16th December 2024
Minutes of the ordinary meeting of Aberdyfi Community Council held at the Literary Institute on Monday 16th December 2024
Present: Cllr Dewi Owen – Chair
Councillors:
Cllr Ian Hewins
Cllr Brian Kelly
Cllr Catrin O’Neill
Cllr Sadie Porter
Cllr Megan Reynolds
2 members of the public were present
AGENDA ITEM 1 – Apologies
CL/125/16.12.24
Apologies accepted from Cllrs Bradbury-Willis, Dunton, Hackelsberger, Tyrrell & Williams
AGENDA ITEM 2 – Chair announcements
CL/126/16.12.24
The Chair welcomed everyone and thanked the clerk for organising the Christmas dinner, remarking how nice it was to take part in the quiz as well as having a meal.
AGENDA ITEM 3 – To receive and confirm minutes of the Ordinary Council meeting on 18thNovember 2024.
CL/127/16.12.24
The minutes of the ordinary council meeting on 18th November 2024 were received and approved.
Proposed: Cllr Kelly Seconded: Cllr Hewins
AGENDA ITEM 4 – Matters arising
CL/128/16.12.24
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M/75/(16.09.24) To review training plan
The clerk has arranged the training session for the whole council with Planning Aid Wales for 13th January at 6pm at the Neuadd Dyfi.
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M/95/(21.10.24) Re-printing of walking guide
The Clerk has bought an ISBN number but has not yet had time to research payable downloads or translation.
Action: Clerk to find cost of translation and payable downloads of guide
M/99/(21.10.24) Digital noticeboard
The Chair reported that he had tried to contact Gwynedd Council but the person he needed to speak to wasn’t there and didn’t call back, so he will keep trying.
Action: Chair to contact Gwynedd Council
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M/100/(21.10.24)Maintenance of CCTV cameras
Terry Loftus has agreed to do the work.
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M/115/(21.10.24) Maintenance of toilets Christmas and Boxing Day
The clerk has been given the details of the cleaner and will contact him to arrange pick-up of materials. She has agreed with the street cleaner to do the work and she will arrange for a notice to be put up at the Neuadd Dyfi toilets saying that the main toilets are open.
Action: Clerk to meet up with cleaner to arrange handover
Action: Clerk to arrange for signs to be put on toilets by the Neuadd Dyfi
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M/118/(18.11.24) VE celebrations 8th May 2025
The Clerk reported that she has been in contact with the Royal British Legion representative, who agrees that a small celebration would be appropriate and arrangements will be made closer to the time. The Clerk reported that a beacon may cost approximately £1000 so the council has asked her to research bespoke costs as well as off-the-shelf items.
Action: Clerk to research cost of various beacons.
M/120/(18.11.24) Correspondence
Cycle path
Gwynedd Council will arrange a meeting with Aberdyfi Community Council early next year to discuss completing the project. It was agreed to ask Tywyn and Bryncrug Councils if they would like to be involved in the meeting.
Action: Clerk to contact Tywyn and Bryncrug Councils
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New junction near Machynlleth
The Clerk reported that the Clerk in Machynlleth said they have not had any complaints about the junction but the Chair reported that Pennal Council have received several complaints about the junction. The Clerkhas contacted Gwynedd Council, who said they didn’t think they had any involvement with road improvements in that area and the Strategic Road Network Division of the Welsh Government said there are no plans to make any physical changes to the layout of the scheme. They informed her that feedback needs to be detailed and specific.
The Council agreed that this is not satisfactory and resolved to encourage people to feed back to the Welsh Government as much as possible via Rushlight etc. and the Clerk will contact them again on behalf of the Council, with more specific feedback, including photographs.
Action: Contact details for giving feedback to be put in Rushlight and on social media and given to Tywyn, Bryncrug and Pennal Council.
Action: Clerk to contact the Welsh Government again
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AGENDA ITEM 5 – Treasurer’s report
CL/129/16.12.24
It was resolved to receive and approve the Treasurer’s report
Proposed: Cllr Kelly Seconded: Cllr O’Neill
AGENDA ITEM 6 – Gwynedd Council report
CL/130/16.12.24
Cllr Owen reported that at the recent meeting of Gwynedd Council, it was reported that Aberdyfi has the second-highest proportion of second homes in Gwynedd. Abersoch has 53%, Aberdyfi 47% and it was noted that while more people are moving into villages like Aberdyfi on a permanent basis, there are worries about the effect of this on the Welsh language.
AGENDA ITEM 7 – Planning
CL/131/16.12.24
NP5/50/L515A Frondeg, Copperhill St, Aberdyfi LL35 0HT
Conversion of domestic garage into residential annexe
The Council felt that this is an overdevelopment of the property, as it already contains space for 14 people to sleep and in the summer this property is very noisy, causing a lot of disturbance to neighbouring properties. This development will increase the disturbance. There were also concerns regarding the amount of cars using the property and cars parking on the road when there is already very limited parking for residents in that area.
It was resolved to respond with this concerns.
Action: Clerk to respond to Parc Eryri outlining the concerns of the Council
AGENDA ITEM 8 – To discuss and approve budget for 2025-26
CL/132/16.12.24
It was resolved to add the excess from this year into general reserves. It was resolved to approve the budget with this change.
Proposed: Cllr O’Neill Seconded: Cllr Porter
AGENDA ITEM 9 – To discuss and approve the precept for 2025-26
CL/133/16.12.24
It was resolved to raise the precept by 3%, as the rate of inflation is currently 3.2%
Proposed: Cllr Porter Seconded: Cllr Kelly
AGENDA ITEM 10 – To discuss and approve a donation to the Neuadd Dyfi
CL/134/16.12.24
The donation to the Neuadd Dyfi this year is calculated as £3,985 / 2 = £1,992.50 + £2,500 = £4,492.50. It was resolved to approve this amount and donate it to the Neuadd Dyfi
Proposed: Cllr O’Neill Seconded: Cllr Reynolds
AGENDA ITEM 11 – To discuss Aberdyfi Community Council running the Christmas Fair
CL/135/16.12.24
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It was agreed that the Community Council will run the Christmas fair going forward.
Proposed: Cllr O’Neill Seconded: Cllr Reynolds
AGENDA ITEM 12 – To discuss public recycling issues
CL/136/16.12.24
Plastic-free Aberdyfi have informed the Clerk they are concerned that the recycling bins in the main car park are being contaminated by other waste as the openings to the bins are large and not a specific shape for the recycling. All the bins therefore
get emptied into general waste. Plastic-free Aberdyfi are requesting that the Council ask Gwynedd Council to change the openings to the bins or put new bins in their place. It was resolved to do this.
Action: Clerk to contact Gwynedd Council about this issue
AGENDA ITEM 13 – To discuss allowing work on the retaining wall in allotments
CL/137/16.12.24
The Clerk reported that part of the retaining wall at the back of the allotments needs work to stabilise it and the owners of the houses have been told that the work needs to be done from the allotment side of the wall, so are asking if they can access the allotments to have the work done. It was agreed to allow access and to ask the affected allotment-holder to move to one of the empty allotments temporarily.
Action: Clerk to liaise with the house owners
AGENDA ITEM 14 – To review provision of benches
CL/138/16.12.24
It was agreed to move the dark brown benches to the playground and the review the number of spaces available for new benches. Cllr Hewins and Owen volunteered to move the benches.
Proposed: Cllr O’Neill Seconded: Cllr Porter
Action: Cllrs Hewins and Owen to move benches.
AGENDA ITEM 15 – Correspondence which requires a response from the Council
CL/139/16.12.24
* email from Liz Saville-Roberts – information and request for feedback on Smart meters, internet access, mobile signal, move to digital phone services and public transport provision. All five topics were discussed and it was agreed that the provision of all of them is not satisfactory in Aberdyfi and the surrounding area. It was agreed for the Clerk to respond on behalf of the Council.
Action: Clerk to respond with feedback discussed by the Council
AGENDA ITEM 16– To note correspondence not requiring a decision from the Community Council which has already been circulated to Councillors
CL/140/16.12.24
* One Voice Wales – email regarding effect of Gwynedd Council’s Common Housing Policy
* One Voice Wales – email regarding training and request for trainers
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* One Voice Wales – survey on Welsh Government’s Action Plan on dementia
* Lord Lieutenant – thanks for his invite to join the Remembrance Service in Aberdyfi
* Gwynedd Council – report from Communities Scrutiny Committee
* Member of Public – appreciation for toilets being open during recent visit
* North Wales Police – survey on funding of policing in North Wales
* One Voice Wales – email regarding Pethau Bychain membership
* One Voice Wales – guidelines for Cloud Storage
* One Voice Wales – call for submissions to inquiry on community cohesion by the
House of Commons’ Women and Equalities Committee
* Nik Cilia, Policy Officer, Older People’s Rights, Welsh Gov. – survey of Older People’s experiences
* National Energy System Operator – consultation and webinar
* Gwynedd Council – toilet refurbishment update
* One Voice Wales – Keeping Communities Warm webinar
AGENDA ITEM 17 – Items for consideration at future meetings
CL/141/16.12.24
* VE celebrations
* Shelter at cemetery
* Community Action Plan
* Decide parking charges at Neuadd Dyfi car park and signage
AGENDA ITEM 20 – Items for release / Rushlight / Website / Facebook
CL/142/16.12.24
* Train timetable changes
* Panto at Neuadd Dyfi
* Tractor Run
* Machynlleth junction
* Atlantic rowing race participation by Nia
* petition to safeguard the Cambrian Coast line
AGENDA ITEM 21 – Date of next meeting
CL/143/16.12.24
Monday 20th January 2025
There being no further business, the Chair closed the meeting at 8.30pm
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