APOLOGIES
None
PRESENT
Councillor Owen Lloyd Roberts (Chair), Lisa Birks (Vice-Chair), John Richards, Eluned Williams, Ffion Williams, Sian Mai Ephraim, Eifion Williams, Ann Jones, Dewi Tudur Lewis, Margaret Roberts, and Councillor Annwen Hughes, along with Gwynfor Owen (Gwynedd Council)
The Chair welcomed Mr. Simon Dawson, a member of the HAL Board, to the meeting. On behalf of HAL, Mr. Dawson thanked the Council for their contributions over the years and noted that the Chair of the HAL Board had received an email from the Council informing them that they would not continue to contribute under the precept scheme from April this year. He stated that HAL had received grants to carry out various inspections, which are currently taking place. Some questions were raised by the Council Members, and the Chair thanked Mr. Dawson for attending the meeting.
On behalf of the Council, the Chair expressed condolences to Councillor Eifion Williams and his family following the recent death of his brother.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
No one declared an interest in any matter.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting on January 15, 2024, were accepted as correct.
MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
Need to delete lines 4 and 5 from the minutes regarding HAL.
MATTERS ARISING Budget Plan
It was reported that £26,665.24 (including bank charges) had been spent since the start of the new financial year, which is £393.98 less than the budgeted expenditure for the year.
Village Play Area
Councillor Lisa Birks reported that Creative Play had completed the installation of “wet pour” in the remaining part of the play area, and the site looks very good. It was agreed to take a photo of the site when convenient and send it to Llais Ardudwy.
Yellow Lines
Councillor Gwynfor Owen reported that he and Councillor Dewi Tudur Lewis had met with an officer from Gwynedd Council on-site to discuss the above, and a plan had been sent to the Clerk, with the Members unanimously agreeing to the plan that had been drawn up. It was noted that Gwynedd Council had stated that the Highways Department would not be placing a “No Overnight Parking” sign near the former Soar Chapel, and it was agreed to send a complaint to the Property Department, Gwynedd Council, about the poor condition in this area.
Public Seats
Councillor John Richards reported that he had repaired the seat near Llandecwyn Church, and it was agreed to ask Mr. Gwion Roberts to paint the seat near Eisingrug. The Clerk reported that she had asked Mr. Meirion Griffiths once again to remove the seat by Gwyndy and install the seat currently in the garage in its place.
Land near Bron Trefor
Councillor John Richards reported that there was nothing further to discuss regarding this since the last Council meeting.
HAL
Councillor John Richards reported that he had attended a meeting held in the village hall, Llanbedr, on the 14th of this month between local Community Councils to discuss the way forward with HAL. The Clerk had sent copies of HAL’s accounts up to the end of December last year to every Member and also reported that another meeting would be held between the Community Councils and HAL on the 22nd of this month. Councillor Sian Ephraim agreed to attend this meeting if she could. Councillor Gwynfor Owen stated that the Afon Dwyryd Governing Body was disappointed with the Council’s decision not to continue paying a precept contribution to HAL because local primary school children receive swimming lessons there. It was agreed not to discuss this matter again until any changes had been made.
GWYNEDD COUNCIL MATTERS
The following report was received from Councillor Annwen Hughes – she reported that from Monday, February 12th, a new timetable would be introduced on the G23 Bus Service for Sundays and Bank Holidays, with 4 journeys a day running between Abermaw, Harlech, and Porthmadog, with connections to the TrawsCymru T3 service available in Abermaw. More information is available at Lloydscoaches.com/service-update/servicechanges. She received a response from Gwynedd Council regarding work being carried out in Llandecwyn concerning the red bars along the roadside being a hazard, stating they had contacted O’Connor Utilities asking them to maintain the barriers by adding more sandbags, and this had been done. It was also stated that the work was due to be completed by the 14th of this month at the latest. After receiving an email and photo from Councillor Dewi Tudur Lewis regarding the condition of the path at the wern, it had been forwarded to the Pathways Officer, who responded that they would try to clear the drains to ensure that the water flows as quickly as possible from behind the causeway created along the path. Additionally, she had attended a meeting with the Police in Bermo on the 13th of this month. Councillor Gwynfor Owen reported that it is likely that council tax will increase by 10% with cuts of £8 million, and next financial year will be worse. He attended a meeting of the Autism Plan Task and Finish Group of the Council and also a meeting with the Fire Authority, where they were informed that there would be a 4% increase in council tax.
PLANNING APPLICATIONS
None received since the last meeting.
TREASURER’S REPORT
The Treasurer reported that there was £6,162.40 in the current account and £29,405.76 in the reserve account.
Payments during the month
B.T – £39.59 – CCTV phone line (10.02.24)
Creative Play – £21,816.00 – play area renewal work for Gwynfor John (second part)
Mr. M. J. Kerr – £460.00 – reopening of the grave of the late Mr. Robert Major (second reopening)
Llais Ardudwy – £20.00 – advertisement for mowing tenders (February 2024 issue)
Requests for financial assistance
Harlech and Ardudw Leisure – £1,785.00 (monthly contribution x 5)
The Treasurer reported that the Council has 5 payments to make to the above before these contributions end at the end of March, and it was agreed to pay all of these now.
It was agreed that the Treasurer would transfer £20,000 from the Council’s reserve account to the current account.
The payments above were processed by Councillor Lisa Birks, who was approved by Councillor John Richards, and permission was granted to the Clerk/Treasurer to pay them online or by cheque at the end of the meeting. It was agreed to transfer the sum of money from the reserve account to the current account.
Receipts during the month
Mr. K. Beale – £25.00 – rent for the Capel y Graig garage (February)
Cylliad a Thollad – £476.01 – VAT refund.
The Treasurer reported that she had asked Ms. Luned Fon Jones from the Finance Department, Gwynedd Council, whether the Internal Audit Team would be willing to act as the Council’s Internal Auditor again this year, and she agreed to carry out this work.
CORRESPONDENCE
None received since the last meeting.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
It was agreed that the Council needed to contact Natural Resources Wales to let them know that the fence between the hall and the houses needs attention.
Contact the Highways Department to draw attention to the overgrown hedge near Bryn Moel, which obstructs visibility for those trying to reach the road near the Cilfor crossroads, and also ask them to reinstall the protective mirror as it has disappeared following the latest work carried out.
Concerns were raised about litter outside the Capel y Graig garage, and Councillor John Richards agreed to deal with this issue.
It was noted that the public footpath sign had disappeared near Trem y Garth and needed to be replaced.
There was a question about whether horses are allowed on public paths or only on bridleways. The answer was no, but they have the right to ride horses on public paths.
Concerns were raised that the stile has never been repaired on the tidal path near the station.
There was disappointment that some are being prevented from walking along the public path leading from St. Michael’s Church to Lechollwyn.
There was disappointment and concern that the white lines have never been repainted at the Llandecwyn crossroads.
It was noted that the culvert near Stabl Mail on the Talsarnau side has blocked.
There was disappointment that the Llyn Techwyn path has been closed on short notice without signs indicating this.
English (UK) 
Cymraeg