DRAFT Minutes of the ordinary meeting of Aberdyfi Community Council held at the Literary Institute on Monday 16th March 2026
Present: Cllr Dewi Owen – Chair
Councillors: Cllr Mark Dunton
Cllr Anna Grundy
Cllr Ian Hewins
Cllr Brian Kelly
Cllr Sadie Porter
Cllr Megan Reynolds
Cllr Dave Williams
2 members of public were present
AGENDA ITEM 1 – To receive and accept apologies
CL/188/16.03.26
Apologies received and accepted from Cllrs Bradbury-Willis and Porter
AGENDA ITEM 2 – Chair announcements
CL/189/16.03.26
The Chair welcomed everyone and noted that the weather has finally changed for the better which is welcome to everyone, especially farmers and local businesses. He noted that the war in Iran will have consequences for all of us, which is not so welcome.
AGENDA ITEM 3 – Declaration of financial, personal or prejudicial interest
CL/190/16.03.26
None received
AGENDA ITEM 4 – Presentation from Nia Edwards and Jack Walmsley, Gwynedd Council, on the proposed Green & Blue Infrastructure study
CL/191/16.03.26
Nia is a climate change professional and Jack is a tree ecologist with Gwynedd Council and presented plans to conduct a green and blue study in Aberdyfi to identify areas for improvement for water management, biodiversity, sewage management and other areas affecting / affected by climate change. NRW has identified that Aberdyfi and Tywyn have the lowest green & blue equity in Gwynedd and the Welsh Local Government Association has provided funding to conduct the survey in these areas as well as others. They will be tendering for professionals to undertake the survey shortly with a view to the report being finished sometime in the Autumn. It will then be decided how to act on the findings. Aberdyfi Community Council will be involved throughout the process and it is hoped to have a public meeting to receive ideas from the community as well.
Councillors gave feedback on areas in the village already identified as sites for improvement such as Morfa Gypsies and the sand dunes and expressed their commitment to being involved in the project.
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Jack offered to visit again in the near future to discuss ideas about what could be planted in the areas already planned for planting by the Community Council, ie. football field and playing field.
Action: Clerk to arrange meeting with Jack and interested councillors
AGENDA ITEM 5 – Presentation from Steve Beech, grants officer Gwynedd Council
CL/192/16.03.26
Steve informed the Council about the Town and Community Council Fund that has just opened for councils in Gwynedd, with Aberdyfi Community Council able to apply for up to £5,500, and he encouraged the council to think of projects it could be used for. He confirmed that the funding could be used towards a digital noticeboard and mentioned that other funds will be coming online soon, with larger amounts available. He offered to attend next month’s meeting to give more information and the council agreed they would like him to attend.
Steve also mentioned the Communities grants, which are available to any constituted group with a bank account and it was agreed to put this information in Rushlight.
Action: Clerk to add to agenda for next month
Action: Clerk to include community grants information to Rushlight
AGENDA ITEM 6 – To receive and confirm minutes of the Ordinary Council meeting on 16thFebruary 2026
CL/193/16.03.26
The minutes of the Ordinary Council Meeting on 16th February 2026 were received and unanimouslyapproved.
Proposed: Cllr Kelly Seconded: Cllr D. Williams
AGENDA ITEM 7 – To receive and approve the treasurer’s report
CL/194/16.03.26
The treasurer’s report for March was received and approved.
Proposed: Cllr Hewins Seconded: Cllr Reynolds
AGENDA ITEM 8 – To receive a report from the Gwynedd Council representative
CL/195/16.03.26
Cllr Owen reported that the council tax will increase by 5.1% this year, but there will not be as many cuts as feared, due to unexpected money given to Gwynedd Council by the Welsh Government.
He noted that Aberdyfi had been in the papers recently, with the refurbishment of the playground and refurbishment of the tennis courts in the recreation ground. Both projects have been funded mainly through the National Lottery and he thanked the clerk and everyone involved in securing the funding, as it takes a lot of work and effort to secure funding like this. He also noted that projects like this show how proactive the community of Aberdyfi is and we are very lucky to live in such a positive community.
He informed the council that many of the boards on the jetty are in the process of
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being replaced, though no final cost has been given yet. He noted that there is a harbour users meeting tomorrow and they will find out then.
He will be attending the Cambrian Coast Network Rail committee meeting on Wednesday evening when he hopes to receive more information on the new trains which are being introduced to the line in the Autumn. He noted that the new trains will carry less passengers but will have increased toilet and bike facilities. Cllr Kelly asked if the plan is to have longer trains on the line and how this will be facilitated given Aberdyfi platform has only a short raised section. Cllr Hewins noted that Network Rail plan to make redundancies and expressed concern how this will affect the service.
Cllr Hewins expressed his gratitude to Gwynedd Council for the good condition of the roads in Gwynedd. He noted that compared to England where he was recently, the roads here are in very good condition.
Cllr Owen read a letter received from Simon Hawkins regarding the speed of traffic travelling along the road by the golf club. The council agreed with his concerns and agreed to write to Gwynedd Council Highways to highlight the problem and ask for the speed to be monitored along that section, with a view to reducing the speed to 30mph between the 20mph limit and Trefeddian Terrace.
Action: Clerk to reply to Mr. Hawkins
Action: Clerk to contact Gwynedd Council
AGENDA ITEM 9 – To receive and approve a report from the Clerk
CL/196/16.03.26
The Clerk reported on the following:
* Meeting with Parc Eryri to discuss planting trees
Parc Eryri have not been in contact yet.
* Food Festival
Tom & Rhian Jones have confirmed they will supply small bales for the festival this year. Clerk will research cost of parasols
Action: Clerk to research cost of parasols
* Pheasant problem
Tried to contact Cambrian Birds again but still no response
Action: Clerk to keep trying to contact them
* Allotment wall
Work has started and all going well.
* Mobile kitchen
Still needs to be brought to Aberdyfi.
Clerk has not researched selling / renting kitchen yet
Action: Cllrs Owen & Hewins to move kitchen to Aberdyfi
Action: Clerk to research selling / hiring kitchen
* Playground opening ceremony
The clerk gave a suggested running order and noted that the signs need to be put up prior to the ceremony. Cllr Hewins volunteered to do this. The clerk requested help on the day to remove a section of concrete fence.
There were 3 entries in the Welsh Adults category, 3 in Welsh learners and 5 in Welsh children’s category of the poetry competition. 17 entries were received in the
English category, so Cllr O’Neill proposed splitting the English category into children
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and Adults and asking the AA&I for another £20 for the extra prize. This was agreed unanimously. This resulted in 11 entries in the English Adults and 6 entries in the English children’s category.
Cllr O’Neill asked if the fire station will be available for use in case of rain and the clerk conformed this will be the case. Cllr O’Neill confirmed she will bring a PA system.
* Neuadd Dyfi car park
The clerk is still waiting for a reply from Gwynedd Council regarding a Traffic Regulation Order on the land.
Action: Clerk to contact Gwynedd Council again
* Lights in Neuadd Dyfi car park
Clerk has not had time to research this yet
* Yellow bins
Clerk has not had time to research this yet
* Dafad Goch
The clerk received an update on the Dafad Goch Soapbox Racing event as follows: the Facebook page has had 215k views and 15k clicks per link on each post. They have sent out 48 applications and to 6th March, 17 had been returned. 9 catering stalls have booked for the square. Affected residents have had a letter and another will be delivered shortly containing emergency contact details, event schedule and car parking arrangements. Shops in the square have been briefed and reassurance given that the stalls will not be directly in front of the shops if they are open on the day. The churches have been briefed and the start time will not clash with Easter services. Planning is going smoothly with a number of sponsors, donations in kind for equipment and volunteers on the day. The clerk informed the council that there is a volunteer meeting on Wednesday this week at 7pm in the Neuadd Dyfi, all welcome.
* Youth club
Gwynedd Council recruited 2 workers, but then it became apparent that they couldn’t commit to running the youth club every week, so Gwynedd are now going to re-advertise with a view to starting the youth club in September when the children go back to school.
* Website & emails
A new Policy documents page has been added to the website and another page specifically for meeting documents. The councillors will need to start using their council emails exclusively soon to comply with GDPR etc. The spam settings have been increased so there should be very little spam now. Clerk will present the report on Aberdyfi Community Council’s digital health next month.
Action: Clerk to update website and arrange emails
Action: Clerk to add digital health report to April agenda
* Visit from Gwynedd Council Waste & Recycling Officer
Guy Slater visited the clerk and discussed the bin situation in the village. He will place locked bins at the bottom of the path opposite the council office for surrounding houses, as there has been a lot of problems with bins at the top of Church Street and he will monitor the situation. The Clerk asked him about having better recycling facilities in the main car park and confirmed that he is the one to notify when a coded padlock is put on the new bin compound.
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Action: Clerk to inform Guy Slater of padlock code
* Neuadd car park signs
New signs have arrived. Clerk will arrange for them to be installed. She confirmed the machine is working normally and taking payments.
* Road closure in Pennal
The clerk reminded the council that the road in Pennal will be closed from 13th – 15th April inclusive and the only way round will be via Tal y Llyn. Copperhill Street will also be closed under the railway bridge, for up to 3 days from the 13th April.
AGENDA ITEM 10 – To receive and consider planning applications
CL/197/16.03.26
NP5/50/741A 4 Melin Ardudwy, Aberdyfi LL35 0RY
Installation of solar panels on the roof and external batteries unit on North elevation
No objections raised
AGENDA ITEM 10 – To discuss concerns regarding playground equipment
CL/198/16.03.26
The clerk reported that the contractors had provided information from the manufacturers about the safety of the equipment and noted that it quotes the EN 1176 standards, which state that there is ‘a balance between the need to provide risk and the necessity of protecting children from serious injuries’ and ‘it is essential that children learn to cope with risk’. The contractor confirmed that ‘in terms of litigation, the council is covered.’
AGENDA ITEM 11 – To consider and approve quote for connecting digital noticeboard to the electrical supply in shelter next to main toilets
CL/199/16.03.26
The clerk reported that the quote was £259 + VAT. It was agreed to accept the quote unanimously.
Proposed: Cllr O’Neill Seconded: Cllr Kelly
AGENDA ITEM 12 – To consider and approve increase in quote for bin compound
CL/200/16.03.26
The increase is £528 due to increase in cost of wood. Cllr Hewins proposed asking the contractor to use pressure-treated pine instead of larch, which would be cheaper. This was agreed.
Action: Clerk to ask contractor to give a quote for pressure treated pine
Cllr Hewins proposed that in similar situations in future, the clerk should either talk to two councillors and gain their approval, or email all the councillors for approval to spend, instead of waiting til the next council meeting. Agreed unanimously.
Proposed: Cllr Hewins Seconded: Cllr D. Williams
AGENDA ITEM 13 – To consider and approve increase in quote for repair to playing field fence
CL/201/16.03.26
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The increase in the quote is due to all the posts on one side of the field needing to be replaced, not just some of them. The Council agreed the increase seemed excessive and agreed for Cllrs Owen and Hewins to survey the area and decide what work needs to be done.
Action: Cllrs Owen and Hewins to survey playing field fence and report back
AGENDA ITEM 14– Correspondence which requires a response from the Council
CL/202/16.03.26
* Letter regarding Transport for Wales from member of public
It was agreed to raise this at the Cambrian Coast Railway meeting
Action: Cllr Owen to raise at Cambrian Coast Railway meeting
Action: Clerk to reply to letter informing them of this
AGENDA ITEM 15 – To note correspondence not requiring a decision from the Community Council which has already been circulated to Councillors
CL/203/16.03.26
* One Voice Wales – Older People’s Commissioner’s newsletter Feb 2026
* DBCC – Annual Remuneration report 2026-27
* Parc Eryri – Record of Communities Forum meeting held on 5th February 2026
* Mantell Gwynedd – March information bulletin
* One Voice Wales – Joint OVW & Planning Aid Wales event, March 19th
* Ynys Mon CAB – notice of free training
* One Voice Wales – training dates March – June 2026
AGENDA ITEM 16 – Items for consideration at future meetings
CL/204/16.03.26
* Feedback from Network Rail
* Cllr O’Neill requested the council consider investigating the bubbles that appear on the surface of the river. Cllr. D. Williams said he would raise it at the harbour users meeting. Cllr Hewins reported that he has seen the harbourmaster testing the water on several occasions. The clerk reminded the council that NRW have just started a project to research the amount and content of pollution that goes into the Dyfi and that Cllrs Porter and H. Williams are involved in the project.
AGENDA ITEM 17 – Items for release / Rushlight / Website / Facebook
CL/205/16.03.26
* Congratulations to the recreation ground on new tennis courts
* Dafad Goch event
* Playground opening
* TAITH call for volunteer drivers
AGENDA ITEM 18 – Date of next meeting
CL/206/16.03.26
Monday 20th April
There being no further business, the Chair closed the meeting at 8.50pm
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