Speaking after the Local Government Policy Board meeting, Mr. Rowlands, Shadow Minister for Local Government in the Welsh Parliament said he was delighted to welcome a number of organisations, think tanks and council leaders, to discuss key issues around local government and the delivery of services.
He said:
The policy board was set up to look into the key issues and challenges facing local government and the delivery of its services. We also discussed funding, collaborative working and the further empowering to local councils.
There is no doubt about it, the Covid crisis has impacted on everyone and local authorities in particular have borne the brunt of trying to organise our way out of the pandemic.
They deserve a lot of credit, from our recycling crews through to our librarians, from our social care workers to our teaching assistants – all of whom have gone above and beyond.
I believe the future lies in more power and financial support to be given to local councils so they can make the decisions which affect their communities.
Sam Rowlands AS yn cynnal Bwrdd Polisi Llywodraeth Leol gydag enwau blaenllaw
Yn siarad ar ôl cyfarfod y Bwrdd Polisi Llywodraeth Leol, dywedodd Mr Rowlands, Gweinidog Llywodraeth Leol yr Wrthblaid yn y Senedd ei fod wrth ei fodd yn croesawu nifer o sefydliadau, melinau trafod ac arweinwyr cyngor, i drafod materion allweddol ynghylch llywodraeth leol a darpariaeth gwasanaethau.
Meddai:
Sefydlwyd y bwrdd polisi i edrych ar y materion allweddol a’r heriau sy’n wynebu llywodraeth leol ac ar ddarpariaeth ei gwasanaethau. Buom hefyd yn trafod cyllid, cydweithio a grymuso cynghorau lleol ymhellach.
Does dim amheuaeth, mae’r argyfwng Covid wedi effeithio ar bawb ac mae awdurdodau lleol yn enwedig wedi gorfod cario’r baich i geisio trefnu ein ffordd allan o’r pandemig.
Maent yn haeddu llawer o glod, o’n criwiau ailgylchu i’n llyfrgellwyr, o’n gweithwyr gofal cymdeithasol i’n cynorthwywyr dysgu – sydd i gyd wedi mynd yr ail filltir.
Rwy’n credu bod angen rhoi rhagor o bŵer a chymorth ariannol i gynghorau lleol er mwyn iddynt allu gwneud penderfyniadau sy’n effeithio ar eu cymunedau.
