COFNODION / MINUTES

Cyng. Dylan Lewis-Rowlands (Cadeirydd)

Cyng. Glynis Somers

Cyng. Talat Chaudhri

Cyng. Alun Williams

Cyng. Lucy Huws

Cyng. Brian Huws

Cyng. Maldwyn Pryse

Cyng. Mark Strong

Cyng. Jeff Smith

Cyng. Dani Thomas

Cyng. Julien Brun

Cyng. Bryony Davies

Yn mynychu:

Will Rowlands (Clerc)

Catrin Morgan-Lewis (Swyddog Gweinyddol)

Carol Thomas (Cyfieithydd)

Cllr. Dylan Lewis-Rowlands (Chair)

Cllr. Glynis Somers

Cllr. Talat Chaudhri

Cllr. Alun Williams

Cllr. Lucy Huws

Cllr. Brian Davies

Cllr. Maldwyn Pryse

Cllr. Mark Strong

Cllr. Jeff Smith

Cllr. Dani Thomas

Cllr. Julien Brun

Cllr. Bryony Davies

In attendance:

Will Rowlands (Clerk)

Catrin Morgan-Lewis (Administration Officer)

Carol Thomas (Translator)

Absennol gyda ymddiheuriadau:

Cyng. Kerry Ferguson

Cyng. Emlyn Jones

Absennol heb ymddiheuriadau:

Dim

Absent with apologies:

Cllr. Kerry Ferguson

Cllr. Emlyn Jones

Absent without apologies:

None

Dim

None

·         Estynnwyd dymuniadau pen-blwydd i’r Cyng.Talat Chaudhri.

·         Estynnwyd dymuniadau pen-blwydd i’r Cyng. Nishant Chandolia.

·         Nodwyd gyda thristwch fod y Cyng. Mair Benjamin wedi ymddiswyddo fel Cynghorydd Ward Rheidol. Estynnwyd diolch mawr i’r Cyng. Mair Benjamin am ei holl waith dros y 18 mlynedd diwethaf fel Cynghorydd. Cydnabuwyd gan Aelodau ei chyfraniad hirhoedlog i Gyngor Tref Aberystwyth. Roedd yr awgrymiadau ar gyfer cydnabyddiaeth ffurfiol yn cynnwys llythyr o ddiolch a cherdyn neu flodau.

·         Birthday wishes were extended to Cllr. Talat Chaudhri.

·         Birthday wishes were extended to Cllr. Nishant Chandolia.

·         It was noted with sadness that Cllr. Mair Benjamin had resigned as Councillor for Rheidol Ward. Huge thanks was extended to Cllr. Mair Benjamin for all her work over the past 18 years as a Councillor. Members acknowledged her long standing contribution to Aberystwyth Town Council Suggestions for more formal recognition included a letter of thanks and a card or flowers.

Nid oedd unrhyw aelod o’r cyhoedd yn bresennol.

There were no members of the public present.

Byddai’r Cyngor yn cynnal gweithdai gyda’r ysgolion lleol, a fyddai’n cymryd ffurf cyfarfodydd cyngor efelychiadol. Byddai’r sesiynau hyn yn rhoi cipolwg i ddisgyblion cynradd ac uwchradd ar waith y Cyngor. Byddai pob sesiwn yn dilyn agenda, a byddai disgyblion yn cael eu rhannu’n grwpiau i drafod ac ymateb i eitemau fel mewn cyfarfod cyngor go iawn.

Byddai pob gweithdy yn dechrau gyda chroeso ffurfiol gan y Maer, mewn regalia lawn, wedi’i ddilyn gan gyflwyniadau a throsolwg o rôl y Cyngor Tref, gyda chyflwyniad sleidiau o ddelweddau. Byddai’r eitem gyntaf ar yr agenda yn canolbwyntio ar gyllideb y Cyngor Tref, a fyddai’n cael ei haddasu ar gyfer pob grŵp: byddai disgyblion iau yn graddio pwysigrwydd eitemau’r gyllideb, tra byddai disgyblion uwchradd yn gweithio gyda ffigurau i benderfynu sut y dylid dyrannu’r arian.

Byddai’r pwnc nesaf yn gwahodd disgyblion i rannu eu barn ar yr hyn y mae pobl ifanc ei eisiau ar gyfer eu cymuned, wedi’i ddilyn gan sesiwn cwestiwn ac ateb. Nodwyd y byddai’n rhaid i’r trafodaethau hyn gael eu harwain gan y Cyngor, yn hytrach na gadael cwestiynau agored i’r disgyblion. Ar ddiwedd pob gweithdy, gofynnwyd i’r disgyblion roi adborth ar a wnaethant fwynhau’r sesiwn ac a ddysgon nhw rywbeth.

Yn dilyn y gweithdai, byddai cofnodion pob cyfarfod yn cael eu paratoi a’u hanfon i’r ysgolion fel y gallai disgyblion bleidleisio arnynt a chadarnhau a oeddent yn cytuno i gymeradwyo’r cofnodion.

Dyddiadau’r Gweithdai:

·         Dydd Mawrth, 27 Ionawr – Ysgol Penglais, 1yp

·         Dydd Mercher, 28 Ionawr – Ysgol Penglais, 1yp

·         Dydd Iau, 29 Ionawr – Ysgol Llwyn yr Eos yn Pantyfedwen, 9yb

·         Dydd Gwener, 30 Ionawr – Ysgol Plascrug yn Pantyfedwen, 9yb

·         Dydd Mawrth, 3 Chwefror – Ysgol Gymraeg yn Pantyfedwen, 9yb

·         Dydd Mercher, 4 Chwefror – Ysgol Penweddig yn Pantyfedwen, 1yp

Awgrymwyd y pwyntiau canlynol:

·         Cynnwys cyflwyniadau sleidiau yn dangos gwaith y Cyngor, gyda disgyblion yn cael eu gwahodd i ddyfalu beth mae pob delwedd yn ei gynrychioli.

·         Gallai disgyblion chweched dosbarth archwilio’r gyllideb yn fwy manwl a thrafod sut y gellid dyrannu’r arian.

·         Cyflwyno’r cysyniad o falchder sifig drwy dynnu sylw at faterion fel fandaliaeth, graffiti a sbwriel. Darparu gwybodaeth i’r disgyblion am y costau sy’n gysylltiedig â datrys y problemau hyn er mwyn annog trafodaeth ar flaenoriaethau a datrysiadau.

·         Cyfarfodydd briffio i Gynghorwyr cyn y gweithdai.

The Council would hold workshops with local schools, which would take the form of mock council meetings. These sessions would provide primary and secondary pupils with an insight into the Council’s work. Each session would follow an agenda, and pupils would be divided into groups to discuss and respond to items as they would in an actual council meeting.

Each workshop would open with a formal welcome from the Mayor, in full regalia, followed by introductions and an overview of the Town Council’s role, supported by a slideshow of images. The first agenda item would focus on the Town Council’s budget, which would be

adapted for each age group: younger pupils ranked the importance of budget items, while secondary pupils to work with figures to decide how funds should be allocated.

The next topic would invite pupils to share their views on what young people want for their community, followed by a question-and-answer session. It was noted that these would have to be led by the Council, rather than open ended questions to pupils. At the conclusion of each workshop, pupils would be asked for feedback on whether they enjoyed the session and what they had learned.

Following the workshops, minutes of each meeting would be prepared and sent to the schools so pupils could vote on them and confirm whether they agreed to approve the minutes.

Workshop Dates:

·         Tuesday 27 January – Penglais School 1pm

·         Wednesday 28 January – Penglais School 1pm

·         Thursday 29 January – Llwyn yr Eos School at Pantyfedwen 9am

·         Friday 30 January – Plascrug School at Pantyfedwen 9am

·         Tuesday 3 February – Ysgol Gymraeg at Pantyfedwen 9am

·         Wednesday 4 February – Penweddig School at Pantyfedwen 1pm

The following points were suggested:

·         To include slideshows illustrating the work of the Council, with pupils invited to guess what each image represents.

·         Sixth form students could explore the budget in greater detail and discuss how funds might be allocated.

·         Introduce the concept of civic pride by highlighting issues such as vandalism, graffiti, and litter. Provide pupils with information on the costs involved in addressing these problems to encourage discussion on priorities and solutions.

·         Briefing meetings for Cllrs before the workshops.

Swyddfa:

Ebostio Cynghorwyr/

Office:

Email Cllrs.

Byddai Gorymdaith Santes Dwynwen a’r twmpath yn cael eu cynnal ddydd Sadwrn, 24 Ionawr 2026 am 2yp, a chafodd pawb eu hannog i fod yn bresennol. Ariannwyd y digwyddiad gan grant Digwyddiadau Cynnal y Cardi, gan ganiatáu i fwy gael ei gynnwys yn yr orymdaith, megis pypedau enfawr ychwanegol, cerddwyr ‘stilt’ a dawnswyr.

Byddai gorymdaith eleni hefyd yn cynnwys Llefaryddion y Dref am y tro cyntaf yn Gymraeg ac yn Saesneg, fel rhan o Ŵyl Cariad Aber, lle byddai’r traddodiad gwrywaidd o fod yn llefarydd y dref yn cael ei roi’n gadarn yn nwylo menywod, gyda’r llefaryddion yn galw’n gyhoeddus enwau, straeon a phrofiadau menywod sy’n haeddu sylw.

Gofynnwyd i gynghorwyr sy’n llywodraethwyr ysgol annog eu hysgolion i gymryd rhan.

The Santes Dwynwen Parade and twmpath would be held on Saturday 24 January 2026 at 2pm and all were encouraged to attend. The event was funded by a Cynnal y Cardi Events grant, allowing more to be included in the parade, such as additional giant puppets, stilt walkers and wing dancers.

This year’s parade would also feature Town Criers for the first time in Welsh and English, as part of Gŵyl Cariad Aber, where the male-dominated tradition of the town crier would be placed firmly in the hands of women, with criers publicly crying out the names, stories, and experiences of women that deserve attention.

Councillors who were also school governors were asked to encourage their schools to participate.

Cynigiodd Cynllun Trefi Taclus Ceredigion gymorth ariannol refeniw yn unig i gynorthwyo gyda mentrau glanhau a phrosiectau sy’n gwella ymddangosiad, bywiogrwydd ac ansawdd cyffredinol canol trefi yng Ngheredigion. Roedd y cais am gyllid ar agor tan 19 Ionawr 2026 yn unig, gyda’r prosiectau’n gorfod cael eu cwblhau erbyn 13 Mawrth 2026. Yn unol â hynny, byddai angen cyflwyno cais o fewn yr wythnos nesaf, ac nid oedd digon o amser i’w gadarnhau gan y Cyngor Llawn.

Awgrymiadau ar gyfer ceisiadau posibl am gyllid oedd:

·         Gosod arwyddion ar gyfer Southgate (Porth-y-de).

·         Plannwyr ar gyfer y Promenâd Deheuol.

·         Golchi strydoedd â phwer, gyda blaenoriaeth i strydoedd megis Y Porth Bach, Y Stryd Newydd, Heol y Wig, a’r ardaloedd cyfagos.

·         Tynnu graffiti, a nodwyd fel y mater mwyaf brys, er y nodwyd materion cyfreithiol a chyfrifoldeb mewn perthynas â graffiti ar eiddo preifat.

·         Mentrau balchder sifig, gan gynnwys costau argraffu proffesiynol ar gyfer deunyddiau cysylltiedig.

The Ceredigion Tidy Towns Scheme offered revenue-only financial support to assist with cleaning initiatives and projects that enhance the appearance, vibrancy, and overall quality of town centres in Ceredigion. Application for funding was only  open until 19 January 2026, with projects needing to be completed by 13 March 2026. Accordingly, an application would need to be submitted within the next week, and there was not sufficient time for Full Council ratification.

Suggestions for potential funding applications included:

·         Installation of signage for Southgate (Porth-y-de).

·         Planters for the South Promenade.

·         Pressure washing of streets, with a preference for streets such as Y Porth Bach, Y Stryd Newydd, Heol y Wig, and surrounding areas.

·         Removal of graffiti, noted as the most pressing issue, although legal and liability issues surrounding graffiti on private property were noted.

·         Civic pride initiatives, including professional printing costs for related materials.

Paratowyd ymateb drafft gan y Cyng. Dylan Lewis-Rowlands. ARGYMHELLWYD cymeradwyo’r ymateb drafft gyda’r ychwanegiad canlynol:

Cwestiwn 15. Rydym wedi gofyn nifer o gwestiynau penodol. Os oes gennych unrhyw faterion cysylltiedig nad ydym wedi’u trafod yn benodol, rhowch wybod:

2) Dylid gwneud ymholiadau gan y Senedd i archwilio’r posibilrwydd o wahanu etholiadau’r Cynghorau Tref a Chymuned oddi wrth etholiadau’r Cynghorau Prif, a sut, os o gwbl, y byddai hyn yn effeithio neu’n cryfhau democratiaeth a chyfranogiad mewn etholiadau lleol.

Estynnwyd diolch i’r Cyng. Dylan Lewis-Rowlands am ei waith wrth baratoi’r drafft. Cydnabuwyd gan Aelodau ymdrech sylweddol sy’n gysylltiedig â’r broses o adolygu a drafftio dogfennau o’r fath, a nodwyd bod y Cyng. Dylan Lewis-Rowlands yn ymgymryd â’r gwaith hwn yn gyson ac yn ofalus.

A draft response had been prepared by Cllr. Dylan Lewis-Rowlands. It was RECOMMENDED to approve the draft response with the addition of:

Question 15. We have asked a number of specific questions. If you have any related issues which we have not specifically addressed, please report them:

2) Enquiries should be made by the Senedd to explore the possibility of separating the elections of

Town and Community Councils from those of Principal Councils and how, if at all, this would impact or

strengthen democracy and participation in local elections

Thanks were extended to Cllr. Dylan Lewis-Rowlands for his work in preparing the draft response. Members acknowledged the significant effort involved in reviewing and drafting such documents and noted that Cllr. Dylan Lewis-Rowlands consistently undertakes this work with diligence.

Trafododd y cynghorwyr y posibilrwydd o godi’r pwnc hwn yn ystod y sesiynau Cynghorau Ysgol sydd ar y gweill er mwyn ymgysylltu â phobl ifanc yn y broses ymgynghori.

Councillors discussed the possibility of raising this topic during the upcoming School Council sessions to engage young people in the consultation process.

Trafododd y cynghorwyr ffyrdd o gefnogi’r grŵp i ddenu mwy o aelodau a chytunwyd i ystyried syniadau pellach i gryfhau ei aelodaeth. Cytunwyd hefyd y dylid anfon llythyr ffurfiol I ddiolch ac i gydnabod cyfraniad sylweddol y grŵp i’r dref.

Councillors discussed ways to support the group in attracting new members and agreed to consider further ideas to help strengthen its membership. It was agreed that a formal letter of thanks should be sent to acknowledge the group’s significant contribution to the town.