APOLOGIES
Councillor John Richards
PRESENT
Councillor Owen Lloyd Roberts (Chair), Margaret Roberts (Vice-Chair), Dewi Tudur Lewis, Lisa Birks, Eluned Williams, Ffion Williams, Eifion Williams, Ann Jones, and Councillors Annwen Hughes and Gwynfor Owen (Gwynedd Council)
DECLARATION OF INTEREST
No declarations of interest were made on any matter.
MINUTES
The minutes from the meeting on May 15, 2023, were accepted as correct.
MATTERS ARISING
Budget Plan
It was reported that £2,321.83 (including bank costs) had been spent since the start of the new financial year, which is £8,209.28 less than the allocated budget for the year.
CCTV Cameras
The Clerk reported that the work to get the equipment in Llandecwyn operational had finally been completed by BT, and the cameras are now working. They have not yet been transferred to the Police, and once this is done, it was agreed that the Council needs to see the cameras working. It was decided to arrange for PCSO Paula Stewart or Elliw Williams to attend the next Council meeting at 7.00 pm.
Play Area at the Village
Councillor Lisa Birks reported that she had received a price from Creative Play to carry out the work at the above site, as well as from other companies. It was agreed to accept Creative Play’s price because they included site preparation in the price, while the others did not. It was also agreed that a price is needed to obtain equipment for small children in the green area.
Yellow Lines
Councillor Gwynfor Owen reported that there was nothing further to report on the above since the last Council meeting.
Public Seats
Councillor Margaret Roberts reported that she had taken photos of the seats and that two needed attention, the one near Gwyndy, Ynys. It was agreed to remove this seat and replace it with the one near the Honda garage. It was noted that one at the bottom of the slope in Cilfor also needed attention, and it was agreed to ask Mr. Gwiion Roberts for a price to repair it.
Land near Bron Trefor
Councillor Gwynfor Owen reported that there was nothing further to report on the above since the last Council meeting.
HAL
In the absence of Councillor John Richards, it was reported on his behalf that he had attended the meeting with HAL on the 29th of last month on behalf of the Council. A report from the meeting had been received, and the Clerk reported that she had forwarded this report to all Members. The Clerk also stated that a copy of the minutes of this meeting had been sent to every Council and that these had already been forwarded to the Members. The minutes were reviewed, and it was stated that the Council was not satisfied for HAL to send a financial report every three months, as it was needed monthly. It was learned that another meeting will be held on the 27th of this month between the Community Councils and HAL. The Clerk reported that she had received an email from one of the Board Directors along with a copy of the profit and loss account for the center for May and a copy of the monthly usage analysis of the pool from January to May. It was also noted that the climbing wall remains closed and that the café is operating on a reduced opening hours schedule due to staffing issues.
413………………………………………Chair
She also received another email along with information regarding income and expenditure that had been broken down and received in May. The Clerk further reported that she had received a letter from the Clerk of Llanbedr Community Council inviting 2 members of the Council to a meeting in the village hall, Llanbedr on August 3rd at 7.00 pm to discuss the way forward between the Community Councils in the area and HAL. Councillor Lisa Birks agreed to attend this meeting and also wanted to ask Councillor John Richards if he would be willing to attend. Concern was expressed by Members that an electric cable was being run from the center building to a private motorhome located nearby. There was discussion about whether the Council would pay the precept arrangement this month, with 5 Members agreeing to do so, 2 against, and 1 abstaining. It was also stated that no payment would be made in August due to no Council meeting being held.
Election of Councillor
The Clerk reported that she had been informed by the Electoral Officer that no names had been received from him regarding the vacant seat on the Council, and therefore the Council now has the right to co-opt a Member. It was agreed to inquire if anyone would be interested in being a Member of the Council.
Cemetery Meeting – 5.7.23
It was agreed that the minutes of the above meeting were correct. Concern was expressed that the fencing work at Llandecwyn cemetery has still not been carried out, and it was agreed to inform Mr. Harri Pugh that if this work has not been done by the end of August, the Council will ask another contractor to carry out the work.
Gwynedd Council Matters
The following report was received from Councillor Annwen Hughes – she had been informed that the Area Cleaning Team had carried out work to clean up along the road by Bryn Street, but unfortunately they had not done the work of trimming the hedges along the road down to Llandecwyn station, and she had contacted them again about this. She also had been informed that a gate had been installed at the end of the path running alongside the former Bethel Chapel, and she had contacted the Path Officer regarding this, and he is going to see if it would be possible for the Council to apply to claim this path. It was learned that the gate is currently open. Councillor Gwynfor Owen reported that he had been informed that the hedges would be trimmed soon and that he had also received a response regarding the “no waiting” sign near Soar Chapel. He had received several complaints about the signs located along the road in Llandecwyn stating they are a hazard and want them raised to the top of the wall. He stated that a rearrangement of temporary stations is going to take place and this will not affect Gwynedd.
PLANNING APPLICATIONS
None had been received since the last meeting.
TREASURER’S REPORT
The Treasurer reported that there is £36,414.07 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 (11.6.23)
B.T – £39.59 – phone line for CCTV cameras (11.7.23)
HMRC – £105.00 – tax on the Clerk’s salary
Mr. Meirion Griffiths – £420.00 – grass cutting at Llanfihangel y Traethau and Llandecwyn cemetery
Mr. Meirion Griffiths – £490.00 – grass cutting public paths in the area.
The above payments were processed by the Chair, Councillor Edwina Evans, and Councillor Tegid John approved the payments, and permission was granted for the Clerk/Treasurer to pay them online or by cheque at the end of the meeting.
Receipts during the month
Mr. K. Beale – £25.00 – rent for Capel y Graig garage (June)
Mr. K. Beale – £25.00 – rent for Capel y Graig garage (July)
414…………………………………………..Chair
Requests for financial assistance
Harlech and Ardudwy Leisure – £357.00 (monthly contribution)
The Treasurer reported that the Internal Audit had been completed and that there were no significant issues arising except for the following matters –
Assurance can be declared in the governance arrangements and financial statements of Talsarnau Community Council for the financial year 2022-23 based on the tests carried out, but some elements can be drawn out to mitigate identified risks. It is recommended that the Council commit to addressing the following risks and taking appropriate steps to mitigate them:
Lack of controls for establishing, approving, and releasing online payments.
Lack of awareness/compliance where there is no reference to the controls for releasing and approving online payments in the Council’s financial regulations.
The Treasurer further reported that this Council is undergoing a full audit this year and that she has prepared the necessary documents and sent them to Audit Wales in Cardiff.
CORRESPONDENCE
None had been received since the last meeting.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
A request was made to ask if it would be possible to repaint “slow” on the road near the Cilfor crossroad.
Councillor Lisa Birks reported that she had contacted the Area Cleaning Team to ask them to trim the hedge near the bus shelter in Llandecwyn, by the benches at the Cilfor crossroad at the edge of the road down to Llandecwyn station.
Councillor Lisa Birks also reported that she had found Hochief jobs and had shared them on the website.
Concerns were expressed that the grass along the rural roads had never been cut, and the Clerk reported that she had already contacted the Area Engineer about this and that this work would be done soon.
It was noted that dog mess was on the road from Talsarnau to Wern Path.
A request was made to Mr. Meirion Griffiths to see if it would be possible for him to cut the brambles near Rhiw Derwydd.
It was learned that the work had never been carried out near Pont y Glyn and that a gate had been damaged on the public path to Y Glyn.
SIGNED……………………………………….Chair
DATE………………………………………………
English (UK) 
Cymraeg