Contributions

129 contributions on record. Newest first, by sitting day. Page 1 of 3. Counted by Siambr

  1. on the clip

    2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning

    Welsh Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning

    Prynhawn da. Rydyn ni'n credu y dylai cartrefi fodloni'r safonau disgwyliedig, fod yn ddiogel ac o ansawdd da ar y diwrnod y mae unigolion neu deuluoedd yn symud i'w cartref newydd. Rhaid i berchnogion tai allu cael mynediad at drefniadau effeithiol a syml. Os oes angen datrys problem, rhaid i ddatblygwyr, darparwyr gwarant, asiantau rheoli a chwmnïau rheoli i gyd chwarae eu rhan i fod yn atebol am eu gwasanaethau.

    Official English translation

    Good afternoon. We believe that homes should meet expected standards, be safe and of good quality on the day individuals or families move into their new home. Home owners must have access to effective and straightforward redress. When action is required to remedy an issue, developers, warranty providers, managing agents and management companies must all play their part in being accountable for their services.

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  2. on the clip

    Diolch yn fawr am dynnu sylw at y mater pwysig yma. Hoffwn i ymuno efo chi yn canmol cymdeithas trigolion Swansea Point. Mi ges i'r pleser o gwrdd ag un o'u cynrychiolwyr nhw bythefnos yn ôl, a dwi'n cofio yn glir ei ddisgrifiad o o'r straen a'r sefyllfa hynod rwystredig mae lesddeiliaid Swansea Point wedi profi ers rhagor na 18 mis. Diolch hefyd am groesawu grant larymau mesur interim Cymru. Roeddwn i'n falch o allu cynnig rhywfaint o gysur o leiaf i'r cynrychiolydd o Swansea Point a ddaeth i mewn i'n gweld ni—rhywfaint o gysur iddo fo a lesddeiliaid eraill Swansea Point a rheini ledled Cymru sy'n wynebu biliau echrydus am fesurau interim tra bod gwaith cyweirio rhag tân yn cael ei wneud. Mae'r grant ar agor i geisiadau, felly dwi'n annog pobl i edrych ar hynny. O ran eich cwestiwn pwysig am atebolrwydd datblygwyr yn yr holl faes diogelwch adeiladau, mi wnes i gwrdd efo nhw i gyd, yr holl ddatblygwyr sydd wedi arwyddo contract Llywodraeth Cymru. Mi wnes i gyfarfod â nhw bythefnos yn ôl. Roeddwn i'n hollol glir efo nhw yn y cyfarfod yna bod angen cyflymu'r gwaith cyweirio. Mi wnes i eu rhybuddio nhw yn y cyfarfod hwnnw y byddwn i'n rhoi adroddiad cynnydd i chi yma yn y Senedd yn y flwyddyn newydd. Dwi'n edrych ymlaen at gael yr adroddiad cynnydd yna. Mi fydda i'n fwy na pharod i enwi unrhyw ddatblygwyr sydd ddim yn gwneud eu dyletswydd i gyweirio yn unol â'r contract, yn unol â'r disgwyliad bod y gwaith yn dechrau cyn diwedd y flwyddyn yma. Os nad ydyn nhw wedi cyrraedd y sefyllfa yna, mi fydd yn rhaid i fi enwi pobl yn y Siambr yn fan hyn.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much for highlighting this important issue. I would like to join you in praising the Swansea Point residents association. I had the pleasure of meeting one of their representatives a fortnight ago and I clearly remember his description of the stress and huge frustration that Swansea Point leaseholders have experienced over a period of more than 18 months. Thank you also for welcoming the Wales interim measures alarm grant. I was pleased to be able to provide some comfort to the representative of Swansea Point who came to see us—some comfort for him and other leaseholders in Swansea Point and those across Wales who are facing appallingly high bills for interim measures while remediation work is done. The grant is open for application, so I would encourage people to look at that. In terms of your important question on the accountability of developers in this whole area of building safety, I did meet them all, all of the developers who have signed the Welsh Government contract. I met them a fortnight ago. I was entirely clear with them in that meeting that we needed to accelerate the remediation work. I warned them at that meeting that I would provide a progress report to you here in the Senedd in the new year. I look forward to receiving that progress report. I will be more than willing to name any developers who aren't acting under their duties to remediate in accordance with the expectation of the contract, and the expectation that the work should start before the end of this year. If they haven't reached that position, then I will have to name people in this Chamber.

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  3. on the clip

    Diolch yn fawr iawn. Dydw i ddim yn gyfarwydd â'r enghraifft benodol yna, ond mae 'Polisi Cynllunio Cymru' yn nodi y dylai awdurdodau cynllunio lleol gynllunio ar gyfer darparu'r seilwaith sydd ei angen i ddiwallu anghenion cymunedau pan fydd datblygiadau tai newydd yn cael eu hystyried. Felly, mae hi yn ofyniad ar awdurdodau lleol i edrych ar y seilwaith. Mae seilwaith digonol ac effeithlon, gan gynnwys y mathau o bethau rydych chi'n sôn amdanyn nhw, yn hanfodol i ddarparu datblygiadau tai newydd sydd yn diwallu'r anghenion ar gyfer y preswylwyr presennol, a hefyd i'r dyfodol.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much. I'm not familiar with that specific example, but 'Planning Policy Wales' does set out that local planning authorities should plan for the infrastructure needed to meet the needs of communities when new housing developments are considered. So, it is a requirement for local authorities to look at the infrastructure. Adequate and efficient infrastructure, including the types of things that you have mentioned, is crucial in providing new housing developments that meet the needs of current and future residents.

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  4. on the clip

    Diolch yn fawr iawn am y cwestiwn yna a diolch yn fawr iawn i chi am y gwaith rydych chi'n ei wneud ac yn parhau i wneud yn eich etholaeth chi. Dwi'n gyfarwydd, fel Aelod lleol, â'r math yma o sefyllfa hefyd, o ran y datblygiadau yma ddim yn cael eu cwblhau'n briodol, ac yn enwedig y mater yma o lonydd ddim yn cael eu mabwysiadu'n iawn a'r gwaith ddim yn cael ei orffen ar amser, ac weithiau ddim yn cael ei orffen i'r safon angenrheidiol chwaith. Mae'r Llywodraeth yma yn awyddus iawn i weithio efo chi ac efo Aelodau eraill i geisio mynd i'r afael â'r broblem yma. Yn sicr, mi fyddwn i'n hoffi cael sgwrs efo chi ymhellach, i weld os oes gennych chi syniadau penodol ynglŷn â sut i gael y maen i'r wal yn gynt yn yr achosion yma.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much for that question, and thank you very much to you for the work that you have done and continue to do in your constituency. I'm familiar, as a local Member, with this kind of scenario too, in terms of these developments not being appropriately completed, and particularly this issue of roads not being properly adopted and the work not being completed on time, and sometimes not being completed to the required standards either. This Government is very eager to work with you and other Members in order to try and address this problem. Certainly, I would like to have a further conversation with you, to see if you have any specific ideas as to how we achieve our objectives more quickly in this area.

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  5. on the clip

    Diolch am y cwestiwn. Rydyn ni’n cefnogi aelwydydd ledled Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr i wella perfformiad eu cartrefi o ran ynni, gwella safonau byw, mynd i'r afael â thlodi tanwydd a lleihau allyriadau carbon. Dwi wedi dyrannu £17 miliwn o gyllid ychwanegol yn ystod y flwyddyn yma i hybu hyn ledled Cymru, gan gynnwys o leiaf £1.6 miliwn o fuddsoddiad yn eich etholaeth chi.

    Official English translation

    Thank you for the question. We are supporting households across Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr to improve their home's performance in terms of energy, to improve living standards, to tackle fuel poverty and to reduce carbon emissions. I have allocated £17 million of additional in-year funding to boost delivery of this across Wales, including an investment of at least £1.6 million in your constituency.

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  6. on the clip

    Diolch yn fawr iawn am amlinellu mwy am eich cwestiwn yn y fanna. Tra bod rhai o'r cynlluniau sydd yn bodoli'n barod wedi dod â rhai deilliannau positif—rydym ni i gyd yn gwybod am rai enghreifftiau da lle mae cynlluniau ynni effeithiol wedi creu gwahaniaeth mawr ac wedi llwyddo i ddod â biliau i lawr i bobl—mae yna lot mwy i wneud, ac mae yna ormod o dai yn parhau i fod yn aneffeithiol ac felly efo biliau sydd yn llawer iawn rhy uchel. Mewn argyfwng costau byw, mae'n hollbwysig ein bod ni'n rhoi sylw penodol i hynny i gyd. Ar hyn o bryd, efallai nad ydy pobl yn hollol siŵr pa ddulliau o wella effeithlonrwydd yn eu cartrefi nhw sydd orau ar gyfer eu cartrefi nhw. Dŷn nhw ddim yn gwybod lle i fynd i gael cyllid na pha gontractwyr i ddefnyddio yn lleol chwaith. Ond dwi yn benderfynol o gael gwared ar y rhwystrau yma, fel bod pobl yn teimlo eu bod nhw'n hyderus i fedru buddsoddi mewn uwchraddio eu cartrefi i fod yn llawer mwy effeithiol o ran ynni, tra hefyd, wrth gwrs, mae yna gynlluniau ar gyfer cartrefi sydd ar incwm isel. Mae cartrefi Nyth, Nest, wedi profi'n llwyddiannus yn hynny o beth. Ond dŷch chi'n sôn am ehangu, onid ydych, i mewn i gynlluniau ar draws ardaloedd ac ar draws gwahanol denantiaethau, ac mae hwnna'n ganolog i'r gwaith dŷn ni'n ei ddatblygu rŵan o fewn y Llywodraeth. A dwi'n awyddus i'r broses orau oll ar gyfer cymunedau gael ei rhoi ar waith, a dyna pam y byddaf yn gweithio—wel, dwi yn ar hyn o bryd—efo partneriaid i fod yn meddwl ymlaen am y rhaglen sydd angen dod ymlaen. Roeddwn i'n sôn am fuddsoddiad newydd, ac yn rhan o'r buddsoddiad newydd, mae yna £4 miliwn wedi cael ei neilltuo i gefnogi cynlluniau peilot, sydd yn edrych ar fodelau ar sail ardal. Ac mae yna un yng Nghaerdydd ar hyn o bryd yn symud ymlaen. Mae ceisiadau ar agor ar gyfer y cynllun peilot yma i awdurdodau lleol, landlordiaid cymdeithasol a chyrff llywodraethu rhanbarthol. Mae'r pot yna o arian ar agor tan 14 Hydref, a dwi'n annog unrhyw sefydliad cymwys i wneud cais i gymryd rhan yn y peilot yma.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much for outlining more about your question. While some of the existing plans have brought some positive outcomes—we are all aware of some good examples of where energy efficiency plans and programmes have made a very real difference and have brought people's bills down—there is still much more to be done, and there are too many homes that continue to be energy inefficient, and therefore are paying bills that are far too high. In a cost-of-living crisis, it is crucial that we give particular attention to all of those issues. At the moment, perhaps people aren't entirely sure what energy-efficiency improvements are best for their homes. They don't know where to access funding and they don't know which contractors they should use locally either. But I am determined to remove those barriers, so that people do feel confident to invest in upgrading their homes so that they are far more energy efficient, whilst also, of course, there are plans for low-income households. The Nest programme has proved to be very successful in that regard. But you are talking about expanding that into plans across whole areas and across different tenancies, and that is central to the work that we are now developing within Government. And I am eager to get the best possible process for communities and to see that being implemented, and that's why I will be working, and I'm currently working, with partners to think ahead in terms of the programme that we need to develop. I mentioned new investment, and as part of that new investment, £4 million has been allocated to support pilot schemes that are looking at area-based models. And there is one in Cardiff at the moment, and that is progressing. Applications are available for this pilot scheme for local authorities, social landlords and regional governing bodies. That pot of funding is open until 14 October, and I would encourage any qualifying organisation to make an application to be involved in that pilot.

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  7. on the clip

    The priority of this Government is to ensure that people living here in Wales can access safe, affordable homes, and that goes for everybody living here in Wales. The allocations policy, the national allocations policy, is a framework set by the Welsh Government. The local policies then are set by the local authorities. We don't collect information within those regimes about people's nationalities. Houses are allocated according to need.

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  8. on the clip

    Why do we need to collect that data? I'm not quite sure. Because everybody in Wales deserves to have a safe, affordable home, and that includes social housing as well as other forms of housing. So, I really don't see why we need to collect information around what you call 'foreign nationals'. Now, 'foreign nationals' is a very wide-ranging term, and the vast majority of social housing tenants in Wales are UK nationals, as it happens. But, then, foreign nationals are part of our society. They're important people within our society. They're people with children. They're people working in the NHS. They're care home workers. And, of course, they are welcome here and they are contributing to our economy. I think we have very different agendas going on here, and I'm not quite sure that what you're trying to talk about is quite on the same page as I am. Absolutely, it's not on the same page.

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  9. on the clip

    The problem is a fundamental one. We don't have enough social housing in Wales. We don't have enough to meet the demand, to meet the need that there is—absolutely, obviously, there is not enough there available. The queue is way too long for social housing, and creating division amongst people who are in the queue, which is exactly what you are doing, is not the way forward. The way forward is to build more social homes. And that is why this Government has a relentless focus on building and creating 20,000 new social homes before the end of this Senedd term.

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  10. on the clip

    Diolch yn fawr iawn am y cwestiwn. A dwi’n cofio pan ddaeth y cynllun yma i mewn, ac, ar y pryd, roedd o’n cael ei ddisgrifio fel cynllun pum mlynedd a oedd efo pwrpas penodol o fedru dod â mwy o dai i fyny i safon fel eu bod nhw’n gallu cael eu defnyddio i helpu efo’r sefyllfa ddigartrefedd. Mae’r cynllun i ddod i ben yn fuan, ond mae’r eiddo sydd o fewn y cynllun yna’n barod a’r ceisiadau sydd o fewn y pipeline yna yn dal i fodoli. Y gwir amdani ydy bod y cynllun yna wedi dod â phwrpas iddo fo, ac o fewn y cyfyngiadau ariannol y mae’r Llywodraeth yma’n eu hwynebu, mae o’n un o’r pethau dŷn ni’n edrych arno fo o ddifrif rŵan, ynglŷn â dyfodol y cynllun.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much for that question. And I do recall when this plan was introduced, and, at the time, it was described as a five-year programme that had a specific purpose of bringing more houses up to standard so that they could be used to alleviate homelessness.  The scheme is to come to an end soon, but the properties that are within the scheme already and the applications in that pipeline will still exist. The truth is that that scheme had a particular purpose, and within the financial restrictions that this Government is facing, it is one of the things we are looking at now in earnest, in terms of the scheme's future.

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  11. on the clip

    Diolch yn fawr iawn am y cwestiwn yna. Fel mae'n digwydd, dwi'n mynd i fod yn cyhoeddi yfory gyllid ychwanegol ar gyfer nifer o drefi, ac un ddinas, yng Nghymru o dan gyllid Transforming Towns. Felly, mae'r cyllid yna wedi bod yn fodd arbennig o effeithiol o fedru caniatáu i drefi a dinasoedd wella canol eu trefi. Ar hyn o bryd, dŷn ni wedi, fel dŷch chi'n gwybod, sefydlu'r tasglu sydd yn edrych ar bob agwedd o'r hyn sydd angen ei wneud wrth inni ailddychmygu canol ein trefi. Roeddech chi'n gofyn beth fydd cwmpas gwaith y tasglu. Bydd y tasglu yn edrych ar bopeth, yn mynd ar draws ffiniau traddodiadol, efallai, ond yn dod â phopeth at ei gilydd, o ran cynllunio, o ran trethi busnes, o ran canfod cyfalaf ychwanegol—yr holl faterion yna. Mae'r tasglu wedi cyfarfod. Mi wnes i fynd atyn nhw ar ddechrau eu cyfarfod nhw yr wythnos diwethaf. Yr adborth dwi wedi ei gael o'r cyfarfod yna ydy eu bod nhw wedi bod wrthi drwy'r dydd yn adnabod y themâu pwysig yma sydd angen eu rhoi ar waith. Fy neges i ar ddechrau eu cyfarfod nhw oedd hyn: dwi ddim eisiau i chi ddisgrifio'r broblem i fi, dwi ishio ichi ddod â datrysiadau. Dwi ishio ichi ddod ag argymhellion clir ymlaen o beth fedrwn ni ei wneud fel Llywodraeth yng Nghymru. Mae rhai materion—yn ymwneud efo'r economi ac ati—y tu hwnt i'n gallu ymarferol ni yn fan hyn. Felly, roeddwn i'n rhoi'r pwyslais yn glir ar beth fedrwn ni ei wneud yng Nghymru i wella'r ffordd y mae canol ein trefi ni'n datblygu ac i roi bywyd newydd iddyn nhw.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much for that question. As it happens, I will be announcing additional funding tomorrow for a number of towns, and one city, in Wales under the Transforming Towns funding. So, that funding has been a very effective means of allowing towns and cities to improve their town centres. At the moment, as you know, we have established a taskforce, which is looking at all aspects of what needs to be done as we reimagine our town centres. You were asking what the purpose of the taskforce will be. It will look at everything, across traditional boundaries, perhaps, but will draw everything together, in terms of planning, in terms of business rates, in terms of finding additional capital—all of those issues. The taskforce has met. I joined them at the beginning of their meeting last week. The feedback that I've had from that meeting was that they had been working all day identifying these important themes that need to be addressed. My message at the beginning of their meeting was this: I don't want you to describe the problem to me, I want you to find solutions. I want clear recommendations in terms of what we as a Government in Wales can do. There are certain issues—related to the economy and so on—that are beyond our practical powers here. So, I placed a clear emphasis on what we in Wales can do in order to improve the way that our town centres develop and to give them new life.

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  12. on the clip

    Diolch am y cwestiwn. Yn ein rhaglen lywodraethu ni, fe welwch chi fod yna ymrwymiad yn y fan yna i ddiwygio'r system gynllunio, i wneud y system gynllunio yn fwy atebol i gymunedau, a hefyd i weld sut y medrwn ni gyflymu'r broses o ganiatâd cynllunio a thynnu rhai o'r rhwystrau oddi yno. Felly, mae cynllunio yn faes allweddol, a dŷn ni'n cydnabod bod ganddo fo rôl allweddol o ran cyflawni nifer o bolisïau eraill—tai yn enwedig. Ond hefyd, mae cynllunio yn medru ein helpu ni i fynd i'r afael â gwrthdaro rhwng polisïau, lle mae'n codi. Felly, dwi'n grediniol fod angen i ni roi sylw penodol i hyn. Dwi wedi cyhoeddi yr wythnos diwethaf ein bod ni'n ymgynghori ar y fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol. O dan hwnna mae 'Polisi Cynllunio Cymru' yn gorwedd. Mi fyddaf i hefyd yn gwneud galwad am dystiolaeth o gwmpas sut y medrwn ni'n wirioneddol symud ymlaen efo'r hyn rydyn ni'n cytuno efo'n gilydd arno fo, sef yr angen i ddiwygio ymhellach y system gynllunio. Mi fyddwn i wrth fy modd petaech chi yn dod â rhai o'ch syniadau ymlaen, o gwmpas 106, yn sicr, ond am faterion eraill hefyd. Dwi'n annog pawb yn y Siambr yma sydd efo syniadau ar sut i wneud y system yn fwy atebol i ddod â syniadau ymlaen.

    Official English translation

    Thank you for the question. In our programme for government, you will see that there is a clear commitment there to reform the planning system, to make the planning system more accountable to communities, and also to see how we can accelerate the process of providing planning consents and removing some of the barriers from the system. So, planning is a key area, and we recognise that it has a key role in delivering many other policies, particularly in the field of housing. But planning can also assist us in tackling conflict between policies, where those issues arise. Therefore, I am convinced that we need to give particular attention to this. I did announce last week that we would be consulting on the national development framework. 'Planning Policy Wales' sits under that. I will also be making a call for evidence around how we can make meaningful progress with what we all agree on, namely the need to further reform the planning system. I would be delighted if you were to bring some of your own ideas forward, around 106 issues, certainly, but on other issues too. I encourage everyone in this Chamber who has ideas as to how we can make the system more accountable to bring their ideas forward.

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  13. on the clip

    Diolch i chi am y cwestiwn. Dwi am gymryd y cyfle i ddiolch unwaith eto i'n diffoddwyr tân ni, i'r heddlu, Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, cymunedau a'r asiantaethau i gyd a wnaeth weithio mor, mor galed yn ystod y tanau gwyllt dros yr haf. Cefais i gyfle i fynd yn uniongyrchol i sefyllfa anodd iawn, iawn a gweld y diffoddwyr tân wrthi mewn amgylchiadau anodd iawn yn ceisio diffodd y fflamau. Rydych chi'n hollol iawn, mae'r gwaith ataliol sydd yn digwydd drwy'r gwasanaethau tân ac achub yn holl, holl bwysig. Maen nhw'n mynd i mewn i'n hysgolion ni ac mae ganddyn nhw wasanaeth cymunedol. Nid Llywodraeth Cymru sy'n ariannu'r gwasanaeth tân ac achub, wrth gwrs. Jest i'ch atgoffa chi, ar 22 Hydref, bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn cynnal uwchgynhadledd, summit, am y tanau gwyllt. Bydd y Prif Weinidog yn cadeirio hwnnw ac mi fyddaf i a'r Gweinidogion eraill a fuodd ynghlwm wrth yr holl danau gwyllt dros yr haf yn rhan o'r summit yna. Yn sicr, mae yna themâu pwysig i'w trafod yn sgil y tanau a ddigwyddodd. Mae angen cynllunio yn ofalus ar gyfer y ffordd ymlaen, gan gynnwys y ffordd ymlaen ar gyfer y gwasanaethau tân ac achub. Diolch.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much for that question. I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank our firefighters, the police force, NRW, our communities and all of the agencies that worked so very hard during those wildfires over the summer months. I had an opportunity to go directly to a very difficult situation and saw the firefighters working in very difficult circumstances to try to extinguish those flames. You're entirely right that the preventative work that happens through the fire and rescue services is crucially important. They go into our schools and they have a community service. The Welsh Government doesn't fund the fire and rescue service, of course. Just to remind you, on 22 October, the Welsh Government will hold a summit on wildfires. The First Minister will chair that event, and I and other Ministers who were involved with the whole issue of wildfires over the summer will be part of that summit. Certainly, there are important themes to discuss in light of the fires that did happen over the summer. We need to plan carefully for the future, including a way forward for the fire and rescue services. Thank you.

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  14. on the clip

    Dwi wedi ymrwymo i ymgysylltu'n fwy effeithlon â'r gymuned am y broses cynlluniau datblygu lleol. Mi fyddaf i’n dechrau sgwrs cyn hir ar sut i ailddychmygu cynlluniau datblygu lleol fel eu bod nhw'n adlewyrchu dyheadau ein cymunedau'n well. Fe fydd ymgynghoriad ar opsiynau a chynigion ar gyfer newid yn dilyn maes o law.

    Official English translation

    I am committed to engaging more efficiently with the community regarding the LDP process. I will be starting a conversation soon on how LDPs can be reimagined to better reflect the aspirations of our communities. A consultation on options and proposals for change will follow in due course.

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  15. on the clip

    Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi, Marc, ac i Carrie Harper sy'n eistedd drws nesaf i chi. Dwi'n gwybod am y gwaith pwysig wnaethoch chi ei wneud yn ystod yn cyfnod yna, a ddylai neb, byth eto, fod yn wynebu carchar ac yn wynebu'r math yna o sefyllfa am fod yn llais i ddemocratiaeth yn lleol. Felly, dwi'n gobeithio eich bod chi'n cymryd hynny a bod pawb yn deall pwysigrwydd y neges yna. Mae hi'n bwysig, wrth i'r LDP newydd gael ei chreu, bod gwersi o'r profiad blaenorol yn cael eu dysgu, gan adeiladu ar yr hyn wnaeth weithio ac yn edrych yn benodol ynglŷn â beth wnaeth ddim gweithio fel bod y plan newydd yn ennyn mwy o gefnogaeth a mwy o hyder ymhlith y cymunedau, ac yn rhoi sylfaen gref ar gyfer dyfodol Wrecsam. Gan fod gen i bwerau o fewn y broses LDP, fedraf i ddim cymryd rhan uniongyrchol yn y broses o ddatblygu'r cynllun newydd yma, ond dwi'n hapus i roi cefnogaeth ymarferol i'r broses yna, a buaswn i'n hapus iawn i gyfarfod efo chi i glywed sut ydych chi'n meddwl y gall yr ymgysylltu cymunedol yna weithio. Mae'r Design Commission for Wales hefyd yn gallu bod o gymorth, ac mi fyddaf i'n cyfarfod efo nhw yr wythnos nesaf, felly mae'n siŵr bod yna syniadau yn fanna hefyd y gallwn ni eu cymryd i fyny.

    Official English translation

    I thank you, Marc, and Carrie Harper who is sitting alongside you. I know about the important work that you did in that period, and no-one should ever again face jail or that kind of situation for being a voice for local democracy. I hope that that is accepted and that everybody understands the importance of that message. It is important, as the new LDP is put together, that lessons from that previous experience are learned, building on what did work and looking specifically at what didn't work so that the new plan does gain more support and confidence in the communities and provides a firm foundation for the future of Wrexham. Given that I have powers within the LDP process, I can't take a direct role in the process of developing the new plan, but I am content to provide practical support for that process, and I would be very happy to meet with you to hear about how you think the community engagement should work. The Design Commission for Wales can also be of assistance, and I will be meeting them next week, and so there will probably be ideas there that we can explore.

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  16. on the clip

    Well, I'll reiterate what I said earlier, really, that the infrastructure absolutely needs to be at the heart of the planning process and in bringing LDPs together. They are a matter for the local councils, but my message is quite clear and the message in 'Planning Policy Wales' is quite clear that infrastructure around any housing developments, et cetera, have to meet that need as well.

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  17. on the clip

    Diolch yn fawr iawn. Mae hi'n bwysig bod y broses o greu cynllun lleol yn cynnwys pawb, onid ydy, ac anghenion pawb o fewn y gymdeithas yna. O brofiad personol, o fod yn rhan o ddatblygu cynllun datblygu lleol yn fy mhentref i, roedd y broses o ymgysylltu efo'r gymuned gyfan a dangos i'r gymuned gyfan fod yna anghenion tai, er enghraifft, yn y gymuned honno, roedd hynny'n sicrhau bod gennym ni gynllun a oedd yn gadarn ar gyfer y dyfodol. A phan ddaeth cynlluniau tai ymlaen a oedd yn rhai cymesur—ac, wrth gwrs, dyna ydy'r broblem, onid e, dydyn nhw ddim bob tro yn gymesur—ond pan oedd cynlluniau yn dod ymlaen oedd yn gymesur efo maint y pentref ond hefyd efo'r angen lleol, doedd yna ddim cwyno amdano fo. Felly, dwi'n meddwl ei bod hi'n bwysig cynnwys pawb, gan gynnwys y lleisiau hynny sydd ddim yn cael eu clywed. Rydw i'n meddwl bod gennym ni fel cynghorwyr lleol le i arwain a bod yn llais i'r anghenion yna sydd yn aml yn cael eu hanghofio.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much. It is important that the process of creating a local plan does include everyone, isn't it, and the needs of everyone within that community. From my personal experience of being part of the development of a local development plan in my village, the process of engaging with the entire community and showing the entire community that there were housing needs, for example, within that community, that ensured that we did have a plan that was robust for the future, and when housing plans were brought forward that were proportionate—and, of course, that's the problem, isn't it, that they're not always proportionate—but when plans were brought forward that were proportionate in relation to the size of the village but also in relation to local need, there were no complaints about them. So, I do think it's important to include everyone, including those voices that are not heard, and I think we as local councillors have a role in leading and being a voice for those needs that are often forgotten.

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  18. on the clip

    Mae cryfhau hawliau tenantiaid yn flaenoriaeth i'r Llywodraeth yma. Mae rhentwyr yn haeddu cartref diogel, cynnes a fforddiadwy, ac fe ddylen nhw deimlo'n hyderus yn herio amodau gwael. Mae newid cadarnhaol yn gofyn am gyfraith dda, a bydd cam cyntaf ein rhaglen ddeddfwriaethol yn amddiffyn tenantiaid yn well, yn mynd i'r afael â landlordiaid gwael ac yn gwneud rhentu yn fwy diogel.

    Official English translation

    Strengthening tenants' rights is a priority for this Government. Renters deserve a safe, warm, secure and affordable home, and they should feel confident challenging poor conditions. Positive change requires good law, and the first phase of our legislative programme will better protect tenants, tackle poor landlords and make renting more secure.

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  19. on the clip

    Diolch yn fawr iawn am y cwestiynau yna. Mae'r sector rhentu preifat yn chwarae rhan hanfodol yn ein system dai ni, efo tua un rhan o chwech o aelwydydd yn rhentu, ac felly mae hi'n bwysig iawn ein bod ni'n rhoi sylw penodol i bobl sydd yn wynebu costau cynyddol yn y rhent ac felly yn eu costau byw. Mi ydym ni, fel Llywodraeth, yn bwriadu gwneud hyn fesul cam. Fe fyddwch chi'n sylweddoli mai Llywodraeth leiafrifol ydym ni, ac felly efallai fydd yr uchelgais yr ydych chi a fi yn ei rannu ddim yn mynd i fod yn bosib yn llwyr, ond dwi'n benderfynol o wella amodau ar gyfer rhentwyr. Y Bil rhentwyr cyntaf fydd y cam cyntaf mewn rhaglen fydd yn datblygu wrth i ni symud ymlaen. Mi fydd y Bil rhentwyr cyntaf yn ein galluogi ni i gasglu'r data angenrheidiol sydd ei angen ar gyfer gweld beth yn union ydy'r sefyllfa rhentu ar draws Cymru mewn gwahanol ardaloedd. Bydd hwnna wedyn yn rhoi sylfaen i ni adeiladu arni ar gyfer ail a thrydydd Bil. A'r nod yn y pen draw, wrth gwrs, ydy ein bod ni'n rhoi mewn cyfraith yng Nghymru yr hawl i gartref digonol, a bod hwnna'n rhan bwysig o gyfraith a deddfwriaeth yng Nghymru.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much for those questions. The private rental sector does play a crucial role in our housing system, with around one in six households renting, and therefore it is hugely important that we give particular attention to those people who are facing increasing costs in their rent and thus in their costs of living. We, as a Government, intend to do this via a phased approach. You will realise that we are a minority Government, and so perhaps the ambition that you and I share won't be able to be delivered in full, but I am determined to improve the position for renters. The first renters Bill will be the first phase in a programme that will develop as we proceed. The first renters Bill will enable us to gather the necessary data that we need in order to see exactly what the situation in terms of renting in Wales in different areas. And that will provide us with a foundation to build on for a second and third Bill. And the aim ultimately, of course, is that we place in law in Wales the right to an adequate home, and that that is an important part of the Welsh legislative landscape.

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  20. on the clip

    Mae gofynion ansawdd datblygu Cymru yn sicrhau bod cartrefi cymdeithasol newydd yn darparu amgylchedd lle gall aelwydydd ffynnu, ac sy'n addasu i'w hanghenion newidiol. Mae gennym ni gyflenwad cryf o dai sy'n bodloni'r safonau yma, gan ddarparu cartrefi sy'n gynaliadwy, yn fforddiadwy i'w rhedeg, gan helpu i greu cymunedau bywiog ledled Cymru.

    Official English translation

    The Welsh development quality requirements ensure that new social homes provide an environment where households can thrive, and which adapt to their changing needs. We have a strong pipeline of housing that meets these standards, delivering homes that are sustainable and affordable to run, while helping to create vibrant communities across Wales.

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  21. on the clip

    Diolch yn fawr. I have heard other social landlords cite this as something that we need to look at, and that they think that maybe the balance should be redressed a little bit. So, my officials are available to discuss any challenges Trivallis or other social landlords are facing in bringing forward proposals. I've asked my officials to look specifically at the issue raised around EPC A, and so I hope to see that work come forward in the near future. On high-rise developments, we are pragmatic that, as long as all attempts to comply with the standard are taken, we'll accept schemes that achieve below EPC A—for instance, high EPC B with good levels of airtightness.

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  22. on the clip

    Diolch. Mae'r polisi cynllunio yn nodi bod angen i awdurdodau cynllunio lleol gefnogi'r gwaith o ddarparu pob math o seilwaith sydd ei angen i ddiwallu anghenion cymunedau pan fydd datblygiadau tai newydd yn cael eu hystyried.

    Official English translation

    Thank you. Planning policy sets out that local planning authorities should support the provision of all types of infrastructure required to meet the needs of communities when new housing developments are considered.

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  23. on the clip

    Fel rydych chi'n dweud, mi ddylai hynna fod yn digwydd, a dwi yn cyd-fynd efo lot o'r hyn roeddech chi'n ei ddweud ar hyn. Mi ddylai awdurdodau cynllunio, ar y cyd â darparwyr allweddol, gymryd agwedd strategol a hirdymor tuag at ddarparu seilwaith wrth lunio cynlluniau. Gall hynny, wrth gwrs, gynnwys cydweithio rhwng awdurdodau lleol a darparwyr seilwaith allweddol i sicrhau bod hwnnw'n gynaliadwy ac yn addas i ddiben. Felly, mae fy neges i'n glir, ond, wrth gwrs, gwaith yr awdurdodau lleol ydy creu'r cynlluniau datblygu lleol. Dwi yn meddwl y dylai pob un ohonom ni gymryd llawer mwy o sylw pan fo'r cynlluniau datblygu lleol yma yn cael eu creu, ac yn cymryd rhan yn y broses fel Aelodau o'r Senedd, fel cynghorwyr, fel cynghorwyr cymuned, fel ein bod ni, ein llais ni, ynglŷn â seilwaith ac ynglŷn â materion eraill, yn cael ei glywed.

    Official English translation

    As you say, that should be happening, and I agree with a lot of what you said on this subject. Planning authorities, along with key providers, should take a strategic and long-term approach towards providing infrastructure in drawing up plans. That can, of course, include collaboration between local authorities and key infrastructure providers to ensure that that is sustainable and fit for purpose. So, my message is clear, but, of course, it is for the local authorities to create the LDPs. I do think that all of us should take a lot more notice when those LDPs are created and should take part in the process as Members of the Senedd, as councillors and as community councillors, so that our voice, on infrastructure and other issues, is heard.

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  24. on the clip

    Diolch. Mae Cyngor Abertawe wedi cael dros £38 miliwn o'r grant tai cymdeithasol a £9.5 miliwn drwy raglen gyfalaf llety trosiannol eleni yn unig. Efo'i gilydd, bydd hynna yn cyfrannu at ddarparu 541 o gartrefi ychwanegol ar draws y tymor seneddol hwn.

    Official English translation

    Thank you. Swansea Council has been allocated over £38 million in social housing grant funding and £9.5 million through the transitional accommodation capital programme this year alone. Together, this will contribute to the delivery of 541 additional homes across this Senedd term.

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  25. on the clip

    Dwi jest yn mynd i ddweud unwaith eto fod tai cymdeithasol yn cael eu dyrannu yn ôl angen, ddim yn ôl cenedligrwydd. Pan ydych chi'n defnyddio y term 'foreign nationals', dwi ddim yn siŵr yn union beth rydych chi'n cyfeirio ato fo yn fanna. Mae 'foreign nationals' yn cynnwys pobl, teuluoedd, plant, sydd yn gweithio yn ein NHS ni, sydd yn gweithio yn ein cartrefi gofal ni, sydd yn dreifio'n bysys ni, sydd yn gwneud gwaith arbennig, gwaith pwysig sydd angen ei gyflawni yma yng Nghymru. Mae eu hanghenion nhw ar gyfer tai cymdeithasol yn cael eu hystyried yn union yr un fath ag anghenion pawb arall. Mae pawb sydd yn byw yng Nghymru yn haeddu cael cartref digonol, waeth beth ydy eu cenedligrwydd nhw, waeth beth fo'u cefndir nhw neu waeth beth fo'u rhywedd nhw. Mae pawb sydd yn byw yng Nghymru yn haeddu cael tŷ cymdeithasol.

    Official English translation

    I will just repeat once again that social housing is allocated according to need, not according to nationality. When you use the term 'foreign nationals', I'm not exactly sure what you're referring to there. 'Foreign nationals' include people, families, children, who work in our NHS, who work in our care homes, who drive our buses, who do excellent and important work that needs to be done here in Wales. Their needs for social housing are considered in the same way as everyone else's needs. Everyone who lives in Wales deserves to have an adequate home, whatever their nationality, whatever their background or their sex. Everyone living in Wales deserves a home.

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  26. on the clip

    Diolch yn fawr. Mae yna dipyn o ddiddordeb yn hyn heddiw. Rhaid i’n system gynllunio ni weithredu mewn modd amserol, ond rhaid iddi hefyd, wrth gwrs, wneud penderfyniadau cadarn i gyflawni ein huchelgeisiau ni ar gyfer Cymru, yn arbennig o ran yr economi a chymunedau. Dyna pam mae ein rhaglen lywodraethu ni yn ein hymrwymo ni i ddiwygio’r system gynllunio.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much. There is significant interest in this today. Our planning system must operate in a timely fashion, but it must also, of course, make robust decisions to deliver our ambitions for Wales, especially in terms of the economy and communities. That is why our programme for government has committed us to reform the planning system.

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  27. on the clip

    I don't think it's quite as simple as you point out. There are delays in the system, but there are all kinds of reasons why these delays come about. I absolutely want to hear your views in the call for evidence that we are holding, some of which you've talked about now, but there are lots of other matters that can be taken into account to try and make the system more streamlined. But I do give a caution: the capacity within the planning authorities has dwindled. It's become smaller and smaller because of austerity, because of cuts that have happened where councils have had to try and protect education, social services. Quite often, it's the planning and the planners that are affected. So, please can we bear that in mind as well when we're talking about streamlining of the planning process?

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  28. on the clip

    8. Reform UK Debate: Access to HMOs and social housing for foreign nationals

    Welsh Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning

    Diolch yn fawr, Lywydd. Dwi'n gwrthod y cynnig yma yn gryf. Diolch i Lynne Neagle am gydgyflwyno'r gwelliant. Dwi'n falch o gydweithio ar fater mor bwysig. Mae nod y Llywodraeth yma yn glir. Dylai pawb yng Nghymru gael mynediad at gartref diogel, cynnes a fforddiadwy. Fe all tai amlfeddianaeth, HMOs, o ansawdd da chwarae rhan yn hynny, cyn belled â'u bod yn cael eu rheoleiddio a'u rheoli'n lleol. Rhaid i benderfyniadau am dai cymdeithasol ddilyn ein fframwaith cyfreithiol, a rhaid iddyn nhw fod yn deg ac yn adlewyrchu'r angen am dai—hynny ydy, anghenion pawb sy'n gymwys yn gyfreithiol i fyw yma yng Nghymru. Dwi yn deall y rhwystredigaeth sy'n cael ei hachosi drwy aros yn hir am dai a gan gartrefi sy'n cael eu rheoli'n wael. Yr ateb ydy cynyddu'r cyflenwad o dai cyhoeddus, atal digartrefedd, cynnal safonau a chefnogi awdurdodau lleol, nid rhannu cymunedau na gosod grwpiau o bobl yn erbyn ei gilydd. Mae'r ciw am gartrefi cymdeithasol yn rhy hir, ond peidiwch â chreu rhaniadau diangen. Peidiwch â gosod pobl mewn angen yn erbyn ei gilydd. Yn hytrach, gweithiwn efo'n gilydd i greu mwy o gartrefi cyhoeddus i Gymru.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much, Llywydd. I strongly reject this motion. Thank you to Lynne Neagle for co-tabling the amendment. I was pleased to work with her on such an important issue. The Government's aim is clear. Everyone in Wales should have access to a safe, warm and affordable home. HMOs of good quality can play a part in that, as long as they are regulated and managed locally. Decisions on social housing must follow our legal framework, and they must be fair and reflect housing need—that is, the needs of everyone who legally qualifies to live here in Wales. I do understand the frustration that can be caused by long waits for housing and by poorly managed homes. The solution is to increase the supply of social housing, prevent homelessness, uphold standards and support local authorities, not to divide communities or to pit groups of people against each other. The queue for social housing is too long, but don't create unnecessary division. Don't pit people in need against each other. Rather, we should work together to create more social homes in Wales.

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  29. on the clip

    Reform says, 'End access to social housing for foreign nationals.' That's your policy. Does that mean that families who have a legal right to be here—families and their children—would be asked to leave their homes, turfed out onto the streets? Well, yes, I got the answer from Joe Martin. He said exactly that. They'd have three months. They would have three months to leave. That is what you said. That is an inhumane proposition, and it's a very, very sad day for this Senedd to hear those comments.

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  30. on the clip

    Mae'r cynnig gan Reform yn galw am gyfyngu ar fynediad at dai cymdeithasol ar sail cenedligrwydd. Allwn ni ddim, wrth gwrs, gefnogi'r cynnig yma. Mae tai cymdeithasol yn cael eu dyrannu ar sail yr angen am dai ymhlith y rhai sy'n gymwys yn gyfreithiol. Dydyn nhw ddim yn cael eu dyrannu ar sail cenedligrwydd, ethnigrwydd na man geni. Mae deddfwriaeth eisoes yn rheoli'r hawl i gael tai cymdeithasol. Mae statws mewnfudo a man preswylio cyfreithlon eisoes yn ystyriaethau allweddol sy'n cael eu defnyddio i benderfynu ar gymhwystra rhywun. Dim ond pobl sydd â'r hawl i aros sydd yn gymwys i gael cymorth tai a thai cymdeithasol. Dydy tai cymdeithasol ddim yn cael eu dyrannu i bobl sy'n ceisio lloches. Rydyn ni wedi clywed hynna dro ar ôl tro. Mae Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig yn darparu llety dros dro tra bo cais yn cael ei ystyried. Os bydd rhywun yn cael statws ffoadur—a dwi'n atgoffa'r Aelodau fod hynny'n golygu bod Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig wedi canfod bod yr unigolyn wedi ffoi rhag rhyfel, ofn neu erledigaeth—yna gallan nhw wneud cais am gymorth tai o dan yr un rheolau ag aelwydydd eraill. Mae'r cynnig yma, felly, yn camliwio'r system bresennol. Mae'r her sy'n ein hwynebu ni yn ymwneud â chyflenwad tai, a'r ateb ydy adeiladu mwy o gartrefi a gwneud y defnydd gorau o'r cartrefi sydd ar gael. Lle mae polisi Reform ar gynyddu'r cyflenwad o dai cymdeithasol? Does gennych chi ddim polisi ynglŷn â hynny. Dydy pobl sydd yn chwilio am noddfa a phobl o wledydd eraill sy'n byw yn gyfreithlon yng Nghymru ddim yn cael unrhyw ffafriaeth o ran tai, a dydyn nhw ddim yn gyfrifol am y prinder tai fforddiadwy rydyn ni'n ei brofi ar hyn o bryd. Ac mae achosion y pwysau ar y cyflenwad tai yng Nghymru'n gymhleth, wedi bodoli ers amser maith, a dydy o ddim yn gwneud synnwyr—dydy'r ffeithiau ddim yn cyd-fynd â'r awgrym bod modd datrys yr heriau drwy eithrio grwpiau penodol. Dydy gwneud i grwpiau gwahanol gystadlu â'i gilydd ddim yn creu cartrefi nac yn lleihau pwysau ar wasanaethau. Mi wnaf i droi wrth gloi at dai amlfeddiannaeth. Math o gartrefi sy'n cael eu rhannu ydy'r rhain, nid categori mewnfudo. Maen nhw'n darparu cartref i fyfyrwyr, gweithwyr proffesiynol ifanc a phobl eraill sydd angen tai, a dim ond lleiafrif bach sy'n cael eu defnyddio i letya ceiswyr lloches. Mae gan Gymru system reoleiddio glir. Mae angen trwydded ar gartrefi sy'n cael eu rhannu sydd o faint mwy ac yn wynebu risg uwch, ac fe all awdurdodau lleol ehangu'r gofynion trwyddedu pan fydd y dystiolaeth leol yn cyfiawnhau hynny. Fe allan nhw osod amodau, archwilio eiddo, gofyn am welliannau, gosod cosbau, atal cartrefi anniogel rhag cael eu defnyddio, ac erlyn landlordiaid. Fe allan nhw hefyd ddefnyddio pwerau cynllunio pan fydd hynny'n briodol. Dydy llety sy'n cael ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer pobl sy'n ceisio lloches ddim wedi'i eithrio rhag gofynion cynllunio neu drwyddedu, ond yr awdurdodau lleol sydd yn y sefyllfa orau i ddefnyddio'r pwerau hyn am eu bod nhw'n deall y sefyllfa dai lleol a'r pwysau ar gymunedau. Dŷn ni yn parhau i weithio efo cynghorau a Chymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru i asesu a ydy'r fframwaith yn effeithiol ac a oes angen cymorth pellach, a dwi wedi gwneud yn glir y dylai trwyddedu amddiffyn preswylwyr a sicrhau camau rheoli priodol. Mae'n safbwynt ni'n hollol glir: mae tai cymdeithasol yn cael eu dyrannu yn ôl yr angen ac yn unol â phwy sy'n gymwys yn ôl y gyfraith. Mae awdurdodau lleol yn rheoli prosesau trwyddedu a chynllunio mewn perthynas â thai amlfeddiannaeth o fewn y fframwaith cenedlaethol. Y Swyddfa Gartref sy'n penderfynu ble mae llety i geiswyr lloches yn cael ei ddarparu. Mae'r cynnig gwreiddiol yn awgrymu dull o ymdrin â phroblem dai gymhleth sydd yn llawer iawn rhy syml ac yn creu rhwygiadau. Mae gwelliant y Llywodraeth, efo cefnogaeth Lynne Neagle a'r grŵp Llafur, yn adlewyrchu'r gyfraith, yn parchu cyfrifoldebau pob haen o lywodraeth ac yn canolbwyntio ar gamau gweithredu a all wneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol. Felly, dwi'n gofyn i'r Aelodau wrthod y cynnig a chefnogi gwelliant y Llywodraeth.

    Official English translation

    The Reform motion calls for a restriction on access to social housing on the grounds of nationality. We cannot, of course, support that proposal. Social housing is allocated on the basis of housing need among those who are legally eligible. It's not allocated on the basis of nationality, ethnicity, or place of birth. Legislation already controls the right to social housing. Immigration status and legal residence are already key considerations by which to determine someone's eligibility. It's only people who have the right to remain who are eligible for housing support and social housing. Social housing is not allocated to people seeking asylum. We've heard that time and again. The UK Government provides temporary accommodation while a claim is considered. If someone is granted refugee status—and I remind Members that this means that the UK Government has found that the individual has fled from war, fear or persecution—then they may seek housing assistance under the same rules as other households. This motion, therefore, misrepresents the current system. The challenge we face is one of housing supply, and the solution is to build more homes and make the best possible use of the homes that we have. Where is the Reform policy on increasing the supply of social homes? You have no policy on that. People seeking sanctuary and people from other countries who live lawfully in Wales do not get any preferential treatment for housing, and they are not responsible for the shortage of affordable housing that we are currently experiencing. And the causes of the pressure on housing stock in Wales are complex and have existed for a long time, and it makes no sense—the facts don't actually back up that we can actually solve the problem by exempting a particular group. Making different groups compete with each other doesn't create housing or reduce pressure on services. I will turn in conclusion to HMOs. These are shared homes, not an immigration category. They provide homes for students, young professionals and others who need housing, and only a small minority are used to house asylum seekers. Wales has a clear regulation system. You need a licence for HMOs, which are larger and face greater risks, and local authorities can expand the licensing requirement when local factors justify that. They can place conditions, search properties, they can penalise and prevent unsafe accommodation from being used, and they can prosecute landlords. They can also use planning powers when appropriate. Accommodation used for asylum seekers is not exempted from planning or licensing requirements, but it's local authorities who are best placed to use those powers because they understand the local housing situation and the pressure on communities. We continue to work with councils and the Welsh Local Government Association to assess whether the framework is effective and whether further support is required, and I have made it clear that licensing should protect residents and ensure appropriate regulation. Our stance is quite clear: social housing is allocated according to need, in accordance with who qualifies through law. Local authorities manage licensing and planning processes in relation to HMOs within the national framework. The Home Office decides where asylum accommodation is provided. The original motion suggests a simplistic and divisive approach to a complex housing problem. The Government's amendment, with the support of Lynne Neagle and the Labour group, reflects the law, respects the responsibility of each level of government and focuses on actions that can make a real difference. I therefore ask Members to reject the motion and support the Government's amendment.

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  1. on the clip

    Diolch yn fawr iawn, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Heddiw, mae'n bleser gen i roi gwybod i'r Aelodau fy mod wedi lansio sgwrs genedlaethol am ddyfodol Cymru drwy greu fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol newydd. Mae'r fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol wrth wraidd y system gynllunio yng Nghymru, yn darparu'r cyfeiriad strategol ar gyfer cynlluniau datblygu rhanbarthol a lleol, a'r fframwaith ar gyfer penderfyniadau cynllunio a datblygu ledled Cymru. Wrth i Gymru barhau i ymateb i heriau sylweddol, gan gynnwys newid hinsawdd, adferiad natur, yr angen am dai, twf economaidd a chyflenwi seilwaith, mae'n hanfodol bod ein fframwaith cynllunio cenedlaethol ni yn addas i'r diben ac yn gallu cefnogi uchelgais ein cenedl ar gyfer y dyfodol. O fewn 100 niwrnod cyntaf y Llywodraeth newydd yma, fe lansiwyd ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus i nodi dechrau'r broses ar gyfer diwygio’r fframwaith a dechrau sgwrs genedlaethol am ddyfodol hirdymor Cymru. Yn hytrach nag ymgynghori ar faterion cynllunio yn unig, fe fydd y gwaith ymgysylltu drwy gydol y broses yn gwahodd pobl i ystyried dyfodol hirdymor Cymru a rôl lleoedd, cymunedau, seilwaith, yr amgylchedd, yr iaith Gymraeg a diwylliant wrth lunio dyfodol ein gwlad hyd at 2050. Rydym ni’n gwahodd pobl Cymru i helpu i lunio cyfeiriad, blaenoriaethau a chwmpas y fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol newydd. Mae hyn yn adlewyrchu ein hymrwymiad i weithio efo awdurdodau lleol, partneriaid rhanbarthol a rhanddeiliaid ledled Cymru i ddatblygu fframwaith sy'n diwallu anghenion Cymru, yn grymuso llywodraeth leol, ac yn lleihau costau, biwrocratiaeth a dyblygu. Mae hefyd yn cefnogi ein huchelgais i symud tuag at ddull cynllunio sy'n canolbwyntio ar y gymuned, gan roi llais go iawn i gymunedau ar sut rydym ni’n diogelu'r cartrefi, y gweithleoedd a'r seilwaith sydd eu hangen arnynt. Fe fydd y fframwaith yn chwarae rôl gyffredinol allweddol yn y ffordd y mae'r penderfyniadau hynny'n cael eu gwneud yn lleol, yn rhanbarthol ac yn genedlaethol. Yn bwysig, fe fydd y sgwrs genedlaethol hefyd yn helpu i gydlynu ar draws ystod o gynlluniau a strategaethau sy'n cael eu symud ymlaen yn ystod tymor y Llywodraeth hon, fel yr amlinellir yn ein rhaglen lywodraethu a gyhoeddwyd yr wythnos diwethaf. Bydd y dull cydweithredol a chydgysylltiedig yma o alinio blaenoriaethau cenedlaethol yn sicrhau bod amcanion y Llywodraeth yn cael eu cyflawni'n fwy effeithiol. Mae'r penderfyniadau a wneir drwy'r system gynllunio yn cyffwrdd â phob agwedd ar fywyd bob dydd. Maen nhw’n dylanwadu ar ble mae cartrefi yn cael eu hadeiladu, sut mae pobl yn teithio, ble mae busnesau yn buddsoddi, sut mae ynni yn cael ei gynhyrchu a'i ddosbarthu, a sut rydym ni’n diogelu ac yn gwella ein hamgylchedd naturiol. Dyna pam mae hi mor bwysig bod y fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol newydd yn cael ei siapio gan ystod eang o leisiau, profiadau a thystiolaeth. Dwi am i hon fod yn sgwrs genedlaethol agored, gynhwysol ac ystyrlon. Mae'r fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol yn perthyn i bawb o ystyried ei bwysigrwydd wrth ddarparu fframwaith ar gyfer datblygiadau newydd ledled Cymru gyfan. Rydyn ni’n croesawu ac yn annog sylwadau gan bawb, ac mae gan bob grŵp, sefydliad, busnes ac unigolyn gyfraniad i'w wneud wrth ddatblygu'r cynllun gofodol cenedlaethol. Ochr yn ochr â'r cyfle i gyflwyno sylwadau ysgrifenedig a chyflwyno tystiolaeth i gefnogi'r gwaith diwygio, mae'r ymgynghoriad presennol yn cynnwys cyfres o ddigwyddiadau i'r cyhoedd a rhanddeiliaid ledled Cymru sy'n cael eu cynnal yng Nghaerdydd yfory, 30 Medi, yn Aberystwyth ar 6 Hydref ac yn Llandudno ar 23 Hydref. Maen nhw’n rhoi cyfle i bawb, gan gynnwys awdurdodau lleol, busnesau, datblygwyr, darparwyr seilwaith, sefydliadau amgylcheddol, cyrff tai, grwpiau cymunedol, pobl ifanc ac aelodau o'r cyhoedd i gael lleisio eu barn. Bydd tystiolaeth hefyd yn chwarae rôl hanfodol drwy gydol y broses yma. Drwy'r ymgynghoriad yma, dwi’n gwahodd rhanddeiliaid i gyfrannu gwybodaeth, ymchwil, dadansoddiad a mewnwelediad ar y cyfleoedd a'r heriau y mae Cymru yn debygol o’u hwynebu dros y degawdau nesaf. Bydd y dystiolaeth hon yn helpu i lywio'r gwaith o baratoi'r fframwaith newydd, ei weledigaeth gyffredinol, yr opsiynau a fydd yn cael eu hystyried a'r polisïau fydd yn cael eu cynnwys ynddo. Yn ei hanfod, mae cynllunio yn ymwneud â chreu lleoedd gwell i bobl a'r amgylchedd. Felly, rhaid i'r fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol newydd gefnogi twf economaidd cynaliadwy, cymunedau gwydn, stiwardiaeth amgylcheddol a lles hirdymor cenedlaethau'r presennol a'r dyfodol. Felly, dwi'n annog pawb sydd â diddordeb yn nyfodol Cymru i fod yn rhan o'r ymgynghoriad yma a chyfrannu at y sgwrs genedlaethol bwysig yma. Mae modd cyflwyno ymatebion ar-lein, drwy e-bost neu drwy'r post, hyd at 20 Tachwedd eleni, ond mi fydd yna fwy o gyfleon i ymgysylltu maes o law hefyd. Diolch.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd. Today, I'm pleased to inform Members that I've launched a national conversation about the future of Wales through the creation of a new national development framework. The national development framework sits at the heart of the planning system in Wales, providing the strategic direction for regional and local development plans, and the framework for planning and development decisions across Wales. As Wales continues to respond to significant challenges, including climate change, nature recovery, housing need, economic growth and infrastructure delivery, it's essential that our national planning framework is fit for purpose and capable of supporting our nation's ambitions for the future. Within the first 100 days of this new Government, a public consultation was launched marking the start of the process for revising the framework and beginning a national conversation about the long-term future of Wales. Rather than consulting solely on planning matters, engagement work throughout the process will invite people to consider the long-term future of Wales and the role that places, communities, infrastructure, the environment, the Welsh language and culture should play in shaping our nation's future to 2050. We are inviting the people of Wales to help shape the direction, priorities and scope of the new national development framework. This reflects our commitment to work with local authorities, regional partners and stakeholders across Wales to develop a framework that meets Wales's needs, empowers local government, and reduces costs, bureaucracy and duplication. It also supports our ambition to move towards a community-centred approach to planning, giving communities a real say on how we secure the homes, the workplaces and infrastructure they need. The framework will play a key, overarching role in how those decisions are made locally, regionally and nationally. Importantly, the national conversation will also help co-ordination across a range of plans and strategies that are being taken forward during this Government term, as outlined in our programme for government that was published last week. This collaborative and co-ordinated approach to align national priorities will ensure more effective delivery of Government objectives. The decisions made through the planning system touch every aspect of daily life. They influence where homes are built, how people travel, where businesses invest, how energy is generated and distributed, and how we protect and enhance our natural environment. That is why it's so important that the new national development framework is shaped by a broad range of voices, experiences and evidence. I want this to be an open, inclusive and meaningful national conversation. The national development framework belongs to everybody, considering its importance in providing a framework for new development across Wales. We welcome and encourage representations from everyone, and every group, institution, business and individual has a contribution to make in developing the national spatial plan. Alongside the opportunity to submit written representations and submit evidence to support the revision work, the current consultation includes a series of public and stakeholder events across Wales. They'll be taking place in Cardiff tomorrow, on 30 September, Aberystwyth on 6 October and Llandudno on 23 October. They provide the opportunity for all, including local authorities, businesses, developers, infrastructure providers, environmental organisations, housing bodies, community groups, young people and members of the public to have their say and give their views. Evidence will also play a critical role throughout this process. Through this consultation, I’m inviting stakeholders to contribute information, research, analysis and insight on the opportunities and challenges that Wales is likely to face over the coming decades. This evidence will help inform the preparation of the revised framework, its overall vision, the options that will be considered and the policies contained within it. At its core, planning is about creating better places for people and the environment. Therefore, the revised national development framework must support sustainable economic growth, resilient communities, environmental stewardship and the long-term well-being of current and future generations. I therefore encourage everyone with an interest in the future of Wales to engage with this consultation and contribute to this important national conversation. Responses can be submitted online, by e-mail or by post until 20 November this year, but there will be more opportunities to engage shortly as well. Thank you.

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  2. on the clip

    Diolch yn fawr iawn am y sylwadau yna, a diolch yn arbennig am y syniadau a wnaethoch chi gyflwyno ar ddiwedd eich anerchiad—y syniadau ynglŷn â phethau ymarferol y gellid eu gwneud. Dyna'n union ydy pwrpas yr ymgynghoriad yma: i wahodd pobl fel chi, fel pawb ohonom ni yn y Siambr yma, i feddwl o ddifrif am sut allwn ni wella'r gyfundrefn gynllunio fel ei bod hi'n gallu ymateb yn gynt i geisiadau cynllunio pan fydd yna broblemau yn codi efo'r materion roeddech chi'n sôn amdanyn nhw. Felly, mae ambell syniad yn fanna yn werth ymchwilio ymhellach iddo fo, a dwi'n gwahodd ambell un ohonoch chi sydd efo diddordeb yn y maes yma—nifer ohonom ni wedi bod yn gynghorwyr sir ac yn ymwybodol iawn, iawn fod y system gynllunio weithiau'n gallu dal datblygiadau tai yn ôl. Dyna'n union pam rydyn ni'n cynnal yr ymgynghoriad yma. Mae'n ymgynghoriad ynglŷn â sut mae'r broses gynllunio angen cael ei gwneud yn fwy effeithiol, ond mae o hefyd yn ymgynghoriad ynglŷn â'n gweledigaeth tymor hir ni ar gyfer Cymru. Y rheswm ein bod ni'n gwneud hyn ydy ein bod ni'n teimlo, dros fodolaeth y Senedd yma, fod y cyfeiriad clir ar gyfer dyfodol ein gwlad ni ddim wedi bod yn ddigon amlwg. Felly, mae yna gyfle, efo Llywodraeth newydd, i ddefnyddio'r broses sydd yna mewn statud yn barod, sef diwygio'r fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol, i gael y sgwrs yna efo pobl Cymru ynglŷn â dyfodol hirdymor ein gwlad ni. Mae Plaid Cymru yn coelio mewn adeiladu Cymru, mewn adeiladu'r genedl, a chreu Cymru sy'n gweithio i bobl Cymru, gan gysylltu Cymru'n well o ran trafnidiaeth, er enghraifft. Dydy hynny ddim yn digwydd ar hyn o bryd, fel y mae rhywun yn gwybod wrth geisio teithio o gwmpas ein gwlad ni. Dydyn ni ddim yn cael ein cysylltu, felly mae trafnidiaeth yn dod i mewn o dan yr ymgynghoriad yma. Mae cyfle i drafod polisi ynni. Rydyn ni'n gwybod bod yna heriau o'n blaenau ni o ran symud ymlaen efo mwy o ddatblygiadau ynni adnewyddadwy. Felly, o dan y fframwaith yma, mae yna nifer o gynlluniau eraill yn mynd i fod yn gorwedd. A dwi'n deall beth rydych chi'n ei ddweud ynglŷn â strategaethau a chynlluniau, ac yn y blaen, a dwi'n rhannu rhywfaint o rwystredigaeth efo hynny. Beth rydyn ni ei eisiau ydy gweithredu, gweld pethau yn digwydd. Ond mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw ddigwydd mewn ffordd sydd wedi'i chydlynu ac mewn ffordd sydd wedi cael ei thrafod o ran y cyfeiriad hirdymor rydyn ni am weld ein gwlad ni'n mynd iddo fo. A dwi ddim yn meddwl bod 'Future Wales', y cynllun sydd yna rŵan, yn rhoi'r darlun clir yna o ba fath o ddyfodol sydd ei angen ar Gymru. Ac yn sicr, dydy 'Future Wales', y cynllun sydd yna ar hyn o bryd, ddim wedi gallu adnabod rhai o'r heriau mawr, rhai ohonyn nhw sy'n datblygu wrth i ni siarad, wrth gwrs, achos mae'r cynllun yn hen, ond mae yna heriau newydd yn dod i'n hwynebu ni drwy'r amser ac mae'n rhaid i ni, felly, ddiwygio er mwyn ein bod ni'n cymryd i ystyriaeth y materion eraill sydd yn rhan o'n gweledigaeth ni ar gyfer datblygu'n gwlad. Diolch.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much for those comments, and thank you in particular for the ideas that you put forward at the end of your contribution—those ideas on practical steps that could be taken. That's the exact purpose of this consultation: to invite people like you, like all of us in this Chamber, to give serious consideration to how we can improve the planning system so that it can respond more quickly to planning applications when problems arise with the issues that you mentioned in your contribution. So, there are a few ideas there that are worth looking into, and I would encourage some of you who are interested in this area—many of us have been county councillors and are highly aware that the planning system can sometimes hold back housing development. That is exactly why we are carrying out this consultation. It is a consultation on how the planning process needs to be made more effective and efficient, but it is also a consultation on our long-term vision for Wales. The reason for doing this is that we feel that, during the existence of this Senedd, a clear direction in terms of the future of our nation hasn't been adequately apparent. So, there is an opportunity, with a new Government, to use the process that exists in statute already, namely the reform of the national planning framework, to have that conversation with the people of Wales on the long-term future of our nation. Plaid Cymru firmly believes in building Wales, in building the nation, and creating a Wales that works for the people of Wales, connecting Wales more effectively in terms of transport, for example. That isn't happening at the moment, as anyone who travels around our country will know. We are not well connected, so transport comes into this consultation. There is an opportunity to discuss energy policy too. We know that we are facing challenges in moving forward with more renewable energy developments. So, under this framework, there are a number of different plans that will sit underneath it. And I understand the comments that you make about plans and strategies, and so on, and I share some of that frustration. What we want is action, to see things happening. But they have to happen in a co-ordinated way and in a way that has been properly discussed in terms of the long-term direction of travel that we want to see for our nation. I don't think that 'Future Wales', the current plan, provides that clear picture as to what kind of future Wales needs. And certainly, 'Future Wales', the existing plan, hasn't been able to identify some of the major challenges, some of which are developing as we speak, of course, because the plan is old, and there are new challenges coming to face us all the time and we must, therefore, reform in order to take into account all those other issues that are part of our vision for developing our nation. Thank you.

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  3. on the clip

    Diolch yn fawr, a diolch yn fawr iawn, Vikki, am groesawu'r ffaith ein bod ni'n ymgynghori ar y fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol. Yn sicr, dydy ymgynghori ar hwn ddim yn golygu nad ydyn ni'n gwneud pethau eraill yn y cyfamser. Gyda 'Polisi Cynllunio Cymru', er enghraifft, mae yna ffordd i ni fod yn dod â diwygiadau i mewn i'r polisi hwnnw, fel yr oeddwn i'n sôn yn flaenorol, er mwyn prysuro rhai o'n huchelgeisiau ni. Ond dwi yn grediniol bod yn rhaid i ni gael gweledigaeth hirdymor ar gyfer ein gwlad, a dyna, mewn ffordd, ydy'r cyfle rŵan, a chyfle i wrando ar beth mae pobl Cymru yn eu gweld fel y prif heriau. Mi fydd y fframwaith yma yn fframwaith gofodol, mae'n debyg—dyna'r ffordd i egluro'r peth—er mwyn bod rhywun yn gallu gweld ar fap sut byddai'r datblygiadau mewn gwahanol feysydd yn ffitio at ei gilydd. O ran yr ymgysylltu, mae'r broses o ymgysylltu ar y fframwaith yma wedi cael ei gosod i lawr mewn deddfwriaeth yn mynd yn ôl i 2015, cyn fy mod i yn y Senedd yma, hyd yn oed. Yn ystod y cyfnod yna, pasiwyd Deddf Cynllunio (Cymru) 2015, ac yn hwnna mae yna ofyniad i'r Llywodraeth fod yn creu strategaeth ddatblygu genedlaethol. Wedyn, mae'r Ddeddf hefyd yn gosod allan y math o broses sydd angen digwydd er mwyn diwygio neu greu fframwaith newydd. Cyn 2015, doedd yna ddim fframwaith cenedlaethol statudol. Bydd rhai ohonoch chi'n cofio'r Wales spatial plan, ond doedd yna ddim statud y tu ôl iddo fo. Dwi'n meddwl roedd hi'n rhywbeth i'w groesawu pan ddaeth y ddeddfwriaeth newydd yma i mewn. Mae'r broses o greu a diwygio'r fframwaith yn un hirwyntog, buaswn i'n cytuno efo hynny, a dwi'n siŵr efallai bod angen diwygio hynny. Cychwyn y broses ydyn ni heddiw a gofyn am dystiolaeth o bob cyfeiriad. Ar ôl hynny, mi fydd yna gyfleoedd pellach. Os edrychwch chi ar yr ymgynghoriad presennol, mae o'n gofyn cwestiynau ynglŷn ag ydyn ni'n gofyn y cwestiynau cywir ac yn rhoi cyfle i bawb i feddwl, 'Dydyn ni ddim yn gofyn am hyn, dydyn ni ddim yn mynd ar ôl y mater yma, efallai y dylem ni fod yn gwneud hynny.' Wedyn, mae yna broses o ail ymgynghoriad. Mae hwn yn mynd i gymryd dwy neu dair  blynedd i ni weithredu arno fo. Dyna ydy'r Ddeddf. Ydw i'n cytuno efo hynna i gyd? Nac ydw, mae'n debyg. Mi ddylem ni allu gwneud rhywbeth llawer iawn cynt, ond dyna'r sefyllfa rydyn ni ynddi hi ar hyn o bryd. Felly, yn ogystal â'r tri gweithdy, bydd yna lawer iawn mwy o gyfleoedd i bawb yng Nghymru gymryd rhan a bod yn rhan o'r sgwrs yma. Mi fyddwch chi'n clywed mwy gennyf i ar y pwnc yma dros y ddwy neu dair blynedd nesaf yma.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much, and thank you, Vikki, for welcoming the fact that we are consulting on the national development framework. Certainly, consulting on this doesn't mean that we aren't doing other things in the meantime. With 'Planning Policy Wales', for example, there is a way for us to bring reforms into that policy, as I mentioned previously, in order to move ahead with some of our ambitions swiftly. But I do believe that we need a long-term vision for our nation, and that, in a way, is the opportunity that we have now, and an opportunity to listen to what the people of Wales see as the main challenges. This framework will be a spatial framework, it seems—that's the way of explaining it—so that people can see on a map how the developments in different areas would fit together. In terms of engagement, the process of engaging on this framework is set out in legislation going back to 2015, before I was in this Senedd, even. During that period, the Planning (Wales) Act 2015 was passed, and there's a requirement in that for the Government to create a national development framework. The Act also sets out the kind of process required in order to reform or create a new framework. Before 2015, there wasn't a statutory national framework. Some of you will remember the Wales spatial plan, but that didn't have any statutory basis. I think it was something to be welcomed when this legislation was introduced. The process of creating and revising the framework is a long-winded one, I would agree with that, and I'm sure that perhaps there's a need to revise that. We are starting the process today and asking for evidence from every direction. Following that, there will be further opportunities. If you look at the current consultation, it asks questions about whether we're asking the right questions and providing everyone with an opportunity to think, 'We're not asking this, we're not going after this issue, perhaps we should be doing that.' Then there's a process of another consultation. It’s going to take two to three years to take action on it. That’s the Act. Do I agree with all of that? No, probably not. We should be able to do things much quicker, but that's the situation we are in currently. So, as well as the three workshops, there will be many more opportunities for everybody in Wales to take part and to be part of this conversation. You will be hearing more from me on this subject over the next two to three years.

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  4. on the clip

    Diolch yn fawr iawn a diolch am godi nifer o bwyntiau pwysig yn fan hyn. Tra bod yr ymgynghoriad yma yn digwydd, ac mae'n ymgynghoriad pwysig, wrth gwrs, mae llawer iawn o weithredu yn digwydd hefyd gan y Llywodraeth yma. Fel mam a fu'n magu pedwar o blant ar fy mhen fy hun, dwi'n gwybod yn iawn beth ydy jyglo rhwng gwahanol ofynion a chadw lot o blatiau yn troi ar yr un pryd. Felly, dydy sôn bod rhywun jest yn gwneud un peth ac yn methu â gwneud llu o bethau eraill ddim yn realistig yn fy mhrofiad i. Rydw i a nifer o'r Gweinidogion efo peth wmbreth o wahanol bethau a materion maen nhw'n gweithredu arnyn nhw wrth inni fod yn siarad heddiw. Mae'r ymgynghoriad yma yn un peth dwi'n canolbwyntio arno fo a dwi'n meddwl bod hwnna'n hollbwysig. Ond dwi hefyd yn canolbwyntio ar gyflawni'r targed o 20,000 o dai cymdeithasol newydd erbyn diwedd cyfnod y Senedd yma. Dwi'n croesawu eich ymrwymiad chi i fod yn cynyddu'r stoc tai cymdeithasol. Mae'r hawl i bawb gael cartref yn greiddiol i'r gwaith dwi'n ei wneud yn y Senedd yma. Ond cymerwch gam yn ôl rŵan. Mae'r cynllun datblygu a'r fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol yma hefyd yn edrych ar faterion yn ymwneud efo tai. Mae o hefyd yn edrych ar faterion yn ymwneud efo twf yr economi. Fy ngobaith i ydy, ar ôl gwrando a sgwrsio, y bydd gennym ni gynllun newydd a fydd yn creu gweledigaeth realistig ar gyfer datblygu pob rhan o Gymru. Fel roeddech chi'n sôn, mae hynna yn hollbwysig. Mae angen i'r cynllun a'r fframwaith yma ein galluogi ni i ddosbarthu cyfoeth a thwf i bob rhan o Gymru, gan gadw'r grym economaidd sydd yng Nghaerdydd a Chasnewydd, ond hefyd y twf economaidd yn cyrraedd y gogledd, y canolbarth a'r de-orllewin. Felly, mae angen strategaethau rhanbarthol ystyrlon, a fydd yn rhan o'r weledigaeth hirdymor yna. Rydych chi'n sôn am leihau biwrocratiaeth a'r prosesau cynllunio. Wel, dowch â'ch syniadau ymlaen. Mae pawb yn dweud wrthyf fi bod eisiau prysuro'r gyfundrefn gynllunio, bod eisiau gwneud pethau'n haws, a dwi'n cytuno, ac mae gen i rai syniadau ynglyn â sut i symud hynny ymlaen. Dwi'n hapus iawn i glywed syniadau ymarferol ynglân â sut ydyn ni'n gwneud hynny, yn ymarferol, ar lawr gwlad, fel ein bod ni yn tynnu rhai o'r rhwystrau yma sydd yn dal datblygiadau yn ôl, gan gynnwys datblygiadau hollbwysig, sef tai.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much, and thank you for raising a number of important points there. Whilst this consultation is ongoing, and it is an important consultation, of course, there is also a great deal of action taking place in this Government. As a mother who brought up four children alone, I know full well what it means to juggle different priorities and to keep many plates spinning simultaneously. So, the suggestion that one simply does one thing and therefore can't do anything else just isn't realistic in my own experience. Many Ministers and I have a whole host of different issues that we are working on as we speak today. This consultation is one issue that I'm focused on, and I think that's crucially important. But I'm also focusing on delivering the target of 20,000 new social homes by the end of this Senedd term. I welcome your commitment to increasing the social housing stock too. The right for everyone to have a home is at the heart of the work that I am doing in this Senedd. But take a step back now. The development plan and the national development framework also look at issues related to housing. It also looks at issues related to economic growth. My hope is, having listened and had those conversations, that we will have a new plan that will provide a realistic vision for the development of all parts of Wales. As you mentioned, that's crucially important. The plan and framework must enable us to distribute wealth and growth to all parts of Wales, retaining the economic powerhouses of Cardiff and Newport, but also distributing that economic growth to north, mid and south-west Wales. So, we need meaningful regional strategies too, which will be part of the long-term vision. You mentioned reducing bureaucracy and planning processes. Well, bring your ideas forward. Everyone tells me that we need to accelerate the planning system, that we need to make things easier, and I agree, and I have some ideas as to how we can make progress in that area. I'm very happy to hear practical ideas as to how we deliver that, in practice, on the ground, so that we do remove some of these barriers that can hold developments back, including crucial housing developments.

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  5. on the clip

    Diolch yn fawr iawn. Gwnes i sôn ar y dechrau bod angen fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol newydd oherwydd bod yna heriau a chyfleoedd newydd yn wynebu Cymru, yn wahanol i 2015 pan ddechreuwyd y broses yma, ac yn wahanol i gyfnod 2020-21 pan ffurfiwyd y fframwaith sydd yn dal yn bodoli heddiw. Mae yna heriau newydd yn dod ar ein traws ni, ac un o'r rheini ydy canolfannau data. Medraf i ddweud wrthych chi fod y Gweinidog economi a menter, beth bynnag ydy enw Adam Price y dyddiau yma, ei rôl o—. Mae fy nghydweithiwr Adam Price wedi comisiynu gwaith sydd yn mynd i fod yn edrych ar ganolfannau data a'r defnydd o ddeallusrwydd artiffisial ac yn y blaen, achos yn ei bortffolio fo fel Gweinidog mae'r maes penodol yna. Fel roeddwn i'n sôn, dyma un o'r pethau newydd sydd yn dod ymlaen, ac mae'n bwysig ofnadwy i ni gydnabod, efo'r twf mewn canolfannau data yng Nghymru, bod angen fframwaith polisi sydd yn un cadarn ac un sydd yn mynd i fod yn ddefnyddiol ar gyfer y dyfodol. Mae'n debyg bod angen inni wneud hynny mewn ffordd sydd yn rhoi balans rhwng y buddion economaidd, ond hefyd yn cydnabod y pryder gwirioneddol sydd gan bobl ar lefel cymunedol, a hefyd y pryder ynglŷn â defnydd o ynni a dŵr ac yn y blaen, a defnydd tir. Dwi'n meddwl bod Adam Price wedi gosod allan yr wythnos diwethaf y byddwn ni yn dod â pholisi gerbron cyn gynted â phosib. Yn amlwg, dydy o ddim yn briodol i fi wneud sylwadau am y cynllun penodol rydych chi'n sôn amdano fo.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much. I mentioned at the beginning that there's a need for a new national development framework because there are new challenges and opportunities facing Wales, which was different to the situation in 2015 when this process began, and different to the 2020-21 period, when the framework that still exists today was formed. There are new challenges facing us, and one of those is data centres. I can tell you that the Minister for economy and enterprise, whatever Adam Price's name is now, in his role—. My colleague Adam Price has commissioned work that is going to be looking at data centres and the use of artificial intelligence and so forth, because that specific area lies in his portfolio as Minister. As I mentioned, this is one of the new things that is coming forward, and it's crucially important that we recognise, with the growth in data centres in Wales, that there is a need for a policy framework that is robust, and one that is going to be useful for the future. Probably we need to do that in a way that provides a balance between the economic benefits, but also recognises the real concerns that people have on a community level, and also the concern about the use of energy and water and so forth, and land use. I think that Adam Price has set out last week that we will be bringing a policy forward as soon as possible. Clearly, it's not appropriate for me to comment on the specific scheme that you've mentioned.

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  6. on the clip

    Diolch yn fawr iawn. Dwi'n cydymdeimlo efo'r hyn rydych chi'n ei ddweud. Mae'r broses gynllunio'n cymryd gormod o amser. Mae'r broses gynllunio'n gymhleth. Dydy llais y gymuned ddim yn cael ei chlywed digon o fewn y broses o ddatblygu cynlluniau datblygu lleol, er enghraifft. Mi fedrwn i fynd ymlaen ac ymlaen. Rydych chi fel cynghorydd lleol wedi dod ar draws y rhwystredigaeth yna pan ydym ni'n ceisio cael datblygiadau i ddigwydd. Mae'n rhaid dweud, wrth gwrs, fod adrannau cynllunio—. Heb sôn am y broses ei hun, mae adrannau cynllunio o dan bwysau sylweddol yn ein cynghorau sir ni. Un o ganlyniadau blynyddoedd o dorri ar wasanaethau cyhoeddus ydy torri ar wasanaethau cynllunio ac ar wasanaethau o'r math yna er mwyn, wrth gwrs, gwarchod addysg a gwasanaethau cymdeithasol ac ati. Felly, mae gen i gydymdeimlad mawr efo'r crebachu sydd wedi digwydd ar ein hunedau cynllunio ni ar lawr gwlad, ac mae'r Sefydliad Cynllunio Trefol Brenhinol wedi tynnu sylw mewn adroddiad diweddar at hyn ac yn bryderus nad oes gennym ni ddigon o gyflenwad o gynllunwyr yn dod trwy'r system, hyd yn oed pe baem ni'n newid y broses, er mwyn medru delio efo'r gwaith. Mi ydym ni fel Llywodraeth yn ceisio gwneud rhyw fymryn ynghylch hynny, ac rydym ni wedi cefnogi'r gwaith o hyfforddi cynllunwyr cymwys newydd ledled Cymru ac wedi creu cynllun bwrsariaeth newydd hefyd ar y cyd efo Cyngor Sir Ceredigion i greu hyd at 12 o gynllunwyr cymwys ychwanegol mewn ardaloedd gwledig, lle mae'r heriau recriwtio hyd yn oed yn waeth. Felly, cytuno efo rhan o beth rydych chi'n ei ddweud; pwyntio allan, wrth gwrs, fod yna broblemau o fewn y system fel mae hi ar hyn o bryd, ond mae yna gyfle gwych i chi rŵan i roi eich sylwadau i mewn yn yr ymgynghoriad—a ddim jest rhoi o yn yr ymgynghoriad, ysgrifennwch ataf i, pawb ohonoch chi, efo syniadau ymarferol o sut rydym ni'n gallu cael datblygiadau i ddod yn eu blaenau'n gynt nag y maen nhw ar hyn o bryd.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much. I do sympathise with your comments. The planning process does take too long. The planning process is complex. The voice of the community isn't heard sufficiently within the process of the development of local development plans, for example. I could go on and on. You as a local councillor will have come across some of those frustrations when we try and get developments through. I have to say, of course, that planning departments—. Never mind the process itself, the planning departments are under significant pressure in our local authorities. One of the outcomes of years of cuts in public services is cuts to planning services and services of those kinds in order to protect education and social services and so on. So, I have great sympathy with the decline in our planning departments on the ground, and the Royal Town Planning Institute has drawn attention to this in a recent report and is very concerned that we don't have an adequate supply of planners coming through the system, even if we were to change the process, in order to deal with the level of work. Now, we as a Government are trying to do something to address that issue, and we've supported the work of training new qualified planners across Wales and have created a new bursary scheme jointly with Ceredigion County Council in order to create up to an additional 12 qualified planners in rural areas, where the recruitment challenges are even greater. So, I agree with some of what you said; I would point out, of course, that there are problems within the system as it's constituted at the moment, but there's now a wonderful opportunity for you to submit your ideas into the consultation—and not just the consultation, write to me, each and every one of you, with your practical ideas as to how we can get developments to move forward more quickly than they do at the moment.

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  7. on the clip

    Diolch yn fawr iawn am y cwestiynau yna. Dwi'n meddwl bod yna ddwy ran i'ch cwestiwn chi. Yn gyntaf, ynglŷn ag ymgysylltu ynglŷn â'r broses benodol yma o greu fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol newydd, dwi'n cytuno'n llwyr efo chi: mae rhaid inni wneud ymdrech fawr i gyrraedd pawb ar draws Cymru fel bod llais pawb yn cael ei chlywed. Fel roeddwn i'n dweud, rownd gyntaf ydy'r ymgysylltu sydd yn digwydd cyn y Nadolig, ac mae'r rheini wedi bod yn ddigwyddiadau, neu maen nhw'n ddigwyddiadau, sydd yn cael eu hyrwyddo drwy grwpiau trydydd sector fel Cymorth Cynllunio Cymru, er enghraifft, i annog cymaint o bobl i gymryd rhan ynddyn nhw. Wrth i ni symud i gamau nesaf y broses, dwi yn awyddus iawn i edrych ar hwyluso'r ymgysylltiad yn union fel rydych chi'n sôn amdano fo, efo mwy o ffocws ar y grwpiau hynny sy'n anoddach i'w cyrraedd, yn enwedig, efallai, mewn cymunedau sy'n wynebu mwy o heriau costau byw, er enghraifft. Felly, byddwn i'n meddwl o ddifrif ynglŷn â'r ail gam o'r ymgynghori. O ran eich cwestiwn mwy eang chi ynglŷn â sut i gael mwy o bobl i gymryd rhan yn y broses gynllunio drwyddi draw ac i gymryd diddordeb yn yr hyn sy'n digwydd, dwi yn meddwl bod yna gyfle o fewn datblygu cynlluniau datblygu lleol i lais y gymuned allu cael ei chlywed llawer iawn yn gynt ac yn fwy pwerus, yn fwy grymus, o fewn y broses honno. Pan mae o'n gweithio, pan mae'r gymuned wedi bod yn ymwybodol o'u gallu nhw i helpu siapio dyfodol eu cymunedau nhw—. Dwi wedi ei weld o ar waith, yn digwydd mewn ffordd sydd yn caniatáu datblygiadau tai, er enghraifft, sydd efallai'n gallu bod yn gynhennus mewn rhai ardaloedd, ond os ydy pobl wedi bod yn rhan o'r broses o'r cychwyn cyntaf mae llawer iawn o'r pryderon yn diflannu. Ac felly, dwi yn awyddus i edrych ar yr agwedd yna yn benodol. Felly, diolch i chi am dynnu sylw at hynny.

    Official English translation

    Thank you very much for those questions. I think there were two parts to your contribution there. First of all, in terms of engagement and this particular process of creating a new national development framework, I agree entirely with you that we must make a great effort to reach everyone across Wales so that everyone's voice is heard. As I mentioned, this engagement is just the first round, in terms of what will happen before Christmas, and those events have been and are being promoted through third sector groups such as Planning Aid Wales to encourage as many people as possible to participate. As we move to the next phases of the process, I am very eager to look at facilitating that engagement just as you mentioned, with a greater focus on those harder to reach groups, particularly, perhaps, in communities facing more cost-of-living challenges, for example. So, I will be thinking seriously about that second phase of the consultation. In terms of your broader question as to how we encourage more people to participate in the planning process more generally and to take an interest in what's happening, I do think that there is an opportunity within the development of LDPs to ensure that the community voice can be heard at an earlier stage and more powerfully within that process. When it works, when the community is made aware and is involved in shaping the future of their communities—. I've seen it in action, happening in a way that allows housing developments that perhaps could be contentious in certain areas, but if people have been involved in the process from the outset then many of those concerns can be allayed. And therefore, I am eager to look at that aspect specifically. So, thank you for highlighting those issues.

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  8. on the clip

    Dwi'n cytuno'n llwyr efo chi, fel rhywun sydd yn cynrychioli ardal yn yr union le rydych chi'n sôn amdano fo yn y gogledd-orllewin, ac wedi bod yn cynrychioli'r ardal, ac â'r fraint o gael gwneud hynny, ers dros 10 mlynedd bellach. Felly, peidiwch â sôn wrthyf fi am y ffaith bod cymunedau yn y gogledd-orllewin yn teimlo weithiau eu bod nhw'n cael eu hanghofio. Dydy'r Llywodraeth yma ddim yn mynd i fod yn anghofio'r un gymuned ar draws Cymru. Dyna'r weledigaeth, yn y pen draw, gobeithio, fydd yn gallu cael ei datblygu fel rhan o'r fframwaith newydd yma—fod pob rhan o Gymru yn bwysig a bod angen dosbarthu cyfoeth, dosbarthu'r twf economaidd a chyfleon economaidd ar draws Cymru i gyrraedd bob rhan. Ie, mae'n mynd i gymryd sbel, achos rydym ni'n sôn am rywbeth sydd yn bwysig iawn—dyfodol ein gwlad ni. Fedrwn ni ddim jest wneud o mewn wythnos neu ddwy; mae'n rhaid inni fod yn cael y sgyrsiau yna a dod â phobl efo ni yn ystod y sgyrsiau yna. Ond dydy hynna ddim yn golygu nad ydym ni'n gwneud pethau eraill hefyd. Yfory nesaf, dwi yn cyfarfod y tasglu canol trefi, sydd yn ymgynnull am y tro cyntaf a bydd yn dod ag argymhellion clir erbyn dechrau flwyddyn nesaf ynglŷn â rhai o'r heriau sy'n wynebu canol ein trefi ni, efo argymhellion am ffyrdd o weithredu er mwyn gwella ein strydoedd mawr ni. Ac mae yna nifer o faterion fel yna yn digwydd wrth i ni siarad. Dwi wedi sôn am y tasglu, dwi wedi sôn am dai cymdeithasol, mae yna waith yn digwydd ynglŷn ag uwchraddio tai, retrofit ac yn y blaen—ac mae hwnna jest yn fy mhortffolio fi. Gall bob un Gweinidog sôn wrthoch chi am o leiaf 10 o bethau maen nhw heddiw yn gweithio arnyn nhw, yn gweithio i newid. Ond mae'n rhaid inni feddwl am y pen draw a'r dyfodol hefyd a pheidio ag anghofio, yng nghanol gwneud y pethau dydd i ddydd pwysig iawn yma sydd yn gwella bywydau pobl, fod rhaid inni gael gweledigaeth glir ar gyfer adeiladu ein gwlad ni i fod yn wlad sydd yn ffit ar gyfer y dyfodol, ac sydd yn crynhoi dyheadau pawb yma inni fod yn llawer mwy uchelgeisiol yn sut rydym ni'n mynd ati i gynllunio ac i drefnu'n hunain i'r dyfodol. Diolch.

    Official English translation

    I agree entirely with you, as one who represents an area in the very area that you've mentioned in the north-west of Wales, and having represented the area, and having had the privilege of doing so, for over 10 years now. So, you don't need to tell me that communities in the north-west sometimes feel that they are forgotten. This Government won't be forgetting those communities or any community across Wales. That is the vision, ultimately, that I hope can be developed as part of this new framework—that every part of Wales is important and that we need to distribute wealth and economic growth and opportunities across Wales so that we reach every part of the country. Yes, it's going to take a while, because we are talking about something that is hugely important—the future of our nation. We can't just do it in a week or two; we do have to have those conversations and we need to bring people with us on that journey. But that doesn't mean that we aren't doing other things too. Just tomorrow, I will be meeting the town-centre taskforce, which will be gathering for the first time and that will bring clear recommendations forward by the beginning of next year on some of the challenges facing our town centres, with recommendations on ways of taking action in order to improve our high streets. And there are a number of other, similar issues that are ongoing as we speak. I've mentioned the taskforce, I've mentioned social housing, there is work happening on retrofitting homes and so on—and that's just in my portfolio. Every Minister can talk to you about at least 10 other things that they are working on today in order to deliver change. But we do have to think of the destination and the future too and not forget, in the midst of those day-to-day important things that we're doing to improve people's lives, that we have to also have a clear vision for building our nation so that it is a nation that is fit for the future, and that brings together the aspirations of everyone here so that we can be far more ambitious in how we go about planning for the future. Thank you.

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How this page is made

Counted by Siambr from the Record's rows. Chaired contributions, spoken under the Record's title for the chair, are counted apart and never added in.

Each page holds 50 contributions at most and keeps a sitting day whole, unless the day alone is over 50.

Sources

The Record of Proceedings for each sitting day, quoted verbatim.