Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has called for more respect for Wrexham County Borough councillors who have once again rejected the local development plan.
Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Rowlands, Shadow Minister for Local Government, said:
I am sure the First Minister was disappointed yesterday that my question was too far down the order paper to be able to raise a question on it with him yesterday. But, Minister, you will be aware of Wrexham council's recent decision to not support the local development plan that was placed in front of the council. I did note the First Minister made comments on this a few weeks ago here in the Chamber, and I did note that those comments seemed to be mocking the decision of the council. In my view, it's completely disrespectful of local democracy and the mandate that councillors received only last year in those local authority elections.
My view is that democracy works best at a local level, and if a local authority does not want to support something, they should be well within their right to not support something. So, in your view, Minister, would you not agree with me that local councils and councillors deserve respect as the people on the ground who know best for their local communities? And what approach will you be taking to build bridges not just with Wrexham council, but with all councils to ensure that they are properly supported in the development of local development plans?
Minister Rebecca Evans said Wrexham is the only local authority in Wales not to have a local development plan in place and that was a disappointing position to be in.
Wrexham council held a meeting on June 14 where they once again voted not to adopt the plan.
Mr Rowlands added:
For too long now the needs of our local authorities and residents of North Wales have been ignored. It is one thing developing a local development plan but it is another delivering on it.
For many local authorities in North Wales, they are struggling to deliver on local development plans because of the phosphates legislation and regulations that are in place at the moment.
Cynghorwyr lleol sy'n gwybod beth sydd orau i'w cymunedau
Mae Sam Rowlands, AS Gogledd Cymru, wedi galw am fwy o barch at gynghorwyr Bwrdeistref Sirol Wrecsam sydd unwaith eto wedi gwrthod y cynllun datblygu lleol.
Wrth siarad yn y Senedd, dywedodd Mr Rowlands, Gweinidog yr Wrthblaid dros Lywodraeth Leol:
Rwy'n siŵr bod y Prif Weinidog wedi'i siomi ddoe bod fy nghwestiwn yn rhy bell i lawr y papur i mi allu ei holi ddoe. Ond, Weinidog, byddwch yn ymwybodol o benderfyniad diweddar Cyngor Wrecsam i beidio â chefnogi'r cynllun datblygu lleol a roddwyd ger eu bron. Sylwais fod y Prif Weinidog wedi gwneud sylwadau ar hyn ychydig wythnosau yn ôl yma yn y Siambr, a bod rhai o'r sylwadau hynny fel petai'n gwawdio penderfyniad y cyngor. Yn fy marn i, mae'n gwbl amharchus o ddemocratiaeth leol a'r mandad a dderbyniodd cynghorwyr dim ond y llynedd yn yr etholiadau awdurdodau lleol hynny.
Yn fy marn i, mae democratiaeth yn gweithio orau ar lefel leol, ac os nad yw awdurdod lleol eisiau cefnogi rhywbeth, dylai bod hawl ganddyn nhw i wneud hynny. Felly, yn eich barn chi, Weinidog, oni fyddech chi'n cytuno â mi bod cynghorau lleol a chynghorwyr yn haeddu parch fel y bobl ar lawr gwlad sy'n gwybod orau am eu cymunedau lleol? A beth wnewch chi i godi pontydd nid gyda Chyngor Wrecsam yn unig, ond gyda phob cyngor i sicrhau eu bod yn cael digon o gefnogaeth i ddatblygu cynlluniau datblygu lleol?
Dywedodd y Gweinidog Rebecca Evans mai Wrecsam yw'r unig awdurdod lleol yng Nghymru i beidio â chael cynllun datblygu lleol ar waith, a bod hynny'n sefyllfa siomedig i fod ynddi.
Cynhaliodd cyngor Wrecsam gyfarfod ar 14 Mehefin lle pleidleisiwyd unwaith eto i beidio mabwysiadu'r cynllun.
Ychwanegodd Mr Rowlands:
Mae anghenion ein hawdurdodau lleol a thrigolion y Gogledd wedi cael eu hanwybyddu am lawer rhy hir bellach. Un peth yw datblygu cynllun datblygu lleol, mater arall yw cyflawni hynny.
Mae'n anodd i lawer o awdurdodau lleol y Gogledd gyflawni cynlluniau datblygu lleol oherwydd y ddeddfwriaeth a'r rheoliadau ffosffadau sydd ar waith ar hyn o bryd.
