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20 November 2023

Minutes of the ordinary meeting of Aberdyfi Community Council held at the Literary Institute on Monday 20th November 2023

Present: Cllr Brian Kelly – Chair

Councillors:

Cllr Sara Bradbury-Willis

Cllr Mark Dunton

Cllr Roman Hackelsberger

Cllr Ian Hewins

Cllr Catrin O’Neill

Cllr Dewi Owen – Gwynedd Councillor

Cllr Megan Reynolds

Cllr Sadie Porter

Cllr Dave Williams

2 members of the public were present.

AGENDA ITEM 1 – Apologies

CL/80/20.11.23

Apologies received from Cllr Tyrrell

AGENDA ITEM 2 – Chair announcements

CL/81/20.11.23

The Chair welcomed everyone and announced that the official opening of the wharf development took place last week with dignitaries from Gwynedd Council and other organisations present. He thanked Cllr Reynolds for replacing the batteries in the defibrillators and the clerk noted that the battery needs to show 0 before it will stop working. 

AGENDA ITEM 3 – To receive and confirm minutes of the ordinary council meeting on 16thOctober 2023.

CL/82/20.11.23

Proposed: Cllr O’Neill Seconded: Cllr Hackelsberger

Unanimously agreed

AGENDA ITEM 4 – Matters arising

CL/83/20.11.23

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M/3/15.05.23 – Time & Tide bell information board

The board is now in place but it was noted that it is looking tired. It was agreed for the clerk to check the if it needs replaced and if the wording needs to be changed. Also to consider the possibility of adding a QR code to the information.

Action: Clerk to check the information board

M/24/19.06.23 – Coastal erosion

Cllr Owen is to meet with the golf club and Parc Eryri to see what needs to be

Cllr Williams noted that NRW dictate what maintenance the golf club can do 

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on the sand dunes

M/34/17.07.23 – Planning violations

The clerk contacted Parc Eryri and they confirmed that they plan to hold an online meeting this year

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M/42/17.07.23 – Railings in main car park

Cllr Owen showed the problem to the Head of Highways of Gwynedd Council at the wharf opening and he has agreed to come to Aberdyfi again soon to discuss a solution.

M/51/18.09.23 – Road closure in January

It was noted that this is now likely to happen in February and more details should be forthcoming within the next week.

M/55/18.09.23 – Payment for storage of kitchen

Clerk has contacted Mr George but has not had a reply

Action: Clerk to chase up

M/57/18.09.23 – RoSPA report

The clerk has met with Stuart Myring and is waiting for a quote to paint the playground equipment.

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M/58/18.09.23 – Review Food Festival

Cllr Owen and the Clerk met with organisers of the Food festival and they have agreed to run the event next year, but asked for more help. It was agreed the clerk will take responsibility for the financial aspect of the festival and the organisers will contact the clerk if they need help with other things.

M/59/18.09.23 – Correspondence

Fingerposts

These have been painted, as has the welcome sign at the Penhelig end of the village.

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M/68/16.10.23 – Gwynedd Council report

Release pf game birds

Cllr Owen reported that he had spoken to Gwynedd Council and Parc Eryri and both organisations replied that there is nothing they can do about the problem of game birds being released in Pennal and Happy Valley area, as it is currently

unregulated. Cllr O’Neil reported that she had had several close calls with birds and other cars trying to avoid birds on the road and was concerned that an accident will happen soon. She reported that there are bird feeders on the bank above the road at Cwrt, meaning that the birds are feeding on the food

that has fallen out of the feeder onto the road and she had moved one of the

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feeders as they had fallen into the road. She has contacted Highways at Gwynedd Council and sent them photos and Cllr Owen has asked Gwynedd Council to contact the organisers of the shoots.

Cycle path

The clerk reported that Gwynedd Council were unsuccessful in obtaining grant funding to complete the cycle path and they will apply again when the next round of funding opens for applications.

AGENDA ITEM 5 – Treasurer’s report

CL/84/20.11.23

Proposed: Cllr Bradbury-Willis Seconded: Cllr Porter

Unanimously agreed

AGENDA ITEM 6 – Gwynedd Council report

CL/85/20.11.23

Cllr Owen reported on Gwynedd Council matters as the Gwynedd Councillor for Aberdyfi. The report included:

Thank you to everyone who attended the Remembrance Services on Sunday and it was agreed to write to Mr Richardson who organises both events.

It was good to meet with the Chief Executive of Gwynedd Council face to face at the wharf opening as Cllr Owen was able to speak to him about various issues in the village and he plans to come back to Aberdyfi soon to discuss these issues further.

Action: Clerk to thank Mr Richardson

Action: Cllr Owen to meet with Gwynedd Council early next year

AGENDA ITEM 7 – Planning

CL/86/20.11.23

The council declared an interest in the playground application.

NP5/50/754 Aberdyfi Playground, Bodfor Terrace LL35 0EA

Refurbishment of playground equipment and wet-pour surface.

NP5/50/532F Tourist Information Centre, The Wharf, Aberdyf

LL35 0EE

Change external doors and glazing to shop fronts for new automatic opening doors, install notice boards on the front of the building, refurbish external ramps and installation of solar PV panels.

No objections were raised.

AGENDA ITEM 8 – To approve licence for use of football field by golf club

CL/87/20.11.23

It was agreed the licence is acceptable as a draft and should be sent to the golf club.

Proposed: Cllr Hewins Seconded: Cllr Bradbury-Willis

Action: Clerk to send licence to the Golf club 

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AGENDA ITEM 9 – To approve change of lease with Gwynedd Council

CL/88/20.11.23

It was agreed to go ahead with a change to the lease, ideally allowing the community council to sub-let the football field to anyone using the licence which is being used to sub0let to the golf club.

Proposed: Cllr O’Neill Seconded: Cllr Porter

Action: Clerk to send draft licence to Gwynedd Council and ask for the sub-let clause to be generic

AGENDA ITEM 10 – To discuss opening a savings account

CL/89/20.11.23

It was agreed to open an instant access savings account with Charity Bank and for the finance committee to research a notice account.

Proposed: Cllr Hackelsberger Seconded: Cllr Bradbury-Willis

Action: Clerk to open an instant access savings account 

Action: Finance committee to meet to discuss notice accounts.

AGENDA ITEM 11 – To discuss installation of speed signs

CL/90/20.11.23

It was agreed to ask for examples of the type of speed signs Gwynedd Council are able to provide and to ask for cost of civil works if signs will be put on lamp-posts.

Action: Clerk to contact Andrew Gregson at Gwynedd Council

AGENDA ITEM 12 – To approve enrolling clerk in a pension plan

CL/91/20.11.23

It was noted that the clerk hasn’t yet been enrolled in a pension plan. Cllr Porter volunteered to take this on.

Proposed: Cllr Williams Seconded: Cllr Hewins

Action: Cllr Porter to enrol clerk in a pension plan

AGENDA ITEM 13 – To note new salary scale from NALC

CL/92/20.11.23

The new salary scales were noted and the clerk reminded the council that the scales date from 1st April 2023

AGENDA ITEM 14 – To discuss sharing CCTV system with the harbour authority.

CL/93/20.11.23

It was agreed to go ahead with this, though some concerns were raised about the effect using a tilt and zoom camera will have on the wi-fi and function of the card payment system in the Tourist Information Centre. It was agreed to bring this to the attention of the harbourmaster.

It was noted that currently Cllr Kelly was the only one in the council with access to the CCTV footage and that the clerk also needs to be able to view the footage. It was also agreed that the system should only be checked occasionally. It was suggested that in the interest of transparency, anyone who accesses the footage

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should keep a log of when they log in and out of the system. It was noted the police have also been given log-in details to the system.

Proposed: Cllr O’Neill Seconded: Cllr Bradbury-Willis

Action: Cllr Kelly to liaise with the harbourmaster 

Action: Clerk to check she is able to log in to the system

Action: Anyone accessing footage to keep a record of when they log in and out of the system.

AGENDA ITEM 15 – To discuss paying Gwynedd Council to remove grass cuttings from Maes Newydd playground

CL/94/20.11.23

Gwynedd Council have told the Community Council that there is no mechanism for them to reimburse us for the cost of cutting and removing the grass cuttings. It was agreed to ask Aled how much he would charge just to remove the cuttings.

Action: Clerk to contact Aled

AGENDA ITEM 16 – To discuss installing a village noticeboard

CL/95/20.11.23

It was noted that Parc Eryri are planning on putting a digital noticeboard in the Tourist Information Centre where the Community Council were hoping to site one. It was suggested that we could potentially share their digital noticeboard. The clerk informed the council that a physical noticeboard would cost approximately £1000 and this would replace the noticeboard by the toilets in the centre of the village. It was suggested that it might also be possible to install a TV in the pharmacy window which could act as a digital noticeboard. It was agreed to ask the pharmacy if they are willing to do this and ask Aberdyfi Tourism group if they are willing to spend their money on this system. 

Action: Clerk to contact Aberdyfi Tourism

Action: Clerk to contact Pharmacy

Action: Clerk to add to agenda for next month.

AGENDA ITEM 17 – Correspondence

CL/96/20.11.23

* New year’s Day fundraiser

WeSwimRun are planning a playground fundraiser again on New year’s Day

* Aberdyfi wi-fi project

Menter-Mon have offered to come and do another session for local businesses

* Car park planting

Cllr Hackelsberger has proposed a planting solution for the main car park.

Action: Clerk to contact Gwynedd Council

* Aberdyfi Plastic Free Community

A proposal for Aberdyfi to become part of the Plastic Free Community Campaign was received. It was agreed to join the campaign. Cllr Porter volunteered to be on the steering group

Action: Clerk to inform the campaign of our intention to be involved

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* Public toilet concerns

Email received from a member of the public, expressing concerns about the state of the public toilets.

It was agreed to find out if Gwynedd Council plan to refurbish them and if not, how much it would cost to refurbish them, with the view to possibly covering the cost between the community council and AA&I.

Action: Clerk to contact Gwynedd Council

* Tywyn Hospital update

Cllr Reynolds gave an update on the staffing issues at Tywyn hospital 

AGENDA ITEM 18 – Items for consideration at future meetings

CL/97/20.11.23

* Village noticeboard and digital noticeboard at the pharmacy 

AGENDA ITEM 19 – Items for release / Rushlight / Website / Facebook

CL/98/20.11.23

* Remembrance Day services

* Opening of the wharf

* Advent windows

* Plastic Free Campaign

* Welcome to the new Post Office owners

* Fireworks New year

* New Year’s Day fundraiser

AGENDA ITEM 20 – Date of next Meeting

CL/99/20.11.23

Monday 18th December 2023 at 7.00pm

There being no further business, the Chair closed the meeting at 9.10pm

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Minutes of the ordinary meeting of the financial committee of Aberdyfi Community Council held at the Literary Institute on Monday 27th November2023

Present:

Cllr Sara Bradbury-Willis

Cllr Bob Tyrrell

Cllr Dave Williams

AGENDA ITEM 1 – Apologies

CL/100/27.11.23

Apologies received from Cllr Owen

AGENDA ITEM 2 – To discuss budget for 2024/25

CL/101/27.11.23

The budget was discussed and it was agreed to present to the full council at the December or Januarymeeting.

Action: Clerk to add to agenda

AGENDA ITEM 3 – To discuss opening a notice savings account

CL/102/27.11.23

It was agreed to propose opening an instant access savings account with Unity Trust Bank for the money currently ring-fenced for the Aberdyfi Tourism organisation and Playground Appeal donations. It was also agreed to propose opening a second one with Charity Bank for all but £10,000 of the remaining balance in the current account, assuming it is not too difficult to administer, and the current account balance to be kept at approximately £10,000. It was agreed to review the situation again next year with a view to possibly opening a notice savings account. 

Action: Clerk to research how easy it is to administer the Charity Bank savings account.

Action: Clerk to add to agenda for December meeting

The meeting closed at 11.30am

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AGENDA

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Aberdyfi Community Council Council Offices

Literary Institute

Aberdyfi, Gwynedd

LL35 0LN

Notice is hereby given that a meeting of the Community Council of Aberdyfi will take place on Monday 15th January at 7.00pm in the Literary Institute when all the several members of the said Council are hereby summoned to attend. 

Public session

Members of the public have a right to attend unless a specific decision has been taken to prohibit them. For a period of up to 10 minutes at the beginning of the meeting, members of the public may question the Council on local matters. Questions will be answered by the Chair or the Clerk to the Council. These persons will reserve the right to postpone making an answer until the following meeting, to be able to take advice or undertake research. 

Dated: 4th January 2024

Ordinary Meeting Agenda

1. Apologies

2. Chair announcements

3. To receive and confirm minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 18th December 2023

4. Matters arising

5. Treasurer’s report

6. To receive a report from the Gwynedd Councillor representative

7. Planning

Any planning applications received after this agenda was published.

8. To agree and approve precept for 2024/25

9. To note new pension arrangements for the clerk

10. Correspondence

11. Items for consideration at future meetings

12. Items for release / Rushlight / website / Facebook

13. Date of next meeting

Sandy Andrews

Clerk to the Council 

Cyngor Cymuned Aberdyfi Swyddfa’r Cyngor

Sefydliad Llenyddol 

Aberdyfi, Gwynedd 

LL35 0LN 

Rhoddir rhybudd drwy hyn y bydd cyfarfod o Gyngor Cymuned Aberdyfi yn cael ei gynnal ddydd Llun 15 Ionawr am 7.00pm yn y Sefydliad Llenyddol pan fydd holl aelodau’r Cyngor dywededig yn cael eu galw i fod yn bresennol. 

Sesiwn gyhoeddus

Mae gan aelodau’r cyhoedd hawl i fod yn bresennol oni bai bod penderfyniad penodol wedi’i wneud i’w gwahardd. Am gyfnod o hyd at 10 munud ar ddechrau’r cyfarfod, gall aelodau’r cyhoedd holi’r Cyngor ar faterion lleol. Bydd cwestiynau’n cael eu hateb gan y Cadeirydd neu Glerc y Cyngor. Bydd y personau hyn yn cadw’r hawl i ohirio gwneud ateb tan y cyfarfod canlynol, er mwyn gallu cael cyngor neu ymgymryd ag ymchwil.

Dyddiad: 4th Ionawr 2024 

Agenda Cyfarfod Cyffredin 

1. Ymddiheuriadau

2. Cyhoeddiadau Cadeirydd

3. Derbyn a chadarnhau cofnodion Cyfarfod Cyffredin y Cyngor a gynhaliwyd ar 18 Rhagfyr 2023

4. Materion yn codi

5. Adroddiad y Trysorydd

6. Derbyn adroddiad gan gynrychiolydd Cyngor Gwynedd

7. Cynllunio

Unrhyw geisiadau cynllunio a dderbyniwyd ar ôl cyhoeddi’r agenda hon.

8. Cytuno a chymeradwyo praesept ar gyfer 2024/25

9. Nodi trefniadau pensiwn newydd ar gyfer y clerc

10. Gohebiaeth

11. Eitemau i’w hystyried mewn cyfarfodydd yn y dyfodol 

12. Eitemau i’w rhyddhau / Rushlight / gwefan / Facebook

13. Dyddiad y cyfarfod nesaf

Sandy Andrews 

Clerc y Cyngor

18 December 2023

Aberdyfi Community Council Council Offices

Literary Institute

Aberdyfi, Gwynedd

LL35 0LN

Notice is hereby given that a meeting of the Community Council of Aberdyfi will take place on Monday 18thDecember at 7.00pm in the Literary Institute when all the several members of the said Council are hereby summoned to attend. 

Public session

Members of the public have a right to attend unless a specific decision has been taken to prohibit them. For a period of up to 10 minutes at the beginning of the meeting, members of the public may question the Council on local matters. Questions will be answered by the Chair or the Clerk to the Council. These persons will reserve the right to postpone making an answer until the following meeting, to be able to take advice or undertake research. 

Dated: 13th December 2023

Ordinary Meeting Agenda

1. Apologies

2. Chair announcements

3. To receive and confirm minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 20th November 2023 

4. Matters arising

5. Treasurer’s report

6. To receive a report from the Gwynedd Councillor representative

7. Planning

NP5/50/165C Glygyrog Ddu, Aberdyfi LL35 0RL

Retrospective application for part single / part two storey side extensions including balcony / terraced areas, two storey rear extension, front porch, alterations to roof of existing dwelling including installation of 3 rooflights, and associated work.

NP5/50/10M Outward Bound Centre Aberdyfi LL35 0RA

Formation of additional car parking areas in connection with the Outward Bound Centre

NP5/50/647B Existing highway verge adjoining A493 between Aberdyfi & Tywyn

Formation of a footpath (Active Travel route) between the communities of Tywyn and Aberdyfi adjacent to the A493

And any planning applications received after this agenda was published.

8. To discuss and approve councillor’s consumables renumeration.

9. To approve budget for 2024/25

10. To approve opening two instant access savings accounts

11. To discuss and approve purchase of council laptop for CCTV access.

12. To approve payment for storage of kitchen

13. Correspondence:

* Parc Eryri recreation strategy

14. Items for consideration at future meetings

15. Items for release / Rushlight / website / Facebook

16. Date of next meeting

Sandy Andrews

Clerk to the Council