English: Diolch, Llywydd. The Welsh Government's policy, as provided for in this Bill, is to enable principal councils to choose between two voting systems. I consider that introducing this choice supports the principle of decisions being made at a more local level. I do not believe this local choice will lead to confusion: each council election is a separate event. Voters will be focused on the election for their council, and not on the one next door. A principal council could not make a change on a whim, but must first consult local electors, community councils in the area and other persons as it considers appropriate, as contained in section 8, and a resolution to change the voting system requires at least two thirds of the total number of councillor seats on the council to vote in favour. As such, I reject amendments 151 to 157, 176 and 177, which have the effect of mandating STV for all principal council elections, by removing all provisions relating to the simple majority system, or first-past-the-post. This would result in no choice for principal councils. I also cannot support amendments 168 to 171, the collective effect of which would be to impose STV on any new principal council created by merger or restructuring. This runs counter to the principle of councils being able to choose their own voting system. Equally, I'm afraid I cannot support amendments 83, 88 to 91, 93, 95 to 98, 100 and 144 to 146. These amendments also run counter to Welsh Government policy, by removing the provisions that provide for the introduction of STV as one of two voting systems to be available to principal councils. These amendments would keep the status quo, so first-past-the-post for all elections to principal councils and no choice. I call on Members to reject amendment 137. This amendment removes section 125, which requires merger regulations to specify which of the two voting systems will apply to the council created by the merger. It is necessary to have such provision as a consequence of there being two voting systems. Amendment 92 removes the requirement in section 8 of the Bill for a principal council to consult upon a proposal to change its voting system, whilst amendment 94 in effect replaces it with a requirement that a referendum be held before a voting system is changed. Principal councils have tried and tested systems for consulting local people. I believe, in this case, local consultation is a more cost-effective and considered way of seeking out and testing views than a local referendum. This is why we included the very provision in section 8 (5), which amendment 92 would remove. As such, I ask Members to reject amendments 92 and 94. For these reasons, I also call on Members to reject amendment 148, which enables councils to organise a local poll to ascertain the views of local people on the proposals to change the voting system. Finally, I ask Members to support amendment 63. This is a minor technical amendment to refine the instruction that defines where, within the text being amended, the amendment provided for by paragraph 18 (b) of Schedule 2 to the Bill should be inserted. Diolch.
Welsh: Diolch, Llywydd. Polisi Llywodraeth Cymru, fel y darperir ar ei gyfer yn y Bil hwn, yw galluogi prif gynghorau i ddewis rhwng dwy system bleidleisio. Rwy'n ystyried bod cyflwyno'r dewis hwn yn cefnogi'r egwyddor o wneud penderfyniadau yn fwy lleol. Ni chredaf y bydd y dewis lleol hwn yn arwain at ddryswch: mae pob etholiad cyngor yn ddigwyddiad ar wahân. Bydd pleidleiswyr yn canolbwyntio ar yr etholiad ar gyfer eu cyngor nhw, ac nid ar yr un drws nesaf. Ni allai prif gyngor wneud newid yn fympwyol. Yn gyntaf byddai'n rhaid iddo ymgynghori ag etholwyr lleol, cynghorau cymuned yn yr ardal ac unigolion eraill y mae o'r farn ei bod hi'n briodol ymgynghori â nhw, fel y'u cynhwysir yn adran 8, ac mae penderfyniad i newid y system bleidleisio yn ei gwneud hi'n ofynnol i o leiaf ddwy ran o dair o gyfanswm seddi cynghorwyr ar y cyngor bleidleisio o blaid. O'r herwydd, gwrthodaf welliannau 151 i 157, 176 a 177, sy'n cael yr effaith o orfodi pleidlais sengl drosglwyddadwy ar gyfer pob etholiad prif gyngor, drwy ddileu'r holl ddarpariaethau sy'n ymwneud â'r system fwyafrif syml, neu system y cyntaf i'r felin. Canlyniad hyn fyddai dim dewis i brif gynghorau. Ni allaf ychwaith gefnogi gwelliannau 168 i 171, a'u heffaith gyfunol fyddai gorfodi pleidlais sengl drosglwyddadwy ar unrhyw brif gyngor newydd a grëwyd drwy uno neu ailstrwythuro. Mae hyn yn mynd yn groes i'r egwyddor y gall cynghorau ddewis eu system bleidleisio eu hunain. Yn yr un modd, mae arnaf ofn na allaf gefnogi gwelliannau 83, 88 i 91, 93, 95 i 98, 100 a 144 i 146. Mae'r gwelliannau hyn hefyd yn mynd yn groes i bolisi Llywodraeth Cymru, drwy ddileu'r darpariaethau sy'n darparu ar gyfer cyflwyno pleidlais sengl drosglwyddadwy fel un o ddwy system bleidleisio fydd ar gael i brif gynghorau. Byddai'r gwelliannau hyn yn cadw pethau fel y maen nhw, felly system y cyntaf i'r felin ar gyfer pob etholiad i brif gynghorau a dim dewis. Galwaf ar Aelodau i wrthod gwelliant 137. Mae'r gwelliant hwn yn dileu adran 125, sy'n ei gwneud hi'n ofynnol i reoliadau uno bennu pa un o'r ddwy system bleidleisio fydd yn berthnasol i'r cyngor a grëwyd gan yr uno. Mae angen cael darpariaeth o'r fath o ganlyniad i ddwy system bleidleisio. Mae gwelliant 92 yn dileu'r gofyniad yn adran 8 o'r Bil i brif gyngor ymgynghori ar gynnig i newid ei system bleidleisio, tra bod gwelliant 94 mewn gwirionedd yn ei ddisodli gan ofyniad i gynnal refferendwm cyn newid system bleidleisio. Mae prif gynghorau wedi rhoi cynnig ar systemau ar gyfer ymgynghori â phobl leol. Credaf, yn yr achos hwn, fod ymgynghori lleol yn ffordd fwy cost-effeithiol ac ystyriol o gloriannu safbwyntiau a cheisio barn na refferendwm lleol. Dyna pam y gwnaethom ni gynnwys yr union ddarpariaeth yn adran 8 (5), y byddai gwelliant 92 yn ei dileu. Felly, gofynnaf i Aelodau wrthod gwelliannau 92 a 94. Am y rhesymau hyn, galwaf hefyd ar Aelodau i wrthod gwelliant 148, sy'n galluogi cynghorau i drefnu pleidlais leol i ganfod barn pobl leol am y cynigion i newid y system bleidleisio. Yn olaf, gofynnaf i Aelodau gefnogi gwelliant 63. Mân ddiwygiad technegol yw hwn i fireinio'r cyfarwyddyd sy'n diffinio, o fewn y testun sy'n cael ei ddiwygio, ble y dylid mewnosod y gwelliant y darperir ar ei gyfer gan baragraff 18 (b) o Atodlen 2 i'r Bil. Diolch.