APOLOGIES
Councillor Dewi Tudur Lewis, Margaret Roberts, Sian Mai Ephraim.
PRESENT
Councillor Owen Lloyd Roberts (Chair), Lisa Birks (Vice-Chair), John Richards, Eluned Williams, Ffion Williams, Ann Jones, Eifion Williams, and Councillors Annwen Hughes and Gwynfor Owen (Gwynedd Council).
DECLARATION OF INTEREST
No one declared an interest in any matter.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting on March 18, 2024, were accepted as accurate.
MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
No matters arose from the minutes.
MATTERS ARISING
Election of Officers for 2024/25:
Chair: Councillor Lisa Birks
Vice-Chair: Councillor Dewi Tudur Lewis
It was agreed, in the absence of Councillor Dewi Tudur Lewis, that the Clerk would contact him to ask if he was willing to accept the position of Vice-Chair.
Upon leaving the Chair, the former Chair, Councillor Owen Lloyd Roberts, thanked his fellow Members for their support over the past two years.
Councillor Lisa Birks thanked the Council for the honor of being elected Chair for the coming year and thanked the former Chair for his work for the Council.
Budget Plan
It was reported that £56,058.82 (which included bank charges) had been spent since the start of the new financial year, which was £21,200.82 more than was allocated in the budget for the year. This was mainly due to the Council spending on installing “wetpour” under the equipment in the playground, and this expenditure had not been allocated in the budget plan. The Clerk shared copies of the Council’s budget plan for 2024/25 with all Members, and this plan was discussed. It was agreed to adopt this plan for the coming year.
Land near Bron Trefor
The Clerk reported that she had been in discussions with the Chair of Penrhyndeudraeth Town Council regarding a bus shelter near the Hochtief site and had been informed that they were ready for this Council to receive the bus shelter in question. Councillors Lisa Birks and John Richards agreed to make arrangements to bring this bus shelter to the village.
Annual Report of the Council
The Clerk reported that it was now necessary for the Council to publish an Annual Report for the financial year that has just passed, and for this purpose, a copy of the Report that had been prepared for the Council was shared with all Members so they could comment on it if needed. It was agreed that this report was satisfactory.
MATTERS FROM GWYNEDD COUNCIL
The following report was received from Councillor Annwen Hughes – she had received complaints about potholes in various locations on the road from Caeail y Cwm to Moel Glo and had referred these complaints to the Highways Department in Dolgellau, who responded that they would arrange for the Inspector to visit this road and arrange for any necessary work to be carried out. This work has now been completed. She had sent a notice she received about the road near the Bryn Eithin estate being closed on the 6th of this month and also the road from Dolorgan being closed today, the 20th, to all Members in advance. She also reported that she had received complaints about speeding through the village and that she was going to contact the Police to ask them to monitor the situation, as well as receiving complaints about the manhole near the Ship Aground hotel and that she would contact the relevant department regarding this matter.
Councillor Gwynfor Owen expressed his congratulations to the village hall committee for organizing a great concert with the group Pedair recently. He raised concerns that none of the Community Council Members were present at the recent Area Meeting, expressing concern about the decision to move the air ambulance from Caernarfon and it was agreed that the Clerk would contact Vaughan Gethin A.M. regarding this, also expressing concern that there was no investment in establishing SMR at Trawsfynydd power station amid worries that plans to cut the number of trains on the Cambrian line would be in effect during the months between December and March.
The Chair did not take part in the discussion regarding the matter related to Trawsfynydd power station.
PLANNING APPLICATIONS
None had been received since the last meeting.
TREASURER’S REPORT
The Treasurer reported that there was £8,003.51 in the current account and £7,537.16 in the savings account.
Payments during the month
E. W. Owen & Company – £228.00 – completing P.A.Y.E online
One Voice Wales – £141.00 – membership fee for the year
Clear Insurance Management Ltd – £878.19 – Council insurance
Mr. Meirion Griffiths – £450.00 – cutting grass at Llanfihangel y Traethau cemetery x 2
Mr. Meirion Griffiths – £205.00 – cutting grass at Llandecwyn cemetery
Mr. M. J. Kerr – £460.00 – opening the grave of the late Mrs. Betty May Evans (re-opening)
Mr. Meirion Evans – £300.00 – installing a new noticeboard near the Primary School
Councillor John Richards – £42.88 – repairing the noticeboard in Llandecwyn
The above payments were processed by Councillor Lisa Birks and Councillor John Richards approved the payments and the Clerk/Treasurer was authorized to pay them online or by cheque at the end of the meeting.
The Treasurer shared copies of the Council’s accounts ending 31st March 2024 with all Members. The accounts were carefully reviewed, and were unanimously approved by the Members. It was agreed that the accounts book would be signed by the Chair and the Clerk.
Receipts during the month
Mr. K. Beale – £25.00 – rent for the Capel y Graig garage (April)
Tax and Duty – £3,642.60 – VAT refund
Mr. K. Beale – £25.00 – rent for the Capel y Graig garage (May)
Gwynedd Council – £11,000.00 – half of the precept
CORRESPONDENCE
Gwynedd Council – Environment Department
Received a letter from the above informing the Council that they are carrying out work to build dry stone walls, drainage, and fencing on horse paths 16/23 during this month.
Gwynedd Council – Highways Department
Received a response from the above department regarding the issues that were raised with them at the last Council meeting stating that they would arrange for the Inspector to visit sites and organize any necessary work with their workforce. Concerns were expressed that this work had not yet been completed.
SARPA
Received a letter from the above asking the Council to contact Transport Wales regarding proposed cuts to services on the Cambrian line, which they intend to implement by cutting out four trains between December and March. The Clerk reported that she had already forwarded this email to the Members.
Air Ambulance Wales
Received a letter from the Chief Executive of the above regarding a review of the EMRTS service that was conducted independently and has now concluded. The Clerk reported that she had already forwarded this email to the Members.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Concerns were raised that brambles were growing on the side of the road down from Soar under Snowdon View and this posed a danger to travelers.
Concerns were raised that the traffic lights near the Stabl Mail were not functioning correctly and there was also a desire to know what was happening with the plans to repair the road in question.
Concerns were expressed that the white lines had never been repainted on the road near Cei Newydd, despite the Council having requested this to be done several times.
It was reported that the ramp on the tidal wall down by the station had never been repaired.
Concerns were raised that there was no mobile phone signal in Glan y Wern or Llandecwyn.
It was reported that a bench near Llechollwyn had been damaged and it was agreed to ask Mr. Meirion Griffiths to clear it from the site.
It was reported that public footpath number 1 needed attention.
It was reported that the cattle grid running from Aberdeunant to Tallin needed attention.
Concerns were raised regarding the condition of the public footpath known as the red path.
It was reported that there were two vacant seats on the Governing Body of the Dwyryd River Federation, namely one parent seat and one community member seat, and Members were asked if they had names to put forward for the community member seat.
It was reported that an extension had been built in Borth Las, Llandecwyn without planning permission.
On behalf of the Council, the Chair thanked Councillor John Richards for repairing the noticeboard in Llandecwyn.
Thanks were extended to Gwynedd Council for installing the new gates in Llandecwyn.
It was agreed to place the issue of the Council’s website on the agenda for July.
It was agreed to hold a cemetery meeting on the 17th of June, and everyone would meet at St. Michael’s Church, Llanfihangel y Traethau at 7.00 pm.
English (UK) 
Cymraeg