What Your Council Does.

Your council is made up of thirteen members all of whom work voluntarily for their community. They are all elected to their positions by the residents of Dyffryn Clydach at the same time as the County Borough Councillors are elected and MEP's are elected. The next elections will take place in May 2008.

Community councillors act as the eyes and ears of their communities, and also work with other partnerships such as Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, Neighbourhood Watch, South Wales Police, Dyffryn Clydach Environmental Group and the Wales Assembly Government.

Once elected the councillors are assigned to one of four committees. The committees that the council currently runs are Halls, Communications, Open Spaces and Finance.  Your councillors are from all walks of life and of broad experience and so they are selected to sit on the most appropriate committee using their skills for the benefit of the community. In the last year, as the Dyffryn Clydach Memorial Hall was undergoing a major renovation project, there was an additional Halls Development Committee but this is now disbanded.

COUNCIL MEETINGS.

A typical council meeting consists of the minutes of the previous meeting being read and approved plus a record of councillors' attendance and apologies recorded. The members consider the matters arising from the previous meeting and then receive the clerk's report which might include anything from applications for funding to applications for planning permission and reports on crime statistics.

The meetings are open to the public and the press are normally in attendance. Occasionally members of the public attend with business to put before the council, though they cannot vote on council matters.

The council employs a caretaker, a groundsman and a clerk and occasionally matters concerning issues such as salaries may need to be taken in private although as much council business as possible is conducted in public. Minutes of every council meeting are displayed, as required by law, in the foyer of the Memorial Hall, The Drive, Longford.

Work in your Community.

OPEN SPACES.

The council maintains nearly ten miles of public footpaths which are the envy of many areas. We employ groundsman Harry Davies who works year round to ensure they are a pleasure to walk. Harry also maintains the grounds of the Memorial Gardens at the Hall undertaking grass cutting, planting and pruning works.  Coed Y Graig Woodland, behind Dwr Y Felin School, is owned and managed by the community council with Harry's invaluable help. He also ensures that the children's play areas are kept clean and litter free and in a good state of repair.

DYFFRYN CLYDACH MEMORIAL HALL.

The hall is a well-used community facility and our caretaker ensures that it is clean and secure. The Halls Committee plans a busy timetable of  events, addresses maintenance issues and communicates with user groups.

Community Celebration week sees a tea dance, a quiz, children's competitions, our Family Fun Day and Historic walk. Discos for children are held regularly through the year and are always popular.

 The council displays Christmas decorations and organises a Carol Evening, and a children's Christmas Party. Our senior hall users are treated to a New Year Party where they are hosted by the council to a delicious buffet with entertainments.

The council has purchased Short-Mat Bowling Facilities for the public and bowlers meet every Monday morning at 10.00am. There are many regular players there who always welcome new members along.

The hall is booked by contacting the council's clerk, Randall Shopland.

FINANCE.

The council is responsible for compiling an annual budget which includes paying its employees, paying rates and utility bills for the hall and budgeting for any improvements or schemes necessary in the community. The council also supports groups that benefit the community. This is funded from the precept which levies an amount from council taxes. The finance committee has regularly ensured the lowest level of increase for the maximum gain to the community.

COMMUNICATIONS.

The council is always keen to communicate with the residents as much as possible so that we can express the wishes and reflect the opinions of the community. You can contact any Dyffryn Clydach councillor on any matter which they can bring to council or give appropriate advice or direction . Details of all your councillors are available on this website.

Our county borough councillor and chairman, Cllr. Martyn Peters organises meetings addressing the Welfare rights and safety issues of our older residents. Martyn sits on the Planning and Licensing committees of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. He is in daily contact with the Neighbourhood Management Team who provide a rapid response to problems in the area.

The two most direct ways that we reach out to the residents are our Ymlaen newsletter and now the Dyffryn Clydach Website which we urge you to tell your friends and neighbours about. We can post details of issues that directly affect you and get a real picture of what the community wants through this.

PUTTING PEOPLE IN TOUCH WITH EACH OTHER.

If you know of a community group that could benefit from a listing on our site then let them know about us. Please! It costs nothing to list them and they could even have their own free website.

 [Please see the web page specifically for Ymlaen.]

OUTSIDE BODIES.

A number of our councillors are school governors to Neath Abbey Infants and Mynachlog Nedd Junior Schools. Councillors also sit on Schools Liason Committees, The Trading Standards Committee and One Voice Wales. Cllr Martyn Peters, of course, sits on Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. We try to ensure that we have a voice in many areas and not just in community council.

Maybe you would like to become a councillor in the next elections. Why not come along to a meeting or speak individually to one of our councillors?  You would be most welcome to do so.