APOLOGIES
Cllr. Margaret Roberts, and Gwynfor Owen (Gwynedd Council)
PRESENT
Cllr. Owen Lloyd Roberts (Chair), Lisa Birks (Vice-Chair), John Richards, Eluned Williams, Ffion Williams, Sian Mai Ephraim, Dewi Tudur Lewis, Eifion Williams, Ann Jones, and Cllr. Annwen Hughes (Gwynedd Council)
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 20th November 2023 were accepted as correct.
MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
The Clerk reported that a brown bin had been ordered along with a sticker for Llanfihangel y Traethau cemetery.
The Clerk also reported that the noticeboard had been ordered on behalf of the village hall committee and had discussed its installation with Mr. Meirion Evans.
MATTERS ARISING
Independent Audit Panel
The Clerk reported that every Councillor must sign a form regarding the above again this year. Every rule adopted in the Council’s minutes needs to be listed, and if a payment rule for costs is adopted, Councillors who DO NOT wish to claim costs must sign a form stating this. After discussion, it was agreed to adopt the payment rule for costs again this year, and it was agreed that everyone wishing to claim costs should do so but that it is important for everyone to send it back to the Clerk once completed.
Budget Plan
Copies of the above were distributed, showing the differences in spending that had occurred up to 31st December 2023 since the start of April 2023, and what had been earmarked in the budget plan until the end of December to all members present. It was reported that £21,627.78 (which included bank costs) had been spent since the start of the new financial year, which is £3,529.64 less than what was earmarked in the budget for the year. Members went through the differences in spending and what was down on the budget plan one by one. It was agreed to accept the above.
Council’s Financial Risk Assessment Policy
Copies of the above were distributed to all present, and each item on it was discussed separately. It was decided to accept this policy. It was agreed to include the name Play Quest in the audit section of the play park.
Council Projects 2024/25
The Clerk reported that the above had been placed on the agenda to get some idea of projects that would need attention during the new financial year and also to include an estimate of costs in the budget. It was agreed to put “wetpour” on another part of the play park at a cost of £18K if this had not been carried out by the end of March this year, and Cllr. Lisa Birks agreed to make inquiries regarding this, developing the Bron Trefor bus shelter site at a cost of £15K, and carrying out a survey of the car park at a cost of £1K, and it was also agreed to include these in the Council’s precept for the next financial year.
HAL
Cllrs. John Richards and Lisa Birks reported that they had attended the meeting between local Community Councils at Llanbedr village hall on the 18th of this month, and that the Vice-Chair had apologized for not being able to attend this meeting. There had been discussions about continuing to pay a financial contribution to HAL after the end of March this year and that a statement had been created, and the Councillors had agreed that the Clerk of each Council should send this out to every Councillor and ask them to vote by Thursday the 21st with their decision. The email sent to every Councillor with a copy of the statement was marked confidential, and it was stated that Members of the other Councils expressed disappointment that this information had been disclosed to a member of the HAL Board, and because of this, they believed this Councillor had breached the Council’s Code of Conduct. The Clerk had sent copies of HAL’s accounts up to the end of November last year to every Member and also reported that another meeting would be held between local Community Councils at Llanbedr village hall on 14th February, and that a meeting between the Community Councils and HAL would be held on the 18th of this month. After discussion, it was agreed not to proceed with a financial contribution to HAL after the end of March this year because the Council has its own significant costs to address regarding various projects in the area and also due to the Council’s financial situation.
Council Budget for the Year 2024/25
The Treasurer distributed copies of the Council’s accounts up to 31st December 2023 to every member for them to see what the financial situation was. There was discussion regarding the above matter, and it was decided that the estimated following expenditure by the Council for the next financial year would be – Council insurance £800, Clerk’s salary £2,100, Clerk’s expenses £1,500, office costs £400, tax on Clerk’s salary £420, Clerk’s Accountant £216, contributions £8,000, village hall committee £2,000, cemetery costs £2,000, grass cutting in cemeteries £2,000, grass cutting of paths £1,200, maintenance of Rhiw Garden £400, salt bins £1,000, benches £1,000, One Voice Wales £150, room hire £150, auditors £650, miscellaneous £1,000, CCTV cameras £500, maintenance of the play area £5,000, bank charges £150.
Council Precept for the Year 2024/25
A letter was received from Gwynedd Council regarding the above matter. After discussing the budget and forecasting what the Council’s expenditure would be for the next financial year, it was decided to keep the precept at £22,000.
TREASURER’S REPORT
The Treasurer reported that there was £11,174.86 in the bank, and £29,405.76 in the reserve account.
Invoices to be paid since the last meeting
B.T – £39.59 – CCTV phone line (10.12.23)
B.T – £39.59 – CCTV phone line (10.01.24)
Mr. Owain Aeron – £750.00 – fencing around Llandecwyn Church cemetery
Finance and Tax – £105.00 – tax on Clerk’s salary
Greenbarnes – £2,776.87 – new noticeboard for the village
Mr. Kevin Jones – £1,000.00 – final payment for installing CCTV
Receipts since the last meeting
Mr. K. Beale – £25.00 – rent for Capel y Graig garage (December)
Finance and Tax – £1,964.79 – VAT refund
Mr. K. Beale – £25.00 – rent for Capel y Graig garage (January)
Gwynedd Council – £479.95 – refund for cutting grass on public paths
Applications for financial assistance
Harlech and Ardudwy Leisure – £357.00 – precept proposal (monthly payment)
The above payments were processed by the Vice-Chair, and Cllr. Dewi Tudur Lewis had Cllr. John Richards approve the payments, and permission was granted to the Clerk/Treasurer to pay them online or by cheque at the end of the meeting.
Some of the above payments had to be made in two installments because the Council’s maximum payment online is £4,000.
MATTERS DISCUSSED AFTER THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
CORRESPONDENCE
Welsh Government
A letter was received from the above informing the Council that the appropriate amount under Section 137(4)(a) of the Local Government Act 1972, Section 137 Expenditure Limit for 2024/25 will be £10.81 per elector. The Clerk reported that the latest number of electors we have is 441, thus the Council is entitled to contribute up to £4,767.21 to external bodies.
Gwynedd Council – Environment Department
A letter was received from the above informing the Council that the A496 road in Talsarnau from a point near its junction with the B4573 traveling in a north-west direction up to a point near the junction to the southeast of the property known as Drŵs y Nant, Ynys, Talsarnau. The closure is needed on health and safety grounds during work on behalf of Network Rail.
As only financial matters were discussed in this meeting, another Council meeting will be held on the 19th of next month at 7.30 pm in the hall.
English (UK) 
Cymraeg