COFNODION / MINUTES

Cyng. Talat Chaudhri (Cadeirydd)

Cyng. Kerry Ferguson

Cyng. Dylan Lewis-Rowlands

Cyng. Glynis Somers

Cyng. Julien Brun

Cyng. Alun Williams

Cyng. Emlyn Jones

Cyng. Jeff Smith

Cyng. Nishant Chandolia

Cyng. Mark Strong

Yn mynychu

Will Rowlands (Clerc)

Catrin Morgan-Lewis (Swyddog Gweinyddol)

Carol Thomas (Cyfieithydd)

Cllr. Talat Chaudhri (Chair)

Cllr. Kerry Ferguson

Cllr. Dylan Lewis-Rowlands

Cllr. Glynis Somers

Cllr. Julien Brun

Cllr. Alun Williams

Cllr. Emlyn Jones

Cllr. Jeff Smith

Cllr. Nishant Chandolia

Cllr. Mark Strong

In attendance

Will Rowlands (Clerk)

Catrin Morgan-Lewis (Administration Officer)

Carol Thomas (Translator)

Yr oedd y aelodau canlynol yn absennol gyda’u hymddiheuriadau, ac PENDERFYNWYD cymeradwyo eu habsenoldeb:

·         Cyng. Alun Williams

Yn absennol heb ymddiheuriadau:

·         Dim

The following members were absent with apologies, and it was RESOLVED to approve their absence:

·         Cllr. Alun  Williams

The following members were absent without apologies:

·         None

10. Cyllid Cymdeithas Gefeillio Sant Brieuc: Datganodd Cyng. Talat Chaudhri fuddiant personol fel cynrychiolydd y Cyngor ar y grŵp.

10. Cyllid Cymdeithas Gefeillio Sant Brieuc: Datganodd Cyng. Julien Brun fuddiant personol a rhagfarnol gan ei fod yn Gadeirydd y Pwyllgor Gefeillio Sant Brieuc.

10. Cyllid Cymdeithas Gefeillio Sant Brieuc: Datganodd Cyng. Emlyn Jones fuddiant personol fel cynrychiolydd y Cyngor ar y grŵp.

10. Saint Brieuc Twinning Association funding: Cllr. Talat Chaudhri declared a personal interest as the Council’s representative to the group.

10: Saint Brieuc Twinning Association funding: Cllr. Julien Brun declared a personal and prejudicial interest due to being a Chair of the Saint-Brieuc Twinning Committee.

10. Saint Brieuc Twinning Association funding: Cllr. Emlyn Jones declared a personal interest as the Council’s representative to the group.

·         Diolchwyd i Amddiffyn Gwasanaethau Bronglais am drefnu digwyddiad llwyddiannus ‘Health Question Time’ yn y Neuadd Goffa, ac i’r pleidiau oedd yn sefyll yn etholiad y Senedd am gymryd rhan yn y drafodaeth.

·         Mynegwyd gwerthfawrogiad am Frecwast Prostate Cymru a gynhaliwyd fore Sadwrn, gyda diolch wedi’i nodi am bob cyfraniad. Codwyd swm canmoladwy o arian.

·         Thanks were extended to Protect Bronglais Services for arranging a successful Health Question Time event at the Neuadd Goffa, and to the parties standing in the Senedd election for taking part in the discussion.

·         Appreciation was expressed for the Prostate Cymru Breakfast held on Saturday morning, with thanks noted for all contributions. A commendable amount of money was raised.

PENDERFYNWYD penodi y Cyng. Julien Brun, a wiriodd y cymarebau banc yn briodol.

It was RESOLVED to appoint Cllr. Julien Brun, who would duly verify the bank reconciliations.

Codwyd y pwyntiau canlynol:

·         Ceisiwyd eglurhad ynghylch y posibilrwydd o ychwanegu colofn ychwanegol at yr adroddiad incwm ac eithriad i ddangos newidiadau canrannol mis‑wrth‑fis.

Nodwyd nad yw’r system gyfrifeg bresennol (Rialtas Omega) yn caniatáu ychwanegu colofnau ychwanegol.

ARGYMHELLWYD cymeradwyo’r cyfrifon.

The following points were raised:

·         Clarification was sought regarding the possibility of adding an additional column to the income & expenditure report to show month‑by‑month percentage changes.

It was noted that the current accounts system (Rialtas Omega) did not allow the addition of extra columns.

It was RECOMMENDED to approve the accounts.

Cylchredwyd Adroddiad Blynyddol 2026–27. Nodwyd nad oedd unrhyw newidiadau i’r penderfyniadau ar gyfer Cynghorau Tref a Chymuned; fodd bynnag, roedd newidiad bach wedi’i wneud i’r grwpio o gynghorau. Roedd y Cyngor yn dod o fewn Grŵp 2, gyda etholwyr o dan 8,000 ac incwm ac eithriad parhaol yn fwy na £200,000.

Esboniwyd bod y grwpio diwygiedig yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol gwneud taliad gorfodol o £500 ar gyfer un rôl uwch, gyda’r opsiwn i ddyrannu hyd at bum rôl uwch yn gyfan gwbl. Nodwyd ymhellach y gallai’r Maer dderbyn taliad dewisol o hyd at £1,500, a’r Dirprwy Faer daliad dewisol o hyd at £500.

ARGYMHELLWYD talu taliad dewisol y Maer o £1,500 a thaliad dewisol y Dirprwy Faer o £500, a bod Cadeirydd y Pwyllgor Staffio yn cael ei ddynodi fel y rôl uwch orfodol.

ARGYMHELLWYD ymhellach dalu pum taliad rôl uwch i Gadeiryddion pob pwyllgor, gan nodi bod Cadeirydd y Pwyllgor Staffio yn cael ei ddynodi fel y rôl uwch orfodol, ac os byddai unrhyw gynghorydd unigol yn dal mwy nag un rôl uwch, na fyddent ond yn gymwys i dderbyn un taliad rôl uwch.

The Annual Remuneration Report 2026–27 had been circulated. It was noted that there were no changes to the determinations for Town & Community Councils, however there had been a slight change in the grouping of councils. The Council fell within Group 2, with an electorate of under 8,000 and permanent income and expenditure exceeding £200,000.

It was explained that the amended grouping required a mandatory payment of £500 for one senior role, with the option to allocate up to five senior roles in total. It was further noted that the Mayor could receive an optional payment of up to £1,500, and the Deputy Mayor an optional payment of up to £500.

It was RECOMMENDED to pay the optional Mayor’s payment of £1,500 and Deputy Mayors payment of £500. that the Staffing Chair be designated as the mandatory senior role.

It was further RECOMMENDED to pay five senior role payments to the Chairs of each committee, noting that the Chair of the Staffing Committee be designated as the mandatory senior role, and that if any individual councillor held multiple senior roles, they would only be eligible to receive one senior role payment.

ARGYMHELLWYD penodi Rhian Davies yn archwilydd mewnol. Nodwyd mai arfer da yw newid yr archwilydd bob tair blynedd, ac y byddai 2025–26 yn drydedd flwyddyn Rhian i archwilio, felly dylid chwilio am archwilydd arall ar gyfer 2026–27.

It was RECOMMENDED to appoint Rhian Davies as the internal auditor. It was noted that best practice was to change the auditor every three years, and that 2025-26 would be the third year Rhian would audit, so an alternative auditor should be sought for 2026-27.

Ystyriwyd gweithrediad Polisi BDS y Cyngor. Codwyd cwestiwn ynghylch taliadau diweddar a wnaed i Dan Dre Service Station am ddiesel. Nodwyd pryderon mewn perthynas â chynnig BDS a fabwysiadwyd gan y Cyngor, yn enwedig am fod y gwasanaeth yn gwerthu tanwydd dan frand Texaco, a bod Texaco wedi’i rhestru fel cwmni i’w foicotio o dan y cynllun

Esboniwyd, ar ôl cynnal ymchwil, nad oedd Valero Energy, sef y cwmni sy’n berchen ar frand Texaco yn y DU, wedi’i gynnwys ar restr BDS. Nododd yr Aelodau’r gwahaniaeth hwn a chytunwyd ei bod yn dderbyniol prynu tanwydd o’r gorsafoedd gwasanaeth dan frand Texaco yn Aberystwyth. Bydd y Cyngor yn parhau i fonitro’r mater yn ofalus. Cadarnhawyd ymhellach bod y cynnig gwreiddiol yn nodi y byddai’r Polisi BDS yn cael ei adolygu a’i ddiweddaru’n flynyddol.

The implementation of the Council’s BDS policy had been considered. A question had been raised regarding recent payments made to Mill Street Service Station for diesel. Concerns were noted in relation to the Council’s adopted BDS motion, specifically that the service station sold Texaco‑branded fuel, and Texaco was listed as a boycotted company under the scheme.

It was explained, after researching, that Valero Energy, which owned the Texaco brand in the UK, was not included on the BDS list. Members noted this distinction and agreed that it was acceptable to purchase fuel from the Texaco-branded service stations in Aberystwyth. The Council would continue to monitor the matter closely. It was further confirmed that the original motion stated that the BDS policy would be reviewed and updated annually.

Datganodd Cyng. Talat Chaudhri fuddiant personol ac ymneilltuodd o’r Gadair ar gyfer yr eitem hon.

Cadeiriodd Cyng. Kerry Ferguson yr eitem.

Datganodd Cyng. Julien Brun fuddiant personol a rhagfarnol ac aeth allan o’r cyfarfod am hyd y drafodaeth.

Datganodd Cyng. Emlyn Jones fuddiant personol (os oes angen rheswm penodol, gallaf ei ychwanegu).

Esboniwyd bod Cymdeithas Gefeillio Sant Brieuc wedi ailffurfio’n ddiweddar ac yn ceisio cefnogaeth ariannol gan y Cyngor.

Ar ôl trafodaeth, ARGYMHELLWYD cyllido polisi yswiriant y Gymdeithas hyd at uchafswm o £120, a gwahodd cynrychiolwyr y grŵp i fynychu cyfarfod yn y dyfodol i amlinellu eu cynlluniau a’u gweithgareddau arfaethedig.

Ymatalodd Cyng. Talat Chaudhri rhag pleidleisio.

Cllr. Talat Chaudhri declared a personal interest and vacated the Chair for the duration of this item.

Cllr. Kerry Ferguson chaired the item.

Cllr. Julien Brun declared a personal and prejudicial interest and left the meeting for the duration of the discussion.

Cllr. Emlyn Jones declared a personal interest.

It was explained that the Saint Brieuc Twinning Association had recently re‑formed and were seeking financial support from the Council.

Following discussion, it was RECOMMENDED to fund the Association’s insurance policy up to a maximum of £120, and to invite representatives of the group to attend a future meeting to outline their plans and intended activities.

Cllr. Talat Chaudhri abstained from voting.

Esboniodd y Clerc fod y Cyngor ar hyn o bryd yn adennill TAW ar ei wariant ond nad oedd wedi’i gofrestru ar gyfer TAW. Eglurwyd ymhellach y gallai rhai gweithgareddau’r Cyngor — gan gynnwys y Farchnad Hen Dref, llogi offer, gwerthu bagiau gwrth-wylan, a stondinau bwyd a diod yn ystod Gŵyl y Castell — gael eu hystyried yn “weithgareddau busnes” trethadwy. Pe bai’r gweithgareddau hyn yn cynhyrchu dros £5,000 o incwm gros y flwyddyn, byddai cofrestru ar gyfer TAW yn ofynnol. Roedd y Cyngor wedi ysgrifennu at CThEM ym mis Tachwedd 2025 i gadarnhau a oedd y farchnad yn weithgaredd busnes trethadwy.

Adroddodd y Clerc fod gohebiaeth wedi’i hanfon at Gyllid a Thollau EF ar sawl achlysur, ond nad oedd ymateb wedi dod i law eto. Roedd cyngor treth trwy’r SLCC yn nodi ei bod yn weithgaredd busnes trethadwy; felly awgrymodd y Clerc y dylai’r Cyngor wneud cais i gofrestru ar gyfer TAW o 1 Ebrill 2026.

Byddai hyn yn gofyn am adolygiad ac o bosibl newidiadau i’r ffioedd a godir, megis ar gyfer stondinau marchnad, llogi offer, a bagiau gwrth-wylan. Byddai hefyd angen newidiadau i feddalwedd cyfrifo’r Cyngor.

ARGYMHELLWYD adolygu effaith cofrestru ar gyfer TAW, gan gynnwys y gweithgareddau y byddai’n ofynnol i’r Cyngor godi TAW allbwn arnynt, a’r rhai na fyddai’r Cyngor yn gallu adennill TAW mewnbwn arnynt.

Gofynnodd yr Aelodau i’r Clerc gyflwyno ystod o systemau cyfrifo amgen i’r Cyngor Llawn, gyda ystyriaeth arbennig i gwmnïau dwyieithog, yn unol â Pholisi Iaith Gymraeg y Cyngor. Argymhellwyd ymhellach adolygu’r feddalwedd gyfrifo sydd ar gael, gan gynnwys ystyriaeth o systemau cwmwl a darpariaeth ddwyieithog lle bo hynny’n bosibl.

Nodwyd hefyd y gallai Ben Lake AS gynorthwyo mewn materion sy’n ymwneud â CThEM, gan fod y corff yn atebol i Aelodau Seneddol.

The Clerk explained that the Council currently reclaimed VAT on its expenditure but was not registered for VAT. It was further outlined that certain Council activities — including the Old Town Market, equipment hire, the sale of seagull‑proof bags, and food and drink stalls at Gŵyl y Castell — could be considered taxable “business activities”. If these activities generated over £5,000 gross income per year, VAT registration would be required. The Council had written to HMRC in November 2025 to confirm if the market was a taxable business activity.

The Clerk reported that correspondence had been sent to HM Revenue and Customs on several occasions, but no response had yet been received. Tax advice through the SLCC advised that it was a taxable business activity; the Clerk therefore suggested that the Council should apply for VAT registration from 1 April 2026.

This would necessitate a review and potential changes to the fees charged, such as for market stalls, equipment hire, and seagull‑proof bags. It would also require changes to the Council’s accounting software.

It was RECOMMENDED to review the impact of VAT registration, including the activities the Council would be required to charge output VAT on, and those which the Council would be unable to recover input VAT on.

Members requested that the Clerk present a range of alternative accounting systems to Full Council, with particular consideration given to bilingual companies, in line with the Council’s Welsh Language Policy. It was further RECOMMENDED to review available accounting software, to include consideration of cloud basing and bilingual provision where possible.

It was also noted that Ben Lake MP could assist in matters relating to HMRC, who were accountable to Members of Parliament.

Derbyniwyd gohebiaeth yn nodi trafodaeth gyda Cyng. Julien Brun yn y Ffair y Gwanwyn ynghylch y Gwiber Asiaidd. Cynigiodd cynrychiolwyr o Gymdeithas Gwenynwyr Cymraeg ac Aberystwyth Beekeepers roi cyflwyniad byr dwyieithog i’r Cyngor os dymunir.

Invite

Derbyniwyd gohebiaeth gan Gyng. Carl Worrall yn gofyn am lythyr cefnogaeth ar gyfer cais cyllido Neuadd Goffa ar gyfer gwaith adnewyddu. Llythyr i’w ddarparu.

Correspondence received from Cllr. Carl Worrall requesting a letter of support for Neuadd Goffa Hall’s funding application for refurbishment works. Letter to be provided.

Correspondence seeking permission to use an image of Maes Gwenfrewi in materials for the UNESCO City of Literature ‘Heolydd Heddwch’ project and an associated exhibition with Ceredigion Archives. Permission to be given

Derbyniwyd gohebiaeth yn ffurfiol yn cydnabod ac yn canmol cwblhau llwyddiannus prosiect y Cyngor o dan Gronfa Ffyniant Gyffredin y DU 2025–2026. Roedd holl allbynnau ac canlyniadau’r prosiect wedi’u hadolygu a’u cymeradwyo.

Correspondence formally acknowledging and commending the successful completion of the Council’s project under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund 2025–2026. All project outputs and outcomes had been reviewed and approved.