APOLOGIES
Councillor Gwynfor Owen (Gwynedd Council)
PRESENT
Councillor Owen Lloyd Roberts (Chair), Margaret Roberts (Vice-Chair), John Richards, Dewi Tudur Lewis, Lisa Birks, Eluned Williams, Ffion Williams, Eifion Williams, Ann Jones, and Councillor Annwen Hughes (Gwynedd Council)
DECLARATION OF INTEREST
No declarations of interest were made on any matter.
MINUTES
The minutes from the meeting on July 17, 2023, were accepted as correct.
MATTERS ARISING
Budget Plan
It was reported that £3,790.01 (including bank costs) had been spent since the start of the new financial year, which is £10,780.10 less than the allocated budget for the year.
CCTV Cameras
Councillor John Richards and the Clerk reported that there had been a problem with BT invoices, and due to this, although the cameras are working, it is not possible to transfer information to the Police because the BT hub is not operational. After discussion, it was agreed to contact Mabon Ap Gwynfor and Liz Saville Roberts regarding the unresolved issues.
Play Area at the Village
The Clerk reported that she had received a price of £10,308.00 from Creative Play to carry out the agreed work in the play area mentioned above and that they intended to start the work on the 23rd of next month. Councillor Lisa Birks stated she would contact Creative Play to ask them to postpone the start of the work and also reported that she had received a price for equipment for the small park which she would send to everyone. It was agreed that the Clerk would contact Play Quest to ask them to conduct an inspection of the play park.
Yellow Lines
Due to Councillor Gwynfor Owen’s absence, there was no report on this matter.
Public Seats
The Clerk reported that she had asked Mr. Gwiion Roberts for a price to repair the seats in Cilfor but had not received any further communication from him. The Clerk stated arrangements to remove the seat near Gwyndy, Ynys and replace it with the one in the garage had not been discussed in the last meeting, and it was agreed to ask Mr. Meirion Griffiths to carry out this work.
Land near Bron Trefor
Due to Councillor Gwynfor Owen’s absence, there was no report on this matter.
HAL
Councillor John Richards reported that he attended the meeting with HAL on July 27 and that there was good representation there. The Clerk reported that a copy of the minutes from this meeting had been sent to every Council and stated she had already forwarded these to the Members. She also received information regarding income and expenditure for July and forwarded this email to all Members. Furthermore, she received the same for August and sent this to all Members. Councillor John Richards further reported that he attended a meeting at the village hall, Llanbedr on August 3 to discuss the way forward between Community Councils in the area and HAL. The Clerk also stated she had forwarded the minutes of this meeting to all Members, as well as an email sent by the Clerk of Llanbedr Council to HAL. It was noted that she received an email from HAL on Thursday, August 24 stating that a meeting with Community Councils would be held shortly. She forwarded this to Council representatives and all Members. It was also noted that another meeting with Ardudwy area Councils would take place in Llanbedr on the 11th of next month at 7.30 pm and, as before, an invitation was extended for two Community Councillors to attend this meeting. After discussion, it was agreed to pay a contribution for the last three months amounting to £1,071.00, and it was noted that no one was willing to attend the meeting that will be held in Llanbedr on the 11th of next month, but Councillor John Richards would attend the meeting with HAL on the 28th of this month.
Election of Councillor
The Clerk reported that she had been informed by the Electoral Officer that no names had been received regarding the vacant seat on the Council, and therefore the Council now has the right to co-opt a Member. The Clerk reported that Mrs. Sian Ephraim had agreed to become a Member of the Council, and it was unanimously agreed to co-opt her, and the Clerk was to contact her and invite her to the next Council meeting.
Standing and Financial Orders
The Clerk reported that she had put this matter on the agenda because the Internal Auditor stated that these rules must be reviewed annually. The Clerk further reported that she had received a copy of the Revised Standing Orders from One Voice Wales and had also included the statements in red in the Financial Orders. It was agreed to adopt the Revised Standing Orders and the additions included in the Financial Orders under the heading of payment of accounts, which state – Specifically, arrangements should include the separation of duties in the process of approving, processing, and authorizing online payments. Specifically, the Council should ensure that two individuals are involved in processing the payment; one individual will process the payment, and the other individual(s) will approve the payment.
Gwynedd Council Matters
The following report was received from Councillor Annwen Hughes – she had received an email from Angela Swann along with details of the Guy Howland Jackson Memorial Trust for the attention of this area, asking if anyone knew of anyone who could receive help from this Trust to contact her. This Trust can provide assistance with small grants if you live in the Llan Ffestiniog, Maentwrog, Gellilydan, Trawsfynydd, Bronaber, Talsarnau, or Llandecwyn area. It was noted that the grass on the roadside from Maes y Neuadd to Llandecwyn had been cut immediately after she contacted the Highways Department following the last meeting.
PLANNING APPLICATIONS
None had been received since the last meeting.
TREASURER’S REPORT
The Treasurer reported that there is £46,467.89 in the current account, and £9,211.91 in the savings account.
Payments during the month
B.T – £39.59 – phone line for CCTV cameras (11.8.23)
B.T – £39.59 – phone line for CCTV cameras (11.9.23)
Mr. Meirion Griffiths – £450.00 – grass cutting at Llanfihangel y Traethau cemetery x 2
Mr. Meirion Griffiths – £195.00 – grass cutting at Llandecwyn cemetery
Mr. Meirion Griffiths – £200.00 – maintenance of Gardd y Rhiw
Gwynedd Council – £282.00 – internal audit 2022/23
Mrs. Annwen Hughes – £1,438.40 – salary for 6 months (£850) and costs for 6 months (£588.40) = £1,438.40
HMRC – £105.00 – tax on the Clerk’s salary
The above payments were processed by the Chair, Councillor Owen Lloyd Roberts, and Councillor Lisa Birks approved the payments. Permission was granted for the Clerk/Treasurer to pay them online or by cheque at the end of the meeting. It was agreed to transfer a sum of money from the current account to the savings account.
Receipts during the month
Mr. K. Beale – £25.00 – rent for Capel y Graig garage (August)
Ms. Winifred Davies – £236.00 – ashes burial of the late Mrs. Dilys Davies
Gwynedd Council – £11,000.00 – half of the precept
Pritchard and Griffiths – £236.00 – ashes burial of the late Mr. Ieuan James Williams
Mr. K. Beale – £25.00 – rent for Capel y Graig garage (September)
Requests for financial assistance
Harlech and Ardudwy Leisure – £1,071.00 (3-month contribution)
CORRESPONDENCE
Gwynedd Council – Highways Department
A letter was received from the above informing the Council that the road from Pen y Glyn west to Pont y Glyn, Eisingrug will be closed on October 27 due to pole restoration work and cabling activities being carried out by BT Openreach.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Concerns were raised that the signs on the roadside in Llandecwyn are still too far out into the road, and it was agreed to ask if it would now be possible to move the traffic lights closer to the entrance, which would mean some of these signs, especially the more hazardous ones, could be removed.
A desire was expressed to see if it would be possible to extend the parking area down the station road, and Councillor Dewi Tudur Lewis agreed to take a look at the site. It was also agreed that the trees in the parking area need to be trimmed.
A request was made to the Highways Department to see if it would be possible to move the 30 mph signs closer to the bend near Tyrpac.
Concerns were expressed that the repainting of “slow” on the road at the Cilfor crossroad has not been completed.
It was agreed to ask Owain Aeron for a price to build the fence around Llandecwyn cemetery, and Councillor John Richards agreed to contact him.
It was noted that the public footpath sign near Penybryn needs renewal.
It was reported that the public footpath sign near Gwndwn has been turned around to prevent anyone from using the path.
It was stated that the bus shelter at Glan y Wern needs attention.
It was noted that Treefella will carry out work on the trees in Llanfihangel y Traethau cemetery.
Concerns were raised that the white lines near Cei Newydd have never been repainted.
A request was made to contact Gwynedd Council to ask if they could empty the bins at Llanfihangel y Traethau cemetery.
SIGNED……………………………………….Chair
DATE………………………………………………
English (UK) 
Cymraeg