THE latest community news from Dyffryn Ardudwy & Talybont

Community council

AT the latest community council meeting, budget details were handed out to every councillor.

It was reported that the council had spent £38,640.95 since the start of the new financial year and this was £985.89 less expenditure than what was earmarked in the budget for the year.

The members went through the different expenditures that had been made and the differences that were on the business plan individually.

It was agreed to raise the budget for the car park development from £2,000 to £3,000.

A discussion took place and it was decided that an estimate of the following costs were going to be with the council during the next financial year - council’s insurance £2,200, clerk’s wages £2,205, clerk’s expenses £1,920 , tax on clerk’s wages £441, clerk’s Accountant £192, translator £1,800, donations £2,000, village hall £3,000, Harlech and Ardudwy Leisure £10,365.50, Wales Air Ambulance £500, grass-cutting at the cemetery £3,500, grass-cutting of the footpaths £1,500, grass-cutting other areas £3,000, benches £1,000, council’s expenses £200, cemetery expenses £3,500, One Voice Wales £300, sundries £1,000, hire of hall £220, contribution to keep Talybont toilets open £4,000, inspection of play parks £300, upkeep of flower pots in Talybont £220, council’s website £120, development of car park £3,000, auditors £650, chairman’s account £100.

The clerk/treasurer reported that there was a need to add the salt bins onto the budget plan from now on, as the council had agreed to be part of the scheme with Gwynedd Council to keep the salt bins and it was agreed to earmark £300 towards the salt bins that are in the area.

It was also agreed to earmark £52 for the rent of the football field, earmark £500 towards the christmas lights and create an emergency maintenance pot and earmark £1,500 for that in the budget.

After discussing the budget and foreseeing what the council’s expenditure will be for the forthcoming financial year, it was decided to raise the precept to £35,000.

Committee ‘81

The village hall was full for the 37th Evening of Carols on 18 December, which is an event held annually on the Tuesday before Christmas.

Rev Canon Tony Beacon welcomed all to this special evening, introduced the Choir, and led in prayer. Aled Morgan Jones, conductor of Côr Meibion Ardudwy then led the choir and all present in a wonderful evening of community carol singing.

During the interval, tea, coffee and mince pies were served by Committee ‘81 members, providing an opportunity to meet and greet one another.

After further singing of carols, Rev Canon Stephanie Beacon thanked Aled for the happy and friendly way he conducted the evening, and the Choir for their rendering of Carols old and new. She also thanked the local community council for paying for the use of the hall, Committee ‘81 for the refreshments, Gretta Cartwright for arranging the evening over the years since 1981, and to all who attended for supporting this special evening. Then she gave the Blessing, and wished everyone a happy and peaceful Christmas and a prosperous new year.

O Come all ye Faithful was sung by all to close a magical evening, in the true spirit of Christmas.

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