WCVA Trustee news 20 October 2008 / 20 Hydref 2008

Governance

**WCVA Wales Trustee and Governance Conference 2008**
The Wales Trustee and Governance Conference 2008 will be held on 6 November at the Liberty Stadium, Swansea. Building on the success of last year’s inaugural event, the conference offers double the number of workshop choices, a keynote presentation from Julia Unwin CBE on Trustee governance in the 21st century, as well as a host of other exciting session, and ample opportunity for networking.

Full details and a booking form are available on the WCVA website, or you can contact the WCVA Helpdesk on 0800 2888 329, email help@wcva.org.uk

The ‘credit crunch’
Trustees are naturally worried about the impact of the current financial crisis and the Charity Commission has issued its guidance, Financial Services Compensation Scheme - what it means for charities, which should provide some comfort for those concerned about their deposits. HM Treasurys has issued a statement on retail depositors with the Icelandic banks, and the Charity Commission has now issued its specific guidance, Charities who have invested in Icelandic banks.

The guidance is for those charities that have invested in the Icelandic banks of Landsbanki, Heritable and Kaupthing Singer and Friedlander. It sets out the distinction between retail depositors, who are covered by the Treasury statement and who will receive their money in full, and wholesale depositors, who are, as yet, not. The guidance will be updated as further information becomes available about the position of these depositors. FSCS announcements can be found here.

Retail depositors include those charities which are:

• a body corporate (which includes a company, industrial and provident society, Royal Charter body, and statutory corporation) which has two or more of the following:
  £6.5 million or less turnover
  £3.26 million or less balance sheet total
  50 or less employees;
• an unincorporated association which has assets of £1.4 million or less

The next edition of Network Wales (370) will provide further comment on the subject.

Governance in children's organisations
The National Council for Voluntary Child Care Organisations has published, with help from the Governance Hub, Governing for Children: A beginner’s guide to governance in the children, young people and families voluntary sector. There are focused real-life examples of particular relevance to any governing body members of smaller organisations involved with children.

Learning and development
NAVCA, the sector support umbrella body, has produced, The Get Skilled Workbook, designed to help those working with third sector organisations to identify skills and training needs, and develop a learning and development plan to meet them.

Third sector terminology
Voluntary Arts Network has a new Briefings sheet on Voluntary and community sector jargon, explaining some of the most common terms and acronyms used in the sector.

Risk management
Managing Risk - A Healthy Appetite, the report from the seventh annual risk management survey by accountants PKF in association with the Charity Finance Directors' Group, focuses on the sector's "risk appetite" - establishing the level of risk exposure that is comfortable and identifying the areas of greatest concern. It will be of particular interest to trustees as the focus on risk management increases both generally, and in relation to certain reporting requirements.

Company law and other regulation

Companies Act 2006 implementation
Trustee news has previously reported on the various stages of implementation of the Companies Act 2006. Some important provisions were implemented on 1 October 2008. These include:

• the general duties of directors in respect of conflicts of interest (see item below)
• the new procedure for private companies to make capital reductions supported by a solvency statement instead of by a court order
• companies will have to have at least one natural person as a director, so a company cannot be a sole director of another company (some existing companies will have more time before the rules change)
• there is a new minimum age of 16 for directors.

The restrictions under the Companies Act 1985 on financial assistance by private companies for the acquisition of their own shares will also be repealed with effect from 1 October 2008.

Directors’ conflicts of interest
The law on directors’ conflicts of interest has been described as one of the most difficult areas of company law. It is based on complex and inaccessible case law going back to the 1720s. From 1 October 2008 the Companies Act 2006 restates the common law rules - with some important modifications. The law firm, CMS Cameron McKenna has produced a very useful article on the subject (you will need to register with this website to view the article).

Company information
From 1 October 2008, The Companies (Trading Disclosures) Regulations 2008 will unify and replace the various regulations setting out the trading disclosures that incorporated companies must make to show their legal identity. The BERR website provides comprehensive FAQ’s on this, but in summary:

On any business letters, order forms or websites, you must display the following:

• Registered company name
• Place of registration (for example, Scotland, or England and Wales)
• Registered number
• Address of registered office
• If exempt from having "limited" as part of name, disclose it is a limited company
• If a private community interest company, disclose this fact
• If an investment company, disclose this fact
• If there is reference to share capital, this must be a reference to paid-up share capital

You must further display your registered name on:

• Notices & official publications
• Bills of exchange
• Promissory notes
• Endorsements
• Cheques
• Orders for money, goods or services
• Bills of parcels
• Invoices & demands for payment
• Receipts
• Letters of credit
• Applications for licences to carry on a trade or activity
• All other forms of business correspondence/documentation
• Signs at premises

Tax and VAT

HMRC charity helpline
The HMRC’s Charities and Charities & Community Amateur Sports Clubs telephone helpline is now open from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday: 0845 302 0203.

Accounting and finance

Social accounting
The Social Audit Network has produced Really Telling Accounts, a report on their Social Accounting and Audit Research Project. This explores to what extent social accounting and audit has been used by social economy organisations in the research area, and includes a set of recommendations.

Independent Examination
Independent Examination is a form of external scrutiny of accounts specifically designed for charities. It offers a lower cost option for the 95 per cent of charities whose income and assets fall below the statutory audit threshold.

The Charity Commission has now issued specific guidance for both trustees and independent examiners.

Charity Commission

Register of Charities
Launched on 1 October, the new version of the Charity Commission’s online Register of Charities now provides much greater levels of detail on charities including:

• A detailed profile for charities with an income over £500,000 including easy-to-read graphs and text showing the charity’s income and spending, how many volunteers and employees they have and their track record for submitting accounts. A more succinct financial profile is available for smaller charities.
• Enhanced search facilities to search for recently registered charities, charities that have not filed their accounts with the Commission on time, and charities working in a particular field or particular geographical area.
• Trustee cross-referencing and new print options that show if a particular trustee is also a trustee of other charities, and options to print off copies of a charity’s entry in colour or in black and white.
• A Feedback section on the Welcome Page which invites users to tell the Commission what they think of the new online register and how it can be further improved.
  

Public benefit
The Charity Commission has published the summaries of the responses to its four recent consultations on Public Benefit and the Advancement of Religion, Public Benefit and the Prevention or Relief of Poverty, Public Benefit and the Advancement of Education and Public Benefit and Fee-charging. The Commission aims to publish its final revised supplementary guidance by the end of 2008. It is aimed at those charity sectors for which the presumption of public benefit has been removed under the Charities Act 2006, but complements the general public benefit guidance for all charities, which was published in January 2008.

An additional consultation on Public Benefit and the Advancement of Moral or Ethical Belief Systems was launched on 4 September, and closes on 5 January 2009. Further consultations on draft supplementary guidance on the public benefit of charities with other charitable purposes, such as animal welfare and human rights, will follow.

Miscellaneous

Energy Performance Certificates
Charities could face fines of up to £5,000 from 1 October if they fail to provide buyers or renters of their commercial buildings with Energy Performance Certificates. The certificates are designed to provide information about the energy efficiency of commercial buildings - Government estimates put the price of producing an EPC at up to £2,000 for larger premises, or up to £500 for smaller ones. Owners of buildings on the market before 1 October will be given until 4 January to produce EPCs. Organisations intending to put property on the market should establish whether the regulations will apply to them.

Public body status
In R (on the application of Susan Weaver) v London & Quadrant Housing Trust, the Divisional Court considered the thorny question of whether a charitable registered social landlord was a public body for the purposes of the Human Rights Act 1998, and thus open to other public law remedies such as Judicial Review.

This issue is of growing importance in the light of increased procurement by public bodies and the implications this has for third sector providers, for example, Trustee news recently reported on the Freedom of Information Act consultation on extending the public law coverage of that Act to third sector providers. This case examines the relevant case law on public body status, and the court considered public funding as a key factor. Where funding constitutes a subsidy for all or part of the provision of a service, as opposed to payment for provision of the service to a specific person, the provision is likely to be a public function and the provider a public body for those purposes.

On the facts, the Court concluded that LQHT was, indeed, a public body, subject to both the Human Rights Act and liability in public law, although in this case Ms Weaver’s claim was unsuccessful. Public funding was an important element in this decision. However, the court made it clear that bodies that are considered public bodies for the purposes of public procurement law are not necessarily public bodies for the purposes of the Human Rights Act. Given the obligations and liabilities that arise from having the status of a public body, it is important that third sector organisations ensure that any public money that they receive is actually for the provision of a specific service, and not for the implementation of a policy.

Collaborative working
The Housing Associations Charitable Trust has recently published a resource kit based on its Collaborate project, to help local, community-based housing support providers to thrive within the emerging Supporting People framework by developing collaborative approaches to tendering and delivering services. Consisting of eight worksheets, the kit provides information about strategic development, different collaborative approaches, how to influence procurement processes, developing collaborative bids and implementation issues. Although specific to housing support, it also provides useful general guidance on collaborative working.

Employment law and practice

Tribunal guide
The Central London Law Centre has published The Claimant's Companion, a practical, common-sense booklet for claimants in employment tribunals.

Age discrimination
The Advocate-General has handed down his opinion in The Heyday Appeal. He recommends that the ECJ dismiss Age Concern's challenges to the lawfulness of regulations 3 and 30 of the Employment Equality (Age Discrimination) Regulations 2006. The two key recommendations are that the Court holds:

• that it is legitimate to allow a general justification defence, and that it is not necessary for the Regulations to define specific categories of conduct which can be justified (see paras. 56 and 57); and,
• that regulation 30 (which permits employers to dismiss employees aged 65 or over if the reason for dismissal is retirement) is not incompatible with the Equal Treatment Framework Directive provided the regulation is objectively justified within the context of national law.

So the question of whether a lawful retirement age of 65 is lawful is still very much a live issue for determination by the national courts. The BBC has produced a useful news summary.

National Minimum Wage
The minimum wage rate for:

• adults aged 22 years and over will rise to £5.73 per hour (from £5.52);
• 18 – 21 year olds will rise to £4.77 (from £4.60); and
• 17 – 18 year olds will rise to £3.53 (from £3.40).

The law has not changed in respect of apprentices (anyone working under a contract of apprenticeship or taking part in certain training programmes). Apprentices under 19 years of age do not qualify for the national minimum wage in respect of work done under their contract of apprenticeship; and those between aged 19 - 25 years are not entitled to the national minimum wage for the first 12 months of their apprenticeship. Only apprentices over the age of 25 years are entitled to the national minimum wage from commencement of their apprenticeship.

BERR has published a revised version of its extremely comprehensive, National Minimum Wage Guide.


Maternity and adoption leave
The following amendments to the Maternity and Parental Leave etc. Regulations 1999, and the Paternity and Adoption Leave Regulations 2002 have effect in relation to employees with an expected week of childbirth/due to adopt children on or after 5 October 2008:

• Maternity Leave - women whose babies are/were due on or after 5 October 2008 are now entitled to the same terms and conditions during additional maternity leave (AML), as they enjoy during ordinary maternity leave (OML) - i.e. the same terms and conditions that would have applied to them had they been at work (except for terms relating to remuneration). OML comprises 26 weeks' leave, available to all pregnant employees, regardless of length of service, who comply with certain notification/evidential conditions. AML follows directly after OML and lasts for a further 26 weeks.
• Adoption Leave - as above, employees who are due to adopt children on or after 5 October 2008 are now entitled to the same terms and conditions during additional adoption leave (AAL), as they enjoy during ordinary adoption leave (OAL). OAL comprises 26 weeks' leave, available to employees who have completed 26 weeks’ continuous service, and are newly matched with a child for adoption by an adoption agency. AAL follows immediately on from OAL and comprises a further 26 weeks' leave.

Mediation
ACAS and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development have published, Mediation: An Employer's Guide, which champions mediation as an effective alternative to litigation.

Newyddion Ymddiriedolwyr

Trefn Lywodraethol

**Cynhadledd Ymddiriedolwyr a Threfn Lywodraethol Cymru WCVA 2008**
Cynhelir y Gynhadledd hon ar Dachwedd 6ed 2008 yn Stadiwm Liberty, Abertawe. Gan adeiladu ar lwyddiant y digwyddiad cyntaf y llynedd, bydd y gynhadledd yn cynnig dwbl y dewisiadau gweithdai, cyflwyniad allweddol gan Julia Unwin CBE ar Drefn Lywodraethol Ymddiriedolwyr yn y 21ain ganrif, yn ogystal â llu o sesiynau eraill cyffrous, a digon o gyfle i rwydweithio.

Mae manylion llawn a ffurflen gais ar gael ar wefan WCVA, neu gallwch gysylltu â (Llinell Gymorth WCVA ar 0800 2888 329, neu anfon e-bost at help@wcva.org.uk.

Y ‘credit crunch’
Mae ymddiriedolwyr wrth reswm yn poeni am effaith yr argyfwng ariannol sydd ohoni ac mae’r Comisiwn Elusennau wedi cyhoeddi ei gyfarwyddyd, Financial Services Compensation Scheme - what it means for charities, a ddylai gysuro’r rhai sy’n poeni am eu buddsoddiadau. Mae Trysorlys Ei Mawrhydi wedi cyhoeddi datganiad ar fuddsoddwyr manwerthu ym manciau Gwlad yr Iâ, ac mae’r Comisiwn Elusennau wedi cyhoeddi cyfarwyddyd penodol Charities who have invested in Icelandic banks.

Mae’r cyfarwyddyd ar gyfer elusennau a fuddsoddodd ym manciau Gwlad yr Iâ sef Landsbanki, Heritable a Kaupthing Singer a Friedlander. Mae’n gosod allan y gwahaniaeth rhwng buddsoddwyr manwerthu, sydd dan orchudd datganiad y Trysorlys ac a fydd yn derbyn ad-daliad llawn, a buddsoddwyr cyfanwerthol, sydd ddim dan orchudd hyd yn hyn. Diweddarir y cyfarwyddyd wrth i wybodaeth bellach ddod i’r amlwg am safle’r buddsoddwyr yma. Gellir gweld cyhoeddiadau FSCS yma.

Mae buddsoddwyr manwerthu yn cynnwys yr elusennau sydd:

• Yn gorff corfforaethol (sy’n cynnwys cwmni, cymdeithas ddiwydiannol a darbodus, corff Siarter Brenhinol, a chorfforaeth statudol) sydd â dau neu fwy o’r canlynol:
  Trosiant o £6.5 miliwm neu lai;
  Cyfanswm mantolen £3.26 miliwn neu lai;
  50 o weithwyr neu lai;
• Cymdeithas anghorfforedig sydd ag asedau o £1.4 miliwn neu lai.

Bydd rhifyn nesaf Network Wales (370) yn rhoi mwy o wybodaeth ar y pwnc.

Trefn lywodraethol mewn mudiadau plant
Mae Cyngor Cenedlaethol Mudiadau Gofal Plant Gwirfoddol wedi cyhoeddi, gyda chymorth canolbwynt trefn lywodraethol Governing for Children: A beginner’s guide to governance in the children, young people and families voluntary sector. Dyma enghreifftiau gwir sydd yn benodol ar gyfer unrhyw aelodau corff llywodraethol mudiadau llai sydd yn ymwneud â phlant.

Dysgu a datblygu
Mae NAVCA, corff ymbarél y sector gefnogaeth wedi cyhoeddi The Get Skilled Workbook, a ddyluniwyd i helpu’r rhai sy’n gweithio gyda mudiadau trydydd sector i adnabod anghenion sgiliau a hyfforddi, a datblygu cynllun dysgu a datblygu ar eu cyfer.

Terminoleg y trydydd sector
Mae gan ‘Voluntary Arts Network’ daflen briffio newydd ar Voluntary and community sector jargon, sy’n esbonio peth o’r termau ac acronymau mwyaf cyffredin a ddefnyddir o fewn y sector.

Rheoli risg
Managing Risk - A Healthy Appetite, - dyma adroddiad o’r seithfed arolwg blynyddol ar reoli risg gan gyfrifwyr PKF law yn llaw â’r grŵp Cyfarwyddwyr Cyllid Elusen. Mae’n manylu ar ‘chwant risg’ y sector - sefydlu lefel datguddiad risg sy’n gysurus ac adnabod yr ardaloedd sy’n achosi’r pryder mwyaf. Bydd o ddiddordeb penodol i ymddiriedolwyr wrth i ffocws y rheoli risg gynyddu’n gyffredinol, a pharthed rhai gofynion adroddiad.

Cyfraith Cwmnïau a rheoliadau eraill
Gweithrediad y Ddeddf Cwmnïau 2006
Mae Newyddion Ymddiriedolwyr wedi rhoi gwybod yn y gorffennol am wahanol gamau gweithredu'r Ddeddf Cwmnïau 2006. Gweithredwyd rhai darpariaethau pwysig ar Hydref 1 2008. Mae’r rhain yn cynnwys:

• Dyletswyddau cyffredinol y cyfarwyddwyr parthed gwrthdaro buddiannau (gweler yr eitem isod)
• Y weithdrefn newydd ar gyfer cwmnïau preifat i wneud gostyngiadau cyfalaf a gefnogir gan ddatganiad diddyledrwydd yn lle gorchymyn llys
• Rhaid i gwmnïau gael o leiaf un person naturiol fel cyfarwyddwr, fel na all cwmni fod yn unig gyfarwyddwr cwmni arall (bydd gan rai cwmnïau cyfredol fwy o amser cyn i’r rheolau newid)
• Mae yna leiafswm oedran o 16 ar gyfer cyfarwyddwyr.

Bydd y cyfyngiadau dan y Ddeddf Cwmnïau 1985 ar gymorth cyllidol gan gwmnïau preifat ar gyfer prynu eu cyfranddaliadau eu hunain yn cael eu diddymu o Hydref 1 2008 ymlaen.

Gwrthdaro buddiannau cyfarwyddwyr
Disgrifiwyd y gyfraith ar wrthdaro buddiannau cyfarwyddwyr yn un o’r meysydd cyfraith cwmnïau mwyaf anodd. Seiliwyd ar gyfraith achos cymhleth ac anghyraeddadwy sy’n mynd nôl i’r 1720au. O Hydref 1 2008 ymlaen, mae’r Ddeddf Cwmnïau 2006 yn ailddatgan rheolau cyfraith gyffredin - gyda rhai addasiadau pwysig. Mae’r cwmni cyfreithiol, CMS Cameron McKenna wedi cyhoeddi erthygl ddefnyddiol ar y pwnc (fydd rhaid cofrestru gyda'r saflen wê er mwyn gweld yr erthygl).

Gwybodaeth Cwmni
O Hydref 1 2008 ymlaen, bydd y Rheoliadau Cwmnïau (Datgeliadau Masnachu) 2008 yn uno a disodli’r wahanol reoliadau sy’n gosod y datgeliadau masnachu a ddengys hunaniaeth gyfreithiol cwmnïau corfforedig. Mae gwefan BERR yn darparu cwestiynau cynhwysfawr ar hyn ond yn gryno:

Ar unrhyw lythyr busnes, ffurflen archebu neu wefannau, rhaid arddangos y canlynol:

• Enw cofrestredig y cwmni
• Man cofrestru (er enghraifft, Yr Alban, neu Loegr a Chymru)
• Rhif cofrestredig
• Cyfeiriad cofrestredig y cwmni
• Os yn eithriedig o’r "cyfyngedig" fel rhan o’r enw, ei ddatgelu fel cwmni cyfyngedig
• Os yn gwmni diddordeb cymunedol preifat, datgelu’r ffaith yma
• Os yn gwmni buddsoddi, datgelu’r ffaith yma
• Os oes cyfeiriad at gyfalaf rhandaliadau, rhaid cyfeirio at gyfran lawndal.

Hefyd, rhaid arddangos eich enw cofrestredig ar:

• Hysbysebion a chyhoeddiadau swyddogol
• Biliau cyfnewid
• Nodiadau addewidiol
• Ardystiadau
• Sieciau
• Archebion arian, nwyddau neu wasanaethau
• Biliau parseli
• Anfonebau a gofynion talu
• Derbynebau
• Llythyron credyd
• Ceisiadau am drwydded i weithredu masnach neu weithgaredd
• Pob ffurf dogfennaeth / cyfathrebu busnes
• Arwyddion yn y lleoliad
  

Treth a TAW

Llinell gymorth elusen Cyllid a Thollau Ei Mawrhydi (HMRC)
Mae llinell gymorth Clybiau Chwaraeon Amatur Elusennau HMRC ar agor o 8.00 y bore i 5.00 y prynhawn, Llun i Gwener: 0845 302 0203.

Cyfrifo a Chyllid

Cyfrifo cymdeithasol
Mae’r Rhwydwaith Archwilio Cymdeithasol wedi cynhyrchu Really Telling Accounts, sef adroddiad ar eu Prosiect Cyfrifo Cymdeithasol ac Ymchwil Archwilio. Mae hwn yn archwilio i ba raddau y defnyddiwyd cyfrifo cymdeithasol ac archwilio gan fudiadau economi cymdeithasol ym maes ymchwil, ac mae’n cynnwys argymhellion.

Archwiliad annibynnol
Mae hwn yn fath o archwiliad cyfrifon allanol yn arbennig ar gyfer elusennau. Mae’n cynnig opsiwn llai costus ar gyfer 95 y cant o elusennau sydd a’u hincwm a’u hasedau yn llai na throthwy statudol yr archwiliad. Mae’r Comisiwn Elusennau wedi cyhoeddi cyfarwyddyd penodol ar gyfer ymddiriedolwyr ac arholwyr annibynnol.

Y Comisiwn Elusennau

Cofrestr Elusennau
Ers ei lansiad ar Hydref 1, mae fersiwn newydd y Gofrestr yn darparu mwy o fanylder ar elusennau, gan gynnwys:

• Proffil manwl i elusennau gydag incwm mwy na £500,000 sy’n cynnwys graffiau a thestunau hawdd eu darllen sy’n dangos incwm a gwariant yr elusen, faint o wirfoddolwyr a gweithwyr sydd ganddynt a’u henw da am gyflwyno cyfrifon. Mae proffil ariannol mwy cryno ar gael ar gyfer elusennau llai.
• Cyfleusterau chwilio gwell i chwilio am elusennau newydd gofrestru, elusennau sydd heb gyflwyno eu cyfrifon gyda’r Comisiwn mewn pryd, ac elusennau sy’n gweithio mewn maes neu ardal benodol.
• Croesgyfeirio ymddiriedolwyr ac opsiynau printio sy’n dangos os yw ymddiriedolwr penodol yn perthyn i elusennau eraill, ac opsiynau i brintio copïau cofnodion elusen mewn lliw neu ddu a gwyn.
• Adran adborth ar y Dudalen Groeso sy’n gwahodd unrhyw ddefnyddiwr i roi barn ar y gofrestr ar-lein newydd a sut i’w wella.

Lles cyhoeddus
Mae’r Comisiwn Elusennau wedi cyhoeddi crynodebau’r ymatebion i’w pedwar ymgynghoriad diweddar ar Public Benefit and the Advancement of Religion, Public Benefit and the Prevention or Relief of Poverty, Public Benefit and the Advancement of Education a Public Benefit and Fee-charging. Bwriad y Comisiwn yw cyhoeddi ei gyfarwyddyd diwygiedig mwyaf diweddar erbyn diwedd 2008. Anelir hwn at y sectorau elusen ble diddymwyd rhagdybiaeth lles cyhoeddus dan y Ddeddf Elusennau 2006, ond sy’n ategu cyfarwyddyd cyffredinol lles cyhoeddus pob elusen, a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Ionawr 2008.

Lansiwyd ymgynghoriad ychwanegol ar Fedi 4, sef Public Benefit and the Advancement of Moral or Ethical Belief Systems a bydd hwn yn cau ar Ionawr 5 2009. Bydd ymgynghoriadau pellach ar gyfarwyddyd atodol ar les cyhoeddus elusennau gydag amcanion elusennol eraill, megis lles anifeiliaid a hawliau dynol, yn dilyn.

Amrywiol

Tystysgrifau Perfformiad Ynni
Gall elusennau wynebu dirwyon hyd at £5,000 o Hydref 1 os ydynt yn methu darparu prynwyr neu rentwyr eu hadeiladau masnachol gyda Tystysgrifau Perfformiad Ynni. Dyluniwyd y rhain i ddarparu gwybodaeth am effeithiolrwydd ynni mewn adeiladau masnachol - mae’r Llywodraeth yn amcangyfrif pris cynhyrchu Tystysgrifau hyd at £2,000 i adeiladau mwy, neu hyd at £500 ar gyfer rhai llai. Bydd gan berchnogion adeiladau ar y farchnad cyn Hydref 1 tan Ionawr 1 i gynhyrchu Tystysgrifau. Bydd rhaid i fudiadau sy’n bwriadu gwerthu eu hadeilad benderfynu os yw’r rheoliadau yma yn berthnasol iddynt hwy.

Statws corff cyhoeddus
Yn R (on the application of Susan Weaver) v London & Quadrant Housing Trust, bu’r Llys Adrannol yn ystyried y cwestiwn pigog os oedd landlord cymdeithasol cofrestredig elusennol yn gorff cyhoeddus yn ôl Deddf Hawliau Dynol 1998, ac felly’n agored i welliannau cyfraith gyhoeddus eraill megis Adolygiad Barnwrol.

Mae’r mater yma yn fwyfwy pwysig yng ngolau’r caffaeliad cynyddol gan gyrff cyhoeddus a’r oblygiadau parthed darparwyr y trydydd sector. Er enghraifft, adroddwyd yn ddiweddar ar ymgynghoriad y Ddeddf Rhyddid Gwybodaeth ar ymestyn y gyfraith gyhoeddus i ddarparwyr y trydydd sector. Mae’r achos yn archwilio cyfraith achos ar statws cyrff cyhoeddus, a bu’r llys yn ystyried ariannu cyhoeddus yn ffactor allweddol. Ble mae ariannu yn cynnwys cymhorthdal i bob rhan neu beth darpariaeth gwasanaeth, yn lle talu am ddarpariaeth gwasanaeth i berson penodol, bydd y ddarpariaeth yn debygol o fod yn ddigwyddiad cyhoeddus a’r darparwr yn gorff cyhoeddus i’r perwyl hwnnw.

Yn ôl y ffeithiau, penderfynodd y Llys fod LQHT yn gorff cyhoeddus, yn amodol ar y Ddeddf Hawliau Dynol ac atebolrwydd o fewn cyfraith gyhoeddus, er yn yr achos hwn roedd cais Ms Weaver yn aflwyddiannus. Roedd ariannu cyhoeddus yn elfen bwysig yn y penderfyniad yma. Fodd bynnag, eglurodd y llys fod cyrff a ystyrir yn gyrff cyhoeddus er mwyn dibenion cyfraith caffaeliad cyhoeddus ddim o reidrwydd yn gyrff cyhoeddus er mwyn dibenion y Ddeddf Hawliau Dynol. Wrth ystyried y goblygiadau a’r atebolrwydd sy’n codi o gael statws corff cyhoeddus, mae’r bwysig fod mudiadau trydydd sector yn sicrhau fod unrhyw arian cyhoeddus a dderbyniant yn cael ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer darparu gwasanaeth arbennig, ac nid ar gyfer gweithredu polisi.

Gweithio ar y cyd
Mae’r ‘Housing Associations Charitable Trust’ newydd gyhoeddi ei becyn adnoddau yn seiliedig ar brosiect Collaborate, i helpu darparwyr cefnogaeth tai cymunedol lleol i ffynnu o fewn fframwaith Cefnogi Pobl drwy ddatblygu ffyrdd cydweithiol i dendro a thraddodi gwasanaethau. Mae yma wyth taflen waith, ac mae’r pecyn yn darparu gwybodaeth am ddatblygiad strategol, gwahanol ffyrdd cydweithiol, sut i ddylanwadu ar brosesau caffaeliad, datblygu cynigion cydweithiol a materion gweithredu. Er yn bennaf ar gyfer cefnogaeth tai, mae hefyd yn darparu cyfarwyddyd cyffredinol ar weithio ar y cyd.

Cyfraith ac ymarfer cyflogaeth

Canllaw tribiwnlys
Mae Canolfan Ganolog Cyfraith Llundain wedi cyhoeddi The Claimant's Companion, sef llyfryn ymarferol a synnwyr cyffredin i hawlwyr mewn tribiwnlys cyflogaeth.

Gwahaniaethu Oedran
Mae’r Eiriolwr-Cyffredinol wedi datgan ei farn yn The Heyday Appeal. Mae’n argymell fod Llys Cyfiawnder Ewrop yn gwrthod heriau Age Concern parthed cyfreithlondeb rheoliadau 3 a 30 Rheoliadau Cydraddoldeb Cyflogaeth (Gwahaniaethu Oedran) 2006. Y ddau brif argymhelliad yw bod y Llys yn hawlio:

• Ei fod yn gyfreithlon i ganiatáu amddiffyniad cyfiawnhad cyffredinol, ac nad yw’n hanfodol i’r Rheoliadau ddiffinio categorïau ymddygiad penodol a ellir eu cyfiawnhau (gweler paragraffau 56 a 57); a
• Bod rheoliad 30 (sy’n caniatáu cyflogwyr i ddiswyddo gweithwyr dros 65 oed os mai’r rheswm am ddiswyddo yw ymddeoliad) yn gydnaws â Chyfarwyddeb Fframwaith Triniaeth Gyfartal, a bod y rheoliad wedi’i gyfiawnhau o fewn cyd-destun cyfraith cenedlaethol.

Felly mae cwestiwn oedran ymddeol 65 yn fater parhaus i’w benderfynu yn y llysoedd cenedlaethol. Mae’r BBC wedi cynhyrchu crynodeb newyddion sy’n ddefnyddiol.

Isafswm Cyflog Cenedlaethol
Bydd yr isafswm cyflog ar gyfer :

• oedolion 22 oed a mwy yn codi i £5.73 yr awr (o £5.52);
• 18 - 21 oed yn codi i £4.77 (o £4.60); a
• 17 – 18 oed yn codi i £3.53 (o £3.40).

Nid yw'r gyfraith wedi newid ynghylch prentisiaid (unrhyw un sy'n gweithio yn ôl cytundeb prentis neu sy'n cymryd rhan mewn rhaglenni hyfforddiant arbennig). Nid yw prentisiaid dan 19 oed yn gymwys ar gyfer yr isafswm cyflog cenedlaethol parthed y gwaith a wneir yn ôl eu cytundeb prentis; ac nid yw'r rhai rhwng 19 a 25 oed yn medru hawlio isafswm cyflog cenedlaethol am flwyddyn gyntaf eu prentisiaeth. Dim ond prentisiaid dros 25 oed sy'n medru hawlio isafswm cyflog cenedlaethol o ddechrau eu prentisiaeth.

Mae BERR wedi cyhoeddi fersiwn diwygiedig o'r canllaw cynhwysfawr National Minimum Wage Guide.

Cyfnod mamolaeth a mabwysiadu
Mae'r newidiadau canlynol i Reoliadau Cyfnod Mamolaeth a Rhieni 1999 a Rheoliadau Cyfnod Tadolaeth a Mabwysiadu 2002 yn effeithio ar weithwyr gyda dyddiad disgwyliedig y geni / mabwysiadu ar neu wedi Hydref 5 2008:

• Cyfnod Mamolaeth - Mae hawl gan fenywod sydd yn disgwyl ar neu wedi Hydref 5 2008 dderbyn yr un telerau yn ystod cyfnod mamolaeth ychwanegol (AML) â chyfnod mamolaeth cyffredin (OML) - h.y. yr un amodau a thelerau ag y byddent yn gweithio (ac eithrio amodau parthed tâl). Mae OML yn cynnwys 26 wythnos, ar gael i bob menyw feichiog, beth bynnag yw hyd y gwasanaeth, sy'n cydymffurfio ag amodau hysbysu a thystiolaethol. Mae AML yn dilyn OML ac yn parhau am 26 wythnos arall.
• Cyfnod Mabwysiadu - fel uchod, mae hawl gan bobl sy'n mabwysiadu gael yr un telerau yn ystod cyfnod mabwysiadu ychwanegol (AAL) a chyfnod mabwysiadu cyffredin (OAL). Mae OAL yn cynnwys 26 wythnos, ar gael i weithwyr sydd wedi cwblhau 26 wythnos o wasanaeth parhaus, ac sydd wedi mabwysiadu plentyn drwy asiantaeth mabwysiadu. Mae AAL yn dilyn OAL ac yn parhau am 26 wythnos arall.

Cyfryngdod
Mae ACAS a Sefydliad Siartredig Personél a Datblygiad wedi cyhoeddi Cyfryngdod: Canllaw Cyflogwyr, sy'n edrych ar gyfryngdod fel dewis arall i ymgyfreithiad.