi allan, ac rydym yn croesawu'r gwaith cydweithredol sy'n mynd rhagddo ar draws y sectorau cymdeithasol a phreifat i sicrhau mai'r dewis olaf yn wirioneddol yw troi allan. Rydym wedi gweithio gyda'n partneriaid adeiladu a'r gymdeithas sy'n cynrychioli masnachwyr cyflenwi adeiladau i sefydlu pa allfeydd sydd ar agor, beth y gallan nhw ei gyflenwi ac i bwy. Mae hyn yn hollbwysig o ran caniatáu i asiantaethau fel Gofal a Thrwsio barhau â'u gwaith amhrisiadwy. Rydym wedi gweithredu'n gyflym i wneud newidiadau i'n systemau cynllunio a rheoli adeiladu fel y gall awdurdodau lleol a'r GIG ddarparu capasiti gofal iechyd ychwanegol. Mae hyn wedi galluogi adeiladu'r ysbytai Nightingale ledled Cymru yn gyflym iawn. Hoffwn i hefyd estyn fy niolch i'r gwasanaethau tân ac achub, sydd wedi bod yn hynod gadarn yn ystod y pandemig hwn. Nid yw lefelau absenoldeb yn sgil COVID-19 yn ddim mwy na 4 y cant, ac mae'r gwasanaeth wedi cynnal gallu gweithredu llawn ledled Cymru. Ysgrifennodd y Dirprwy Weinidog at holl staff y gwasanaethau tân i'w hannog i helpu'r GIG lle bo modd, ac mae'r ymateb wedi bod yn syfrdanol. Mae dros 450 o staff wedi gwirfoddoli i yrru ambiwlansys ac maen nhw ar gael i'w defnyddio yn ôl yr angen. Mae eraill wedi helpu i sefydlu corffdai dros dro a darparu cyflenwadau hanfodol. Rydym ni hefyd wedi sefydlu pump o unedau diheintio torfol y gwasanaeth mewn ysbytai ledled Cymru, lle maen nhw'n gwasanaethu fel cyfleusterau brysbennu dros dro ar gyfer cleifion y ceir amheuaeth eu bod wedi eu heintio gan COVID-19. Fodd bynnag, mae'n destun siom mawr gweld achosion helaeth o danau gwair sydd wedi eu cynnau'n fwriadol. Hyd yn oed mewn blwyddyn arferol mae hyn yn dra anghyfrifol. Mae'n dinistrio'r amgylchedd ac yn codi ofn gwirioneddol ar gymunedau. Eleni mae hyn ddwywaith mor wir. Mae gan ein diffoddwyr tân a'n swyddogion heddlu bethau gwell o lawer i'w gwneud yn ystod yr argyfwng nag ymateb i danau gwair. Mae'r mwg y mae tanau o'r fath yn ei achosi hefyd yn berygl difrifol i iechyd llawer o'r rhai hynny sydd yn y grŵp a warchodir ac i ddioddefwyr COVID-19 eu hunain. Rwy'n siŵr y byddai pob Aelod yn ymuno â mi i gondemnio'r ymddygiad disynnwyr hwn yn gryf. Ac yn olaf, mae'r grŵp trawslywodraethol ar bobl agored i niwed wedi bod yn canolbwyntio ar gymorth ymarferol i'r bobl hynny sy'n agored iawn i niwed y gofynnwyd iddyn nhw warchod eu hunain am 12 wythnos. Mae hyn yn cynnwys bwyd a chyflenwadau meddygol, trafnidiaeth, cymorth emosiynol a chymdeithasol fel llinellau cyngor, cyfeillio dros y ffôn a thechnoleg. Mae data ar y rhai a gynghorwyd i warchod eu hunain bellach wedi'u rhannu â'r holl archfarchnadoedd yng Nghymru, a chafodd cynllun peilot i ddarparu capasiti ychwanegol ar gyfer darparu meddyginiaethau o fferyllfeydd cymunedol ei lansio yr wythnos diwethaf. Bydd y camau yr ydym yn eu cymryd i ymateb i bandemig COVID-19 yn achub bywydau. Fodd bynnag, yn anffodus, fel y dywedwyd eisoes, bydd pobl yn colli anwyliaid o ganlyniad i'r clefyd hwn. Mae marwolaeth aelod o'r teulu neu ffrind yn ddigwyddiad hynod drallodus, ac rydym wedi diwygio ein rheoliadau i egluro'r trefniadau ar gyfer angladdau mewn amlosgfeydd. Mae'n gyfnod anodd iawn, sy'n gofyn am ymatebion cyflym a hyblyg gan bawb yn y Llywodraeth ac yn ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i ddarparu arweiniad a chefnogaeth wrth i ni ymdrin â'r argyfwng hwn, a diolch i'n holl bartneriaid am weithio gyda ni. Rwy'n glir iawn y bydd y cydweithio hwn, pan fydd normalrwydd yn dechrau dychwelyd, yn darparu gwersi clir a llawer o arferion da y gallwn ac y dylem eu mabwysiadu, wrth symud ymlaen. Diolch.