techiaith/cofnodycynulliad_en-cy huggingface dataset:
English: I will be making my comments in Welsh. We represent small building and construction companies, so I think it would be unfair for us to mention the private sector in its entirety, but to give you a picture of how much collaboration there is between local authorities and small companies in terms of drawing up housing strategies, and specifically a vacant property strategy, I think there is an aspiration to do that on both sides, but, unfortunately, I don't think that it does happen. Part of the problem, in my view, is that local authorities aren't sufficiently proactive in seeking to involve small building firms into the process, because these firms are always busy and they find it very difficult to work on things such as strategies. So, when you do have a process where local government or even central government seeks the views of small construction companies, they simply don't have the time to speak to them. So, what's important is to be proactive, to approach them, and to ask their views on things, rather than expecting the industry to come to the public sector.
Welsh: Dwi'n mynd i ddweud hyn yn y Gymraeg. Dŷn ni'n cynrychioli cwmnïau adeiladu bach, felly dwi'n meddwl buasai hi'n annheg i mi sôn am y sector preifat yn ei gyfanrwydd, ond, i roi darlun i chi o faint o gydweithio sydd rhwng awdurdodau lleol a chwmnïau bach o ran creu strategaethau tai ac yn benodol tai gwag, dwi'n meddwl bod yna ddyhead i wneud hynny ar y ddwy ochr, ond, yn anffodus, dwi ddim yn meddwl ei fod o'n digwydd. A rhan o'r broblem, yn fy marn i, ydy nad ydy llywodraethau lleol yn ddigon rhagweithiol i ddenu barn adeiladwyr bach i mewn i'r broses, achos mae adeiladwyr bach wastad yn brysur ac maen nhw'n ei ffeindio hi'n anodd iawn i gydweithio ar bethau fel strategaethau. Felly, pan gewch chi broses lle mae llywodraeth leol neu lywodraeth ganolog hyd yn oed yn gofyn am farn cwmnïau adeiladu bach, does ganddyn nhw ddim yr amser i siarad efo nhw. Felly, beth sy'n bwysig i'w wneud ydy bod yn rhagweithiol, mynd atyn nhw, gofyn am eu barn nhw ynglŷn â phethau, yn hytrach na disgwyl i'r diwydiant ddod at y sector cyhoeddus yn y bôn.
English: In terms of the construction industry, there is a large skills gap within the industry at the moment. We carry out quarterly surveys with our members and the most recent survey demonstrates that 64 per cent of our members in Wales find it difficult to find bricklayers and 71 per cent of our members expect that salaries will have to increase within their workforce because of the skills gap, and this will happen within the next six months. So, given that skills gap, our members are very busy, and they tell us that there's plenty of work out there, but there aren't enough people to do that work so they can pick and choose which jobs they take, and bringing vacant or empty properties back onto the market isn't necessarily on top of their agenda in terms of some of the opportunities that exist for them in the market at the moment. Most of our members are busy, they're booked up for 12 months, 18 months, even, some of them. So, because of that skills gap I mentioned, they can pick and choose which jobs to take and bringing empty properties back into use, which is often quite risky and quite expensive, isn't on top of their agenda.
Welsh: O ran y diwydiant adeiladu, mae yna fwlch sgiliau mawr yn bodoli ar hyn o bryd o fewn y diwydiant. Felly, rydym ni'n gwneud arolygon yn chwarterol efo'n haelodau ni ac mae'r arolwg mwyaf diweddar yn dangos bod 64 y cant o'n haelodau ni yng Nghymru yn ei ffeindio hi'n anodd i ddod o hyd i osodwyr brics ac mae 71 y cant o'n haelodau ni'n disgwyl y bydd cyflogau'n gorfod codi o fewn eu gweithlu nhw achos y bwlch sgiliau o fewn y chwe mis nesaf - o 71 y cant. Felly, o achos y bwlch sgiliau, mae'n haelodau ni, maen nhw'n brysur iawn, a beth maen nhw'n dweud wrthym ni yw bod yna ddigon o waith allan yna ond bod yna ddim digon o bobl i wneud y gwaith, felly maen nhw'n gallu pigo pa jobsys i wneud, a dydy dod â thai gwag yn ôl ar y farchnad ddim o reidrwydd ar dop yr agenda o ran rhai o'r cyfleoedd sydd ganddyn nhw yn y farchnad ar hyn o bryd. Mae'r rhan fwyaf o'n haelodau ni, maen nhw'n brysur, maen nhw wedi cael eu bwcio i fyny am 12 mis, 18 mis, rhai ohonyn nhw. Felly, achos y bwlch sgiliau yna, maen nhw'n gallu pigo pa jobsys maen nhw angen a dydy dod â thai gwag yn ôl, sydd yn aml yn beth costus iawn i'w wneud, sydd yn beth risky iawn i'w wneud, ddim ar dop yr agenda yna.
English: I think it's also very important with any system of that kind that you can differentiate between empty properties that are empty for valid reasons and those that are empty for unacceptable reasons. So, if possible, you need to create a system that's simple, but then that's entirely clear how you differentiate between those two things. But the problem, very often, with these empty properties is that there is a grey area in the middle - there are some cases that are black and white, but most are grey and the owner of the property would make one case and the local authority would make another. So, a simple system isn't necessarily that simple, very often.
Welsh: Dwi'n meddwl ei bod hi hefyd yn bwysig iawn, yn unrhyw system fel yna, fod modd gwahaniaethu rhwng tai sydd yn wag am resymau dilys a rhesymau annerbyniol. Felly, os oes modd creu system sydd yn syml, ond wedyn bod o'n hollol glir sut mae gwahaniaethu rhwng y ddau, digon teg. Ond y broblem yn aml iawn efo'r tai gwag yma ydy bod yna agendor llwyd iawn yn y canol fanna - rhai achosion sy'n ddu a gwyn, ond mae'r rhan fwyaf ohonyn nhw'n llwyd ac mi fuasai perchennog yr un yn dadlau un peth ac wedyn yr awdurdod lleol yn dadlau'r peth arall. Felly, dydy system syml ddim, yn aml, yn syml.
English: Generally speaking, in the more rural areas, house prices tend to be slightly lower. There's also a tendency for many of the vacant properties to be traditionally built, and therefore more expensive to refurbish. In terms of some of the opportunities I see in more rural areas, as many of the homes aren't terraced - they are stand-alone - if there are properties that have been empty for years and there's no way of bringing them back into use and it's a long-term problem, then one of the things that can be done is the Welsh Government is going to be launching the self-build Cymru scheme in the autumn, I believe, and what that is is that local authorities release plots of land that already have infrastructure in place, where the water pipes are in place and the roads are in place, and therefore members of the public can buy those plots and commission a builder to build a home for them, without having to go through the planning process. So, with some of these vacant properties in rural areas, it's easier to do that, if a home has been vacant for a long time, because they're detached. It's far more difficult to do that in the Valleys, for example, because they are terraced, and they can't just be demolished and built anew.
Welsh: Yn gyffredinol, yn yr ardaloedd mwy gwledig, mae prisiau tai yn tueddu bod tipyn bach yn is. Hefyd, mae yna fwy o dueddiad bod lot o dai gwag yn dai traddodiadol, felly maen nhw'n fwy costus i'w hatgyweirio. O ran rhai o'r cyfleoedd dwi'n eu gweld yn yr ardaloedd mwy gwledig, gan fod lot o'r tai yn dai ar wahân - dŷn nhw ddim yn rhan o strydoedd - os oes yna dai sydd wedi bod yn wag am flynyddoedd a does yna ddim ffordd i ddod â nhw yn ôl ac mae'n broblem hirdymor, un o'r pethau y gellir ei wneud ydy: mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd i fod yn lawnsio cynllun hunanadeiladu Cymru yn yr hydref, a beth ydy'r cynllun yna ydy bod awdurdodau lleol yn rhyddhau darn o dir sydd efo seilwaith arno fo'n barod - hynny yw, bod yna ffyrdd arno fo'n barod, bod yna bibellau dŵr ac yn y blaen, yna'n barod. Felly, mae aelodau o'r cyhoedd yn gallu prynu'r plotiau yna a chomisiynu adeiladwr i adeiladu tŷ iddyn nhw, a does dim angen mynd drwy'r broses gynllunio, ac yn y blaen. Felly, efo rhai o'r tai gwag yma mewn ardaloedd gwledig mae'n haws gwneud hynny, os ydy tŷ wedi bod yn wag am amser hir, achos dyw e ddim yn rhan o stryd. Mae'n lot anoddach gwneud hynny yn y Cymoedd, er enghraifft, achos eu bod nhw'n rhan o strydoedd a gellir ddim jest eu dymchwel nhw ac ailadeiladu.
English: Good morning. Welcome to you all to the meeting of the Finance Committee at the National Assembly for Wales. It's good to see all of you. I'd like to remind you that there are headsets available for translation and for amplification. And also, could I remind Members, as I have to remind myself, to ensure that any electronic devices are on silent? Also, could I ask if Members have any interests to declare? No. I would also like to note that Alun Davies and Nick Ramsay have been in touch to explain that they'll be arriving a bit late this morning.
Welsh: Bore da a chroeso i chi i gyd i gyfarfod Pwyllgor Cyllid Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru. Mae'n dda gweld pob un ohonoch chi. Gaf i'ch atgoffa chi fod yna glustffonau ar gael, wrth gwrs, ar gyfer y cyfieithu ac ar gyfer addasu lefel y sain? A hefyd, gaf i atgoffa Aelodau, fel dwi'n gorfod atgoffa'n hunan, i sicrhau bod unrhyw ddyfeisiadau electronig wedi'u diffodd o ran y sain? Gaf i hefyd ofyn a oes gan unrhyw Aelodau fuddiannau i'w datgan? Nac oes. Iawn. Gaf i nodi hefyd fod Alun Davies a Nick Ramsay wedi cysylltu â ni i esbonio y byddan nhw'n cyrraedd yn hwyrach y bore yma?
English: There are some papers to note. The first paper, as you see, is the letter from the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd on the Welsh Government first supplementary budget. We did ask about one specific issue, and that answer has been received. I'm sure that's clear enough. And also, there are two copies of the minutes of previous meetings. So, are you content to note those? Okay. Thank you very much.
Welsh: Mae yna ychydig o bapurau i'w nodi. Y papur cyntaf, fel y gwelwch chi, yw llythyr gan y Gweinidog Cyllid a'r Trefnydd ar gyllideb atodol gyntaf Llywodraeth Cymru. Mi wnaethon ni holi ynglŷn ag un mater penodol, ac mae'r ateb wedi dod. Dwi'n tybio bod hwnna'n ddigon clir. A hefyd, mae yna ddau gopi o gofnodion cyfarfodydd blaenorol. Felly, ydy Aelodau'n hapus i nodi'r papurau yna? Iawn. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
English: We'll go on, then, to item 3 of this meeting: consideration of proposals to amend the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2013. I'd like to welcome our first witness: Alan Bermingham, policy manager, Governments, with the Chartered Institute for Public Finance and Accountancy. Welcome to you. We'll go straight into questions, if that's okay.
Welsh: Reit, wel, awn ni ymlaen, felly, at eitem nesaf y cyfarfod bore yma, sef trafod cynigion i ddiwygio Deddf Archwilio Cyhoeddus (Cymru) 2013 ac estyn croeso cynnes i'n tyst cyntaf ni heddiw: Alan Bermingham, sy'n rheolwr polisi, Llywodraethau, gyda'r Sefydliad Siartredig Cyllid Cyhoeddus a Chyfrifyddiaeth. Croeso cynnes i chi aton ni. Mi awn ni'n syth at gwestiynau, os ydy hynny'n iawn.
English: Could I welcome our second panel this morning? Thank you for attending. Could I welcome Huw Thomas, director of finance, Hywel Dda University Health Board, Lynne Hamilton, director of finance, Swansea Bay University Health Board, and Jon Rae, director of resources, Welsh Local Government Association? A warm welcome to the three of you. We have about 40 minutes, so we'll go straight into questions if that's okay with you. And I'll just start by asking you to outline, just very broadly for the committee, how the audit work is conducted within your organisations and what roles the individuals within the organisations have in facilitating the process as it happens.
Welsh: Iawn. Wel, gaf i groesawu ein hail banel ni y bore yma atom ni? Diolch i chi am eich presenoldeb. Gaf i groesawu Huw Thomas, cyfarwyddwr cyllid Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda, Lynne Hamilton, cyfarwyddwr cyllid Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Bae Abertawe, a Jon Rae, cyfarwyddwr adnoddau Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru? Croeso cynnes i'r tri ohonoch chi. Mae gennym ni ryw 40 munud, felly mi awn ni syth i mewn i gwestiynau, os ydy hynny yn iawn gyda chi. A gwnaf i jest gychwyn drwy ofyn i chi efallai i amlinellu, jest yn fras iawn i'r pwyllgor, sut y mae gwaith archwilio yn cael ei gynnal o fewn eich sefydliadau chi a pha rolau efallai sydd gan yr unigolion o fewn eich sefydliadau chi i hwyluso'r broses yna pan fo'n digwydd.
English: And I take it that the situation is similar in your situation as well.
Welsh: A dwi'n cymryd bod y sefyllfa'n debyg iawn neu'r union yr un fath o'ch safbwynt chi hefyd.
English: So, at what stage is the fee discussed and what role do you have in negotiating what the fee will be? And then, of course, at what point is the fee paid?
Welsh: Felly, ar ba bwynt mae'r ffi yn cael ei drafod a pha rôl, os o gwbl, sydd gyda chi mewn negodi neu drafod beth fydd y ffi? Ac wedyn, wrth gwrs, ar ba bwynt y mae'r ffi yn cael ei dalu?
English: It's not necessary for the auditor to consult on the health service fees, differently to other services, but there is a process of scrutiny through the audit committee, which is an important part of the planning for the work, because it sets a benchmark at the start of the year for us. So, that is an important process to, if you like, put a line in the sand at the start of the year, and then, if there is any over-expenditure or under-expenditure in terms of the fee, you can return to that later on in the year. In our history, we haven't overspent on the fee, but it is important to have that good scrutiny process through committee.
Welsh: Does yna ddim rheidrwydd i'r archwilydd ymgynghori ynglŷn â'r fees sydd yn y gwasanaeth iechyd, yn wahanol i wasanaethau eraill, ond mae yna broses o graffu drwy'r pwyllgor archwilio, sy'n rhan bwysig o'r cynllunio am y gwaith, achos mae'n rhoi meincnod ar ddechrau'r flwyddyn i ni. Felly, mae honno'n broses bwysig i roi, os hoffech chi, line in the sand i ni ar ddechrau'r flwyddyn. Ac wedyn os oes yna unrhyw orwariant o ran y ffi neu danwariant, mae'n bosib dod yn ôl at hynny'n hwyrach yn y flwyddyn. Yn ein hanes ni, dŷn ni heb orwario ar y ffi, ond mae e'n bwysig cael y broses yna o graffu da, byddwn i'n dweud, drwy'r pwyllgor.
English: I'll turn to Jon therefore for the WLGA - what's your perspective in terms of the questions that I've asked?
Welsh: Gwnaf i droi at Jon, felly, o safbwynt llywodraeth leol - beth yw'ch persbectif chi, te, o safbwynt y cwestiynau roeddwn i'n eu gofyn?
English: Okay. Most of the questions that I wanted to ask about fees have been asked. It is strange that you don't feel at all that rebates or having to charge more for one or more aspects of an audit is something that arises often. That's what the auditor general and the audit office told us in the 'Simplifying a Complex Fee Regime' document - that it happens often. Do you think it's odd that - ? Are you confident that your experience is something that's reflected across the health boards or is it just that you're not aware that it does happen often?
Welsh: Ocê. Mae'r rhan fwyaf o'r cwestiynau, dwi'n meddwl, roeddwn i eisiau eu gofyn ynglŷn â ffioedd wedi cael eu gofyn. Mae o'n rhyfedd eich bod chi ddim yn teimlo o gwbl fod ad-daliadau neu orfod codi mwy am un neu fwy o agweddau'r archwiliad yn rhywbeth sy'n codi'n aml. Dyna mae'r archwilydd cyffredinol a'r swyddfa archwilio wedi'i ddweud wrthym ni nôl yn y ddogfen 'Symleiddio Trefn Ffioedd Gymhleth' - ei fod o yn digwydd yn aml. Ydych chi'n gweld o'n od bod - ? Ydych chi'n hyderus bod eich profiad chi'n rhywbeth sy'n cael ei adlewyrchu ar draws y byrddau iechyd ynteu jest chi sydd ddim yn ymwybodol ei fod o'n digwydd yn aml?
English: The health boards are all different. I can speak for my own but not for any other health board. The health service fee is high. So, our fee is nearly £400,000 per year. So, I'm sure that there is more scope to control risk within that fee. So, if there is one element of the audit on, say, our finances that leads to an overspend and then there's underpsend in another, perhaps it nets to nothing with us because the fee is relatively high. Maybe that problem is greater for smaller bodies where it's difficult to get that control.
Welsh: Mae'r byrddau iechyd i gyd yn wahanol. Gallaf i siarad dros Hywel Dda ond gallaf i ddim siarad dros unrhyw fwrdd iechyd arall. Mae ffi'r gwasanaeth iechyd yn uchel. So, mae'n ffi ni bron yn £400,000 y flwyddyn. Felly, mae yna - dwi'n siŵr bod yna fwy o ffordd o reoli'r risg o fewn y ffi yna. Felly, os oes yna un elfen o'r archwiliad ar, dywedwch, ein cyllid ni yn gorwario, felly, a bod yna rhywbeth arall yn tanwario, efallai ei fod e'n 'net-o' i ddim byd gyda ni am fod y ffi yn gymharol uchel. Efallai bod y broblem yna'n fwy i gyrff llai lle mae'n galed i gael y rheolaeth yna.
English: And one other issue that has been raised by the auditor general, suggesting that audited bodies now make more complaints about the time required to administer the fee regime. Can you confirm whether that's your experience? Has your organisation or the organisations that you represent here today ever made or considered making a complaint about this? No for Hywel Dda.
Welsh: Ac un mater arall sydd wedi cael ei godi gan yr archwilydd cyffredinol, yn awgrymu bod cyrff sy'n cael eu harchwilio bellach yn gwneud mwy o gwynion am yr amser sydd ei angen i weinyddu'r gyfundrefn ffioedd. Ydych chi'n gallu dweud ai dyna'ch profiad chi? Ydy eich sefydliad chi neu sefydliadau rydych chi'n eu cynrychioli yma heddiw erioed wedi gwneud neu wedi ystyried gwneud cwyn am hyn? Na, Hywel Dda.
English: So, could I thank you for your evidence? The messages are very clear and consistent, I think, in terms of this last session. So, thank you very much for that. You will receive a copy of the transcript of the meeting just for you to check that it's factually accurate. So, could I thank you very much for your attendance? Thank you very much.
Welsh: So, gaf i ddiolch ichi am eich tystiolaeth? Mae'r negeseuon yn glir ac yn gyson, dwi'n credu, o safbwynt y sesiwn ddiwethaf yma. Felly, diolch yn fawr ichi am hynny. Mi fyddwch chi'n derbyn copi o'r trawsgrifiad o'r cyfarfod jest ichi gael tsiecio bod hynny yn gywir. Felly, gaf i ddiolch o galon ichi am eich presenoldeb? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
English: The committee will now move into private session. So, I propose, in accordance with Standing Order 17.42 (vi), that the committee resolves to exclude the public from items 6 to 9 and items 11 to 12. Are Members content with that? Yes. Thank you very much.
Welsh: Mi wnaiff y pwyllgor nawr symud i sesiwn breifat. Felly, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 17.42 (vi), dwi'n cynnig bod y pwyllgor yn penderfynu gwahardd y cyhoedd o'r cyfarfod ar gyfer eitemau 6 i 9, ac eitemau 11 i 12. Ydy Aelodau i gyd yn fodlon â hynny? Iawn. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
English: Welcome back to the Finance Committee. We welcome Rebecca Evans, the Finance Minister and Trefnydd, and Gawain Evans, finance director, for the last item of the meeting today, which is continuing the consideration of proposals to amend the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2013. I'll start, if I may, by going straight into questions, and to simply ask you how content are you, Minister, with the audit legislation that we have in Wales.
Welsh: Croeso nôl i'r Pwyllgor Cyllid. Rydym ni'n croesawu Rebecca Evans, y Gweinidog Cyllid a'r Trefnydd, a Gawain Evans, cyfarwyddwr cyllid atom ni ar gyfer eitem olaf y cyfarfod y bore yma, sef, wrth gwrs, i barhau i drafod y cynigion i ddiwygio Deddf Archwilio Cyhoeddus (Cymru) 2013. Mi wnaf i gychwyn, os caf fi, drwy fynd yn syth i gwestiynau, ac i ofyn, yn syml iawn, pa mor fodlon ŷch, Weinidog, gyda'r ddeddfwriaeth archwilio sydd gennym ni yng Nghymru.
English: Thank you very much. A copy of your letter and the annex that you sent to the Chair as evidence is before me. I want to just look at the point that you make about noting the importance of the four-month requirement for laying of accounts, but accepting that there could be circumstances where more flexibility is required. Can you confirm that this is how you're going to proceed to operate, including in creating any legislation in the future?
Welsh: Diolch yn fawr iawn. Mae copi o'ch llythyr chi a'r atodlen iddo fo yr anfonoch chi at Gadeirydd y pwyllgor yma fel tystiolaeth o fy mlaen i. Dwi eisiau jest edrych ar y pwynt rydych chi'n ei wneud ynglŷn â nodi pwysigrwydd y gofyniad pedwar mis ar gyfer gosod cyfrifon, ond yn derbyn y gall fod amgylchiadau pan fod angen mwy o hyblygrwydd. Allwch chi gadarnhau mai fel hyn rydych chi'n mynd i gario ymlaen i weithredu, yn cynnwys wrth greu unrhyw ddeddfwriaeth ac ati yn y dyfodol?
English: You make the point that figures become less current if it goes longer than that, which is true, of course. You refer specifically to the delay in laying Natural Resources Wales accounts for 2015-16. You also say that it's an issue for the Public Accounts Committee to discuss that if the four-month requirement is not met. Could you confirm that that's still your feeling on that? But what is the role of the Welsh Government, then, where it is an arm's-length body from the Government that fails to lay its accounts in the correct time frame?
Welsh: Rydych chi'n gwneud y pwynt bod ffigurau'n mynd yn llai cyfredol os ydy hi'n mynd yn hirach na hynny hefyd, sy'n wir, wrth gwrs. Mi ydych chi'n cyfeirio'n benodol at yr oedi wrth osod cyfrifon Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru ar gyfer 2015-16. Mi ydych chi'n dweud hefyd mai mater i'r Pwyllgor Cyfrifon Cyhoeddus i'w drafod ydy hi os nad ydy'r gofyniad pedwar mis yn cael ei fodloni. A wnewch chi gadarnhau mai dyna'ch teimlad chi o hyd? Ond beth ydy rôl Llywodraeth Cymru, wedyn, lle mae'n fater o gorff hyd-braich o Lywodraeth sydd yn methu â rhoi ei gyfrifon i mewn ar amser?
English: Thank you very much for coming. We do appreciate your contribution. You will, of course, have a copy of the transcript to check for factual accuracy, and, of course, we will welcome the Minister back next week for the evidence session on capital funding. So, we look forward to seeing you next week too. So, thank you very much to you both. We'll go into private session again.
Welsh: Diolch yn fawr i chi am ddod. Rydym ni'n gwerthfawrogi eich cyfraniad chi. Mi fyddwch chi, fel arfer, wrth gwrs, yn cael copi o'r trawsgrifiad i siecio, ac mi fyddwn ni, wrth gwrs, yn croesawu'r Gweinidog wythnos nesaf ar gyfer sesiwn dystiolaeth ar gyllid cyfalaf hefyd. Felly, edrychwn ni ymlaen i'ch gweld chi wythnos nesaf hefyd. Felly, diolch yn fawr iawn i chi gyd. Diolch. Awn ni mewn i sesiwn breifat eto, felly.