The future of libraries and grants for disabled facilities is under threat following a decision by the Welsh Government to repeal a law which places a duty on local authorities to collect data on the performance of local services, the Welsh Conservatives have said.
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, Mark Drakeford AM, today issued a statement (attached) which said that following a consultation – which began in March 2016 - he had decided to revoke the Local Government (Performance Indicators) (Wales) Order 2012.
The decision comes off the back of an OECD report which reflected on how immature data collection methods are hindering the service delivery of local health boards across Wales.
Responding to the statement, Welsh Conservative Shadow Secretary for Local Government, Janet Finch-Saunders AM, said:
“While we believe in lessening bureaucracy, we also believe in the critical role which accurate data collection plays in driving scrutiny.
“The revoking of this local government Order will spell the end of a vital and robust reporting mechanism, rendering authorities unable to efficiently assess the state of public services in Wales.
“Under particular threat by this move is the ability of local authorities to correctly measure the number of visits to public libraries and the delivery of Disabled Facilities Grants.
“Inadequate data collection for these under-threat areas will serve only to erode authorities’ ability to maintain and assess their function as crucial community hubs.
“We call on the Welsh Government to take stock of these concerns before rashly pressing ahead with this decision.”
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Mae dyfodol llyfrgelloedd a grantiau i bobl anabl dan fygythiad yn dilyn penderfyniad Llywodraeth Cymru i gael gwared ar ddeddf sy’n rhoi dyletswydd statudol ar awdurdodau lleol i gasglu data am berfformiad gwasanaethau lleol, meddai’r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig.
Heddiw, cyflwynodd Mark Drakeford AC, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid a Llywodraeth Leol, ddatganiad (atodedig) yn dweud ei fod, yn dilyn ymgynghoriad a ddechreuodd ym mis Mawrth 2016, wedi penderfynu dirymu Gorchymyn Llywodraeth Leol (Dangosyddion Perfformiad) (Cymru) 2012.
Daw’r penderfyniad wrth gefn adroddiad OECD sy’n dweud sut mae dulliau ansoffistigedig o gasglu data yn llesteirio darpariaeth gwasanaethau byrddau iechyd lleol ledled Cymru.
Wrth ymateb i’r datganiad, dywedodd Janet Finch-Saunders AC, Ysgrifennydd yr Wrthblaid dros Lywodraeth Ledol:
“Tra rydyn ni’n credu mewn lleihau biwrocratiaeth, rydyn ni hefyd yn credu yng nghyfraniad allweddol casglu data o ran llywio’r broses graffu.
“Bydd dirymu’r Gorchymyn llywodraeth leol hwn yn golygu diwedd ar ddulliau adrodd hanfodol a chadarn, gan olygu nad yw awdurdodau’n gallu asesu cyflwr gwasanaethau cyhoeddus Cymru’n ddigon effeithiol.
“Mae gallu awdurdodau lleol i fesur yn gywir nifer yr ymweliadau â llyfrgelloedd cyhoeddus a’r dasg o ddarparu Grantiau Cyfleusterau’r Anabl, dan fygythiad arbennig yn sgil y datblygiad hwn.
“Bydd dulliau aneffeithiol o gasglu data ar gyfer y meysydd hyn sydd dan fygythiad yn gwanhau gallu awdurdodau i gynnal ac asesu eu swyddogaeth fel canolfannau hollbwysig i’n cymunedau.
“Rydyn ni’n galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i gadw’r pryderon hyn mewn cof cyn bwrw ymlaen yn fyrbwyll â’r penderfyniad hwn.”
Mae manylion am yr ymgynghoriad ar gael yma: http://gov.wales/docs/dsjlg/consultation/160315-local-government-performance-indicators-cy.pdf
Details of the consultation can be accessed here: http://gov.wales/docs/dsjlg/consultation/160315-local-government-performance-indicators-en.pdf
