English: Thanks to the committee, its members, the clerking team and witnesses for this very important report. I've really enjoyed following the inquiry, and I agree with many of the points that it contains. As today's report reminds us, the purpose of asset transfers is, of course, to ensure that assets that are really important to a local community can remain within that community. Sometimes, this is a consequence of a decade of Tory austerity. Paddling pools in my constituency in Abercynon, Aberdare, Mountain Ash, Penrhiwceiber and Ynysybwl are now run by community groups, providing opportunities that would otherwise have been removed, but also serving as building blocks to create something bigger and better. The Institute for Community Studies makes that point in its evidence that communities provided that extra factor. I was proud last year to officially open the new Aquadare Splashpad and to have supported Lee Gardens Pool group as they've embarked on developing their infrastructure after community asset transfer, and really adding value to their local communities. I think it's this point about groups being able to take on an asset to the next stage that shines a spotlight on just why this is so important. Again, a few case studies from the Cynon Valley: St Mair's was a council-run day centre in Aberdare that was successfully asset transferred over to Age Connects Morgannwg. Now, as Cynon Linc, and thanks to Welsh Government funding, it serves as a community hub offering a whole range of services and facilities, housing a GP surgery, charities and an excellent cafe. Cylch Meithrin Seren Fach took over a disused building in Mountain Ash, transforming it into a welcoming space for children and families and expanding the Welsh-medium learning through play they can offer. And A.S.D. Rainbows have taken over a community centre in Perthcelyn to develop their vision to extend the support they provide to children and their families and to provide a much-needed asset being brought back for the local community. The committee's report succinctly evidences why we need these with, for example, the Bevan Foundation noting that asset transfers can actually drive economic development. I was also struck by the evidence from Building Communities Trust that less wealthy areas that contain lots of these community assets, driven by community ownership, have, and I quote, 'better health and wellbeing outcomes, higher rates of employment and lower levels of child poverty' than those without. So, the social justice aspect of this question is undeniable. As the report makes clear, allied to the desire for a community to take over an asset must be processes and support so that the vision can be realised. In light of all the positive examples I've mentioned from my constituency, it's welcome but not a surprise to see the many references in the report to best practice, put in place by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. The WLGA notes RCT as one of the good examples of a council putting infrastructure and information in place that leads to, and I quote, 'the smooth transfer of assets'. A single point of contact, a comparatively large officer team, and readily available guidance are noted as elements of this. As paragraph 59 of the report makes clear, the transfer process must not become too bureaucratic. Appropriately robust mechanisms must be put in place, but they shouldn't become a deterrent, and I'm pleased to see that the Coalfields Regeneration Trust makes this point in their evidence, as I know that the group has been a key driver to supporting these transfers in my constituency. Many of the examples I have cited have referred to transfers from the public sector but, as the report reminds us, there are distinct challenges when the asset is privately owned. I'm dealing with one case at the moment, working closely with the Cwmbach Community Wetlands group as they look to take over privately owned land. The group's dedicated volunteers are using a number of innovative solutions to drive the transfer forward, such as issuing very popular community shares. However, they are encountering difficulties around volunteer time and knowledge. In part, I think solutions could be provided by the development of a peer network - as both Cwmpas and the Coalfields Regeneration Trust noted in their evidence - to share ideas, to share expertise, and to share what works and what doesn't. The positive response from the Welsh Government to these recommendations is welcome. However - and this point was again cited in the report - such support must be ongoing and not just provided when an asset is initially transferred. Things can go wrong, but access to the right information can help communities to get things back on track. Diolch.
Welsh: Diolch i'r pwyllgor, ei aelodau, y tîm clercio a'r tystion am yr adroddiad pwysig hwn. Mwynheais ddilyn yr ymchwiliad, ac rwy'n cytuno gyda nifer o'r pwyntiau sydd ynddo. Fel y mae adroddiad heddiw yn ein hatgoffa, pwrpas trosglwyddo asedau, wrth gwrs, yw sicrhau bod asedau sy'n wirioneddol bwysig i gymuned leol yn gallu aros o fewn y gymuned honno. Weithiau, dyma fydd un o ganlyniadau degawd o gyni Torïaidd. Mae pyllau padlo yn fy etholaeth yn Abercynon, Aberdâr, Aberpennar, Penrhiw-ceibr ac Ynys-y-bŵl bellach yn cael eu rhedeg gan grwpiau cymunedol, gan ddarparu cyfleoedd a fyddai wedi'u colli fel arall, ond maent hefyd yn gweithredu fel cerrig sylfaen ar gyfer creu rhywbeth mwy a gwell. Mae'r Sefydliad Astudiaethau Cymunedol yn gwneud y pwynt yn ei dystiolaeth fod cymunedau'n darparu'r ffactor ychwanegol hwnnw. Roeddwn yn falch y llynedd o agor Splashpad newydd Dŵr Dâr yn swyddogol ac rwyf wedi cefnogi grŵp Pwll Lee Gardens wrth iddynt gychwyn datblygu eu seilwaith ar ôl trosglwyddo ased cymunedol, ac maent wedi ychwanegu gwerth gwirioneddol i'w cymunedau lleol. Rwy'n credu mai'r pwynt am grwpiau'n gallu mynd ag ased i'r cam nesaf sy'n tynnu sylw orau at pam fod hyn mor bwysig. Unwaith eto, ambell astudiaeth achos o Gwm Cynon: canolfan oriau dydd a gâi ei rheoli gan y cyngor yn Aberdâr oedd Santes Fair a chafodd yr ased ei drosglwyddo'n llwyddiannus i Age Connects Morgannwg. Erbyn hyn, fel Cynon Linc, a diolch i gyllid Llywodraeth Cymru, mae'n gwasanaethu fel canolfan gymunedol sy'n cynnig amrywiaeth fawr o wasanaethau a chyfleusterau, ac mae'n gartref i feddygfa, elusennau a chaffi ardderchog. Cymerodd Cylch Meithrin Seren Fach feddiant ar adeilad segur yn Aberpennar, gan ei drawsnewid yn ofod croesawgar i blant a theuluoedd ac ehangu eu cynnig dysgu Cymraeg drwy chwarae. Ac mae ASD Rainbows wedi cymryd meddiant ar ganolfan gymunedol ym Mherthcelyn i ddatblygu eu gweledigaeth i ymestyn y gefnogaeth y maent yn ei darparu i blant a'u teuluoedd ac i ddarparu ased mawr ei angen sydd wedi ei adfer i'r gymuned leol. Mae adroddiad y pwyllgor yn dystiolaeth gryno o'r rheswm pam fod angen y rhain arnom, gyda Sefydliad Bevan, er enghraifft, yn nodi y gall trosglwyddo asedau ysgogi datblygiad economaidd mewn gwirionedd. Cefais fy nharo hefyd gan y dystiolaeth gan yr Ymddiriedolaeth Adeiladu Cymunedau fod ardaloedd llai cyfoethog sy'n cynnwys llawer o'r asedau cymunedol hyn wedi'u gyrru gan berchnogaeth gymunedol, yn dangos 'gwell canlyniadau iechyd a lles, cyfraddau cyflogaeth uwch a lefelau is o dlodi plant' na'r rhai nad ydynt yn meddu ar lawer ohonynt. Felly, nid oes modd gwadu'r elfen cyfiawnder cymdeithasol yn hyn. Fel y mae'r adroddiad yn nodi'n glir, rhaid cael prosesau a chymorth i gyd-fynd ag awydd cymuned i ymgymryd ag ased er mwyn gallu gwireddu'r weledigaeth. Yn sgil yr holl enghreifftiau cadarnhaol y soniais amdanynt yn fy etholaeth, er nad ydynt yn syndod, mae'n wych gweld y cyfeiriadau niferus yn yr adroddiad at arferion da a roddwyd ar waith gan Gyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Rhondda Cynon Taf. Mae Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru yn nodi RhCT fel un o'r enghreifftiau da o gyngor yn rhoi seilwaith a gwybodaeth yn eu lle sy'n arwain at 'drosglwyddo asedau'n ddidrafferth'. Nodir un pwynt cyswllt, tîm cymharol fawr o swyddogion, ac arweiniad sydd ar gael yn rhwydd fel elfennau o hyn. Fel y mae paragraff 59 yr adroddiad yn ei nodi'n glir, rhaid i'r broses drosglwyddo beidio â bod yn rhy fiwrocrataidd. Rhaid rhoi mecanweithiau priodol o gadarn ar waith, ond ni ddylent fod yn rhwystr, ac rwy'n falch o weld bod Ymddiriedolaeth Adfywio'r Meysydd Glo yn gwneud y pwynt hwn yn eu tystiolaeth, gan fy mod yn gwybod bod y grŵp wedi bod yn sbardun allweddol i gefnogi'r trosglwyddiadau hyn yn fy etholaeth. Mae llawer o'r enghreifftiau a nodais wedi cyfeirio at drosglwyddiadau o'r sector cyhoeddus ond fel y mae'r adroddiad yn ein hatgoffa, ceir heriau penodol pan fo'r ased mewn perchnogaeth breifat. Rwy'n ymdrin ag un achos ar hyn o bryd, gan weithio'n agos gyda grŵp Gwlyptiroedd Cymunedol Cwmbach wrth iddynt geisio cymryd meddiant ar dir sydd mewn perchnogaeth breifat. Mae gwirfoddolwyr ymroddedig y grŵp yn defnyddio nifer o atebion arloesol i yrru'r trosglwyddiad yn ei flaen, megis cyhoeddi cyfranddaliadau cymunedol sy'n boblogaidd iawn. Fodd bynnag, maent yn wynebu anawsterau'n ymwneud ag amser a gwybodaeth gwirfoddolwyr. Yn rhannol, rwy'n credu y gellid darparu atebion drwy ddatblygu rhwydwaith cymheiriaid - fel y nododd Cwmpas ac Ymddiriedolaeth Adfywio'r Meysydd Glo yn eu tystiolaeth - i rannu syniadau, i rannu arbenigedd, ac i rannu'r hyn sy'n gweithio a'r hyn nad yw'n gweithio. Mae'r ymateb cadarnhaol gan Lywodraeth Cymru i'r argymhellion i'w groesawu. Fodd bynnag - a nodwyd y pwynt hwn eto yn yr adroddiad - rhaid i gefnogaeth o'r fath fod yn barhaus ac nid ar y dechrau'n unig pan fydd ased yn cael ei drosglwyddo. Gall pethau fynd o chwith, ond gall mynediad at yr wybodaeth gywir helpu cymunedau i gael pethau'n ôl ar y trywydd iawn. Diolch.