During the debate in the Welsh Parliament on the recently published report ‘Review of Local Government Section 19 and Natural Resources Wales’ reports into extreme flooding in Wales, 2020-21’, Janet Finch-Saunders MS, Shadow Minister for Climate Change, has called Labour and Plaid Cymru out for “delaying major transformative action on flooding in Wales.”
The scope of the report was set by the Terms of Reference as agreed between Labour’s Minister for Climate Change, and the Plaid Cymru under the Co-operation Agreement.
The report has three main recommendations:
- A review of wider flood risk legislation in Wales
- A pan-Wales approach to Section 19 reports
- A Wales-wide coordination between risk management authorities and for a lead to be established to review, progress and share common issues
Commenting on the report after speaking in the Welsh Parliament, Janet Finch-Saunders MS said:
“Almost 3 years ago, to the day, on the 16 September 2020, I highlighted that Section 19 reports were taking an unacceptably long period to be delivered. The report prepared for Labour and Plaid Cymru has now confirmed what I was saying years ago.
“It is absolutely disgraceful that 43 Section 19 reports are completed but not intended to be published, that 8 reports are still awaiting approval, and that work on 34 reports are still ongoing years after the flood incidents.
“In 2021 I proposed the Flooding (Wales) Bill. In this, I outlined a legal basis for the establishment of a National Flood Agency for Wales, a single body dedicated to tackling flooding, and to impose statutory time limits on the publication of Section 19 reports.
“The report supports the action I have been calling for, but Labour and Plaid Cymru are delaying major transformative action on flooding in Wales. Indeed, they are waiting for even more reports.
“Many residents do not have the luxury of time before the next flood crisis, so nor should the Labour Government”.
ENDS
Yn ystod y ddadl yn y Senedd ar yr adroddiad a gyhoeddwyd yn ddiweddar, ‘Adolygiad o Adroddiadau Adran 19 Llywodraeth Leol a Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru am lifogydd eithafol yn ystod gaeaf 2020-21', mae Janet Finch-Saunders AS, Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd yr Wrthblaid, wedi cyhuddo Llafur a Phlaid Cymru o "oedi gweithredu trawsnewidiol mawr ar lifogydd yng Nghymru."
Gosodwyd cwmpas yr adroddiad gan y Cylch Gorchwyl fel y cytunwyd rhwng Gweinidog Llafur ar Newid Hinsawdd, a Phlaid Cymru o dan y Cytundeb Cydweithio.
Mae tri phrif argymhelliad gan yr adroddiad:
- Adolygiad o ddeddfwriaeth perygl llifogydd ehangach yng Nghymru
- Dull Cymru gyfan o ymdrin ag adroddiadau Adran 19
- Awdurdodau rheoli risg i gydgysylltu ledled Cymru a sefydlu arweinydd i adolygu, datblygu a rhannu materion cyffredin
Wrth sôn am yr adroddiad ar ôl siarad yn y Senedd, dywedodd Janet Finch-Saunders AS:
"Bron i dair blynedd yn ôl, i’r diwrnod bron iawn, ar 16 Medi 2020, amlygais fod adroddiadau Adran 19 yn cymryd cyfnod annerbyniol o hir i'w cyflawni. Mae'r adroddiad a gafodd ei baratoi ar gyfer Llafur a Phlaid Cymru bellach wedi cadarnhau'r hyn roeddwn i'n ei ddweud flynyddoedd yn ôl.
"Mae'n hollol warthus bod 43 o adroddiadau Adran 19 wedi'u cwblhau ond nad oes bwriad eu cyhoeddi, a bod 8 adroddiad yn dal i aros am i gael eu cymeradwyo, a bod gwaith ar 34 adroddiad yn dal i fynd rhagddo flynyddoedd ar ôl y llifogydd.
"Yn 2021 fe wnes i gynnig y Bil Llifogydd (Cymru). Yn hyn o beth, amlinellais sail gyfreithiol ar gyfer sefydlu Asiantaeth Llifogydd Genedlaethol Cymru, un corff sy'n ymroddedig i fynd i'r afael â llifogydd, a gosod terfynau amser statudol ar gyhoeddi adroddiadau Adran 19.
"Mae'r adroddiad o blaid y camau rydw i wedi bod yn galw amdanyn nhw, ond mae Llafur a Phlaid Cymru yn gohirio gweithredu trawsnewidiol mawr ar lifogydd yng Nghymru. Yn wir, maen nhw’n aros am fwy fyth o adroddiadau.
"Does gan lawer o drigolion ddim amser i’w wastraffu cyn yr argyfwng llifogydd nesaf, a dylai’r un peth fod yn wir am y Llywodraeth Lafur.”
DIWEDD
