Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Some random snaps and shapes from Llanelli's Millennium Coastal Park - https://goo.gl/photos/ntKmiVLwX3AWYmGy7

The latest Clay Shaw Butler Money Matters column from the Carmarthenshire Herald. By Mark Jones, director of Carmarthen-based Clay Shaw Butler chartered accountants and business consultants. This week, we are continuing our review of Chancellor Philip Hammond’s first (and last) Autumn Statement. We’ve covered personal taxation changes and some business taxation matters. As usual with Budgets and Autumn Statements, there is a lot of detail to cover. This week, we continue on business matters from the Autumn Statement. Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR): From 6 April 2017, the amount of investment that social enterprises aged up to seven years old can raise through SITR will increase to £1.5 million. Investment in nursing homes and residential care homes will be excluded initially, however the government intends to introduce an accreditation system to allow such investment to qualify for SITR in the future. The limit on full-time equivalent employees for a qualifying social enterpri...

The latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in and around West Wales) from the Carmarthen Journal and the Llanelli Star newspapers - It’s a question that always pops up at this time of the year: What was your favourite musical moment? After a great deal of thinking, I’ve been able to come up with a ‘magnificent seven’ of the highlights of 2016. They are in no order of priority . . . #1 There was a very special celebration for the Amman Valley-based Côr Lleisiau’r Cwm. The ladies choir celebrated their 20th anniversary with a gala dinner dance at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli. Côr Lleisiau’r Cwm have an enviable reputation for charity work and the proceeds of the event were donated to the Kidney Organisation Wales. The evening kicked off with a superb set by Cantata, one of three choirs under the baton of the gifted Côr Lleisiau’r Cwm musical director Catrin Hughes. Further entertainment was provided by the always-energetic Fat Barry’s Soul Band. It was night full of ...

The latest Clay Shaw Butler Money Matters column from the Carmarthenshire Herald. By Mark Jones, director of Carmarthen-based Clay Shaw Butler chartered accountants and business consultants. Our review of Chancellor Philip Hammond’s first (and last) Autumn Statement moves from personal taxation changes to business taxation matters this week. Here are some of the key areas relevant to business - Corporation tax rates: Corporation tax rates have already been enacted for periods up to 31 March 2021. The main rate of corporation tax is currently 20%. The rate will then be reduced as follows: 19% for the Financial Years beginning on 1 April 2017, 1 April 2018 and 1 April 2019  17% for the Financial Year beginning on 1 April 2020.  Corporate tax loss relief: Currently, a company is restricted in the type of profit which can be relieved by a loss if the loss is brought forward from an earlier accounting period. For example, a trading loss carried forward can only relieve future...

Hywel Dda University Health Board is re-issuing advice to Pembrokeshire parents on how they can care, or access healthcare services, for unwell children in the lead up to the Christmas Bank Holidays. The vast majority of unwell children are cared for at home by their families when they are unwell, and general advice on how to manage common childhood illness can be found on the NHS Direct website www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk or by calling 0845 46 47. In the majority of cases, GPs and hospital Emergency Departments also care for children without needing to admit them into hospital. GP out-of-hours services are available in Pembrokeshire overnight, on weekends and Bank Holidays for urgent care and are accessed by calling your usual GP telephone number. Withybush Hospital’s Emergency and Urgent Care Unit also provides 24 hour urgent care for children with minor injuries. Clinical lead for Child and Adolecent Health Dr Simon Fountain-Polley explained: “Families generally look after their ...

Professor Elizabeth Treasure has been appointed Vice-Chancellor of Aberystwyth University. Professor Treasure is currently Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Cardiff University where she has responsibility for key areas including projects in strategic planning, resources and sustainable development as well as staffing and estates. The announcement was made today (Thursday 15 December 2016) following a recruitment process led by the Chancellor and Chair of the University’s Council, Sir Emyr Jones Parry. "I congratulate Professor Treasure on her appointment as the next Vice-Chancellor of Aberystwyth University,” said Sir Emyr Jones Parry. “She impressed the selection panel with her strategic vision for the future of the institution, her intellect and her integrity. At a challenging time for the higher education sector, I am confident that Professor Treasure will lead this very special University to new levels of success.” Professor Treasure holds a BDS in Dental Surgery and a PhD from th...

Carmarthenshire residents are being reminded that there are changes to bin collections over the festive period. Collections will take place as follows: Usual collection:                  Collection on: Monday, December 26         Wednesday, December 28 Tuesday, December 27         Thursday, December 29 Wednesday, December 28    Friday, December 30 Thursday, December 29       Saturday, December 31 Friday, December 30           Tuesday, January 3 Monday, January 2              Wednesday, January 4 Tuesday, January 3              Thursday, January 5 Wednesday, January 4         Friday, January 6 Thursday, January 5            Saturday, January 7 Friday, January 6                 Sunday, Ja...

Parents with children going up to secondary school in September who think they may be entitled to free transport are being urged to apply as soon as possible. The deadline for applications is December 16, the same as the education department’s date for admissions. Anyone who leaves it too late could find that the bus nearest their home is already full and they would have to make their own way to a bus further away from their address; that they would not be allowed to travel on the bus for their ‘transition days’; that if their application is refused and they want to go through the referral process, by leaving it much later they may find that their referral is not determined by the start of the new academic year. Parents with children living in Carmarthenshire but moving to out of county secondary schools must apply in the same way. Executive Board Member for Transport Cllr Hazel Evans said: “I would urge parents to please apply by the deadline and not leave it too late. The sooner th...

Llanelli Library is putting on a range of great activities for the Christmas holidays. The fun kicks off this Saturday (December 17) with Christmas-themed crafts taking place throughout the day, followed by a showing of the Christmas film ‘Nativity’, which is suitable for children of all ages, on Monday at 2.15pm. On Tuesday there is another film show, ‘Finding Dory’ at 2pm, along with Pre-School Storytime and Crafts at 10.30am and 2.30pm on Tuesday and Thursday. This activity is suitable for children under five. Don’t miss out on Christmas Crafts on Wednesday and the second in the trilogy of the film ‘Nativity 2, Danger in the Manger’ at 2.15pm on Thursday (December 22). Follow on Facebook and Twitter for further details of activities.

A total of 37 people were fined for various environmental crimes in Carmarthenshire during the last three months. It includes 23 fixed penalty notices for dropping litter, seven for dog fouling, six for failure to comply with the council’s recycling scheme / trade waste offences; and one for failing to provide waste transfer notes. The fixed penalty notices were issued by the council’s environmental enforcement officers during, August, September and October. The officers carry out patrols across the county as well as responding to complaints made by members of the public. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “Officers deal with a wide range of issues from abandoned cars, fly-posting and graffiti, to people not cleaning up after their dogs and dropping litter, as well as fly-tipping, making sure businesses are complying with duty of care legislation and householders with the recycling scheme. “Keeping the county clean and safe is a key pr...

A Llanelli hairdresser has been fined for failing to have arrangements in place to dispose of her business waste. Lorraine Phillips, aged 44, of Coronation Road, pleaded guilty to an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Llanelli Magistrates Court heard that council environmental enforcement officers found a quantity of waste outside Lorraine’s hairdressers in New Road, Morfa, in March earlier this year. They spoke to the owner, Lorraine Phillips, who confirmed that she had no arrangements in place to dispose of her trade waste. Phillips had previously been issued with a notice to make arrangements for a licensed waste company to collect her waste. She was then issued with a fixed penalty notice for £100 for failing to comply with the notice. However, she failed to pay it and was prosecuted in court as a result. Phillips was fined £100 as well as £150 in prosecution costs and a £20 victim surcharge. Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Ji...

The latest Phil Evans column from the South Wales Evening Post. Comedian Phil Evans is from Ammanford. He is known as the man who puts the ‘cwtsh’ into comedy. www.philevans.co.uk ................................ Battle ground. December! The most wonderful time of the year! Unless, of course, you’re a comedian appearing in a comedy club packed with people who think the most appropriate way to celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus is to drink industrial quantities of booze before staggering into the venue and sitting as close to the stage as possible so nothing can get in the way of their enjoyment. Not that they intend being amused by the comedians they’ve paid to see. No, their enjoyment comes from being among a group of pals in Santa hats, loudly heckling, interrupting, swearing and generally behaving like chief guests at a moron convention. Lacking the ability to behave themselves in public and the talent and steel nerves it takes to stand on a stage and make an audience laugh ...

The latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in and around West Wales) from the Carmarthen Journal and the Llanelli Star newspapers -  Prepare to be All Shook Up! This Saturday’s big concert promises to be an evening with a difference. Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir have something special in store for their fans. Their special treat will be an evening of Elvis Presley classics for their annual Christmas concert at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli, on Saturday, December 17. “It really will be a Côr Meibion Llanelli concert with a difference,” said choir musical director D Eifion Thomas. “It all springs from last year’s Christmas concert by Côr Meibion Llanelli, when we performed a special arrangement of Blue Christmas with our friends from the ladies rock and pop choir The Phil Harmonics. “The audience reaction was great and, for my sins, I suggested to the audience that it would be a great idea to have a whole concert of Elvis Presley classics for 2016. “So, true to my ...

Santa’s North Pole residence has been replicated in a Kingdom of Ice grotto at Llanelli’s North Dock Discovery Centre. The magical effect is completed with a dozen illuminated penguins, obligatory Rudolph, a snowing Christmas tree with a colourful Snow White and Cinderella in attendance keeping Santa company. Angela Edwards, who has created the exciting grotto out of her indoor ice cream parlour within the Discovery Centre, said they had already been busy. She said: “We have a post box for present wish lists and children or parents have the choice of 10 gifts which are all age related on every visit. “My husband and I are big kids at heart and nothing gives us more pleasure than to see the bright eyes open at the wonder of Santa when they enter his grotto. “We have found, too, with some the younger children who still have that awe impact at the sight of Santa, that our little helpers in Abby Davies as Cinders and Brooke Dawson as Snow White, make the experience for them a little more...

Property owners in Ammanford are being urged to apply for grants to develop their business premises. Applications are being invited for the Ammanford Regeneration Development Fund which will assist owner occupiers, businesses and commercial property developers to help create high quality commercial and business premises and new job opportunities in the town. The incentive on offer is aimed to stimulate the supply of high quality commercial premises and encourage re-use of current vacant properties in the town. Carmarthenshire County Council executive board member for regeneration and leisure Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “The main aim of the Ammanford Regeneration Development Fund is to make more high quality commercial premises available in Ammanford to create jobs and attract more people into the town.” Council leader Cllr Emlyn Dole said: “This is a scheme that has evolved from the Ammanford Task Force. I hope it will encourage the private sector to invest in Ammanford.” Ammanford Town W...

Ysgol Maes y Gwendraeth has enjoyed an official opening to celebrate its £18.4million investment. Council Leader Cllr Emlyn Dole unveiled the plaque as part of the ceremony which included entertainment from school pupils and speeches from dignitaries. The scheme included a new two storey design and technology and science block, linked to the existing building. A new sports hall houses four badminton courts, together with an adjoining classroom and changing rooms. An energy centre has been constructed, and external work included a new school entrance, hard play areas, car park, bus parking area and games courts. Various areas within the existing buildings have been refurbished together with re-modelling of playing fields. The investment at Ysgol Maes Y Gwendraeth was made through Carmarthenshire County Council’s Modernising Education Programme , delivered with funding from the Welsh Government Education executive board member Cllr Gareth Jones said: “Ysgol Maes y Gwendraeth is the lat...

Carmarthenshire Trading Standards say the jailing of a Bynea businessman should sound a warning to others thinking about conning their customers with shoddy services and dangerous goods. The team were present at Swansea Crown Court to see Paul Berian Lloyd, owner of van conversion company Race Passion/Vdub Passion, jailed for eight months for a catalogue of offences relating to the sale, supply, conversion and restoration of camper vans. The 48-year-old, from Porth Y Gar, Bynea, admitted conning his customers out of thousands of pounds following lengthy investigations by Carmarthenshire County Council’s Trading Standards team. This week’s appearance in court was his second in two years. In March 2015 he was sentenced to four months imprisonment, suspended for two years, after admitting to nine counts under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations and two under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005. Activating that sentence, and imposing a further four month sente...

Consultation is continuing on Carmarthenshire’s budget for the next three years. People are being urged to have their say in decisions which affect their future, with a number of proposals for changes being put forward for discussion. They include suggestions from a range of areas including day care services, leisure, street cleaning, special educational needs, music service, school meals and educational psychology. The council needs to save £8.8million for the next financial year – 2017-18 – and a total of £24.6million over the next three years. All views gathered from the consultation will be included in the budget report which will go before county councillors for decision in February. In the meantime, extensive consultation has taken place with seminars for county councillors, town and community councils, a public forum, scrutiny committees, schools budget forum, school sixth forms and trade unions meetings. The survey is available online at i-Local , and hard copies are availabl...

A recipe handed down by generations of a Carmarthen butcher’s family has been awarded protected status. Carmarthen Indoor Market’s Albert Rees Butchers was given the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) for its Carmarthen ham recently by the European Union. PGI is one of three European designations created to protect regional foods that have a specific quality, reputation or other characteristics attributable to that area. It acts like a Trade Mark and stops manufacturers from outside a region copying a regional product and selling it as that regional product. Albert Rees was set up in 1962 by Albert and Brenda Rees. In 1989 Chris and Ann Rees took over the business on the retirement of Chris's parents in Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock Market whilst his brother Jonathan and his family trade in Fishguard and Brecon. Their family recipe for making the ham, which tastes similar to Parma ham, is a closely guarded secret but the basic process involves salt curing and air dr...

One of Llanelli’s most famous panto star’s, Denny Twp, joined in the festive cheer with Ysgol Brynsierfel at Llanelli Indoor Market. Denys, who has spent over 40 years as a voluntary and charity worker, met and sang carols with the children who were entertaining the crowds as part of the markets Christmas celebrations. Throughout December primary schools from across the town have been singing their hearts whilst visitors have been doing their Christmas shopping. Denny, who stars in this year’s Robinson Crusoe pantomime with The Friendship Theatre at the Ffrwrnes in January, will be meeting and greeting shoppers to Llanelli Market again on Monday, December 19. Hendy, Bigyn and Stebonheath schools will be playing this week so people are being urged to come out and support them. Llanelli Market and Carmarthen Market are also open this Sunday from 10-4pm.

Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir will pay a special tribute to one of their favourite composers this week. Choir members held a minute’s silence at their rehearsals on Monday night after they were told of the death of well-known Teesside composer Peter Canwell at the age of 87. The choir had a working relationship with Mr Canwell spanning more than 20 years. On Saturday night, in their Christmas concert at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli, they plan to pay a special tribute to Mr Canwell by performing his ‘A Lovely Christmas Feeling’. Mr Canwell, the retired headmaster of Stokesley Primary School in Middlesborough, is perhaps best known nationally for writing the much-loved school musical Carrots. The Stokesley Primary School Choir was featured on TV singing a carol, written by Mr Canwell, called ‘A Christmas Carol for All of the World’. Côr Meibion Llanelli musical director Mr D Eifion Thomas said: “It is, indeed, sad news regarding Peter’s passing away. “It was a privilege for my fam...

Withybush Hospital’s Midwife Led Unit team have been shortlisted for a EuroKing Better Births Award at the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Midwifery Awards 2017. The team who have delivered midwife led care at the hospital since 2014, have been recognised for their work to ensure the service they provide for mums-to-be meets one or more of the aims of the Royal College’s Better Births Initiative. Julie Wall, Senior Midwife and Service Delivery Manager, said: “I am so proud of the team and really pleased that the Withybush MLU team have been shortlisted for a national RCM Award. “Next we look forward to a presentation and interview about our work to meet the aims of the Better Births Initiative before the winner is announced in March. I am keeping all fingers crossed that they will win the award.” The Better Births Initiative focuses on three themes that are important for high quality maternity care: - Facilitating normal births for the majority and normality for all women - Increasin...

A Carmarthen taxi driver has had his licence suspended for seven days for refusing to take a passenger who has MS because her journey was too short. Taxi driver David Keith Maynard denied refusing to take Barbara Stensland from Carmarthen Railway Station to the Ivy Bush Hotel on the town’s Spilman Street. But Mrs Stensland said that Mr Maynard laughed when she said where she wanted to go and said the journey was too short and he would lose his place on the taxi rank. It is an offence to refuse to take a fare. Mrs Stensland attended yesterday’s meeting of Carmarthenshire County Council’s licensing committee to give evidence after an earlier meeting was adjourned to give her the opportunity to speak. Mr Maynard gave evidence to the previous meeting but was unable to attend today. The committee heard that the incident happened at about 3.42pm on Friday August 5 this year. Mrs Stensland had travelled by train to Carmarthen and was exhausted as a result of the journey, hot weather and her c...

A scheme to support event organisers in Carmarthenshire has been launched this week by Carmarthenshire County Council. The Carmarthenshire Event Organisers Circle aims to establish a network of people responsible for running all types of events in the county, from cultural to sporting; community to commercial, with the aim of helping them to connect and collaborate. Activities such as seminars, training workshops and one to one surgeries will be on offer to all who sign up to the scheme, as well a designated web portal offering information and guidance. A second element to the initiative will also look to establish a forum in three pilot towns, made up of local businesses and community groups to encourage greater communal involvement. Cllr. Meryl Gravell, Executive Board Member for Regeneration, said “With an estimated £48 billion value to the UK by 2020, events are hugely significant. Last year in Carmarthenshire, event visitors brought an estimated £1.5 million to the local economy...

Llanelli Scarlets are backing the Carmarthenshire County Council-led campaign to tackle drink driving this Christmas. Hooker Ken Owens and outside half Rhys Patchell joined Carmarthenshire County Council Leader Cllr Emlyn Dole to launch the seasonal campaign at Parc y Scarlets. It is part of the council’s efforts to promote road safety across the county. It follows the success of Imogen Williams, a pupil at Coedcae School, Llanelli, who was highly commended in the All Wales Drink and Drug Driving Campaign Poster Competition. She received a cheque for £50 and received a framed certificate and an art set. Carmarthenshire’s road safety unit is focusing on raising awareness of the consequences of drink-driving using sporting analogies such as ‘Give Drink-Driving the Red Card’, ‘Kick Drink-Driving into Touch’, ‘Blow the Whistle on Drink-Driving.’ A social media campaign is being run to raise awareness of this campaign. Don’t fall foul of the drink-drive rules this Christmas – visit Carmar...

Hywel Dda University Health Board and the Welsh Government have thanked local NHS staff for sharing their views as part of the NHS Wales staff survey, published today. Lisa Gostling, Director of Workforce & Organisational Development, Hywel Dda University Health Board and Wendy Evans, Chair of Hywel Dda University Health Board Partnership Forum commented: “We are immensely proud of all our staff in Hywel Dda and everything they do to deliver the best patient care possible for our local population. “We thank those staff who, despite working under pressure, still found the time to complete this important survey - we are listening to what they tell us and will take action to address those areas where we need to do better.” Some of the key findings include: - 67% say that if a friend or relative needed treatment, they would be happy with the standard of care provided by the organisation, compared to 49% in 2013. - 75% of staff say that the care of patients/service users is their organi...

Work has started on new state-of-the-art facilities for Llanelli’s St John Lloyd Catholic School. Carmarthenshire County Council joined school representatives to cut the first sod at the site earlier this week. Phase one, due for completion by September 2017, will include a new science block, PE changing rooms and extended music facilities. Phase two will provide brand new classrooms for design technology, maths and art, plus a new outdoor multi-use games area. It will also include a specialist catering training facility - the latest phase of Llanelli’s new Vocational Village – which will boast high-class food preparation facilities and a small training restaurant. The new block has been designed by apprentice draughtsman Corey Borthwick, an 18-year-old ex-pupil of the school currently employed by Cross Hands firm Shufflebottom Ltd, which is working on the design on behalf of the contractor, TAD Builders of Llanelli. The development is being delivered through the Carmarthenshire Coun...

A warning has been sounded about rogue taxi drivers as the Christmas party season approaches. Licensing chiefs at the local authority are urging people across Carmarthenshire to stay safe when they use a cab. They fear unlicensed drivers will be cashing in as growing numbers of people need taxis over the busy festive period. Cabbies will be in high demand over the coming weeks as partygoers decide to drink and not drive. More people are also out shopping and the cold and wet weather means less will be inclined to walk home or wait at bus stops. Licensing officers at Carmarthenshire Council have joined forces with the police to raise awareness of the problem and to carry out joint enforcement across the county during this busy period. Residents are being warned they are not insured if they travel in an unlicensed cab, and people are being urged to check out cars and their drivers before they get in. Drivers should always wear identification badges and taxis are usually parked at known r...

Burry Port Town Band Christmas Gala concert at the Memorial Hall with special guests Cor Aelwyd y Waun Ddyfal, from Cardiff, and Burry Port Junior Band. Burry Port Town Band and their special guests served up a festive treat at the Memorial Hall in the town. It was an evening which demonstrated why the band has true championship status. It was also an evening to introduce young talent to the stage in the shape of the Burry Port Junior Band and the beginner’s class from music rehearsals. And it gave the packed house at the Memorial Hall the chance to hear the excellent Cor Aelwyd y Waun Ddyfal mixed choir from Cardiff. Festive fun was the order of the day and the band set the tone with Shostakovich’s Festive Overture, followed by Away in a Manger (featuring Flugelhorn Soloist Jane Stredwick, Hwiangerdd Mair (an arrangement by choir member Jayne Thomas) and Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (which even included a couple of sing-a-long verses!). Cor Aelwyd y Waun Ddyfal were under t...

The introduction of an occupational therapist to the team at Argyle Medical Group (Pembroke Dock) has been featured in a national report celebrating the value of innovative occupational therapy services. The report, Reducing the Pressure on Hospitals: A Report on the Value of Occupational Therapy in Wales, illustrates how shifting occupational therapy resource to the front line of care to A&E departments, primary care and in the community, can play a vital role in reducing hospital admissions in Wales. Working in partnership with Hywel Dda UHB’s Occupational Therapy Team, the introduction of an occupational therapist at the Pembroke Dock GP practice has provided this vital service as a proactive and alternative way of caring for the practice’s known frail, older patients in the community. Claire Sims, Interim Head of Occupational Therapy for Hywel Dda UHB and Pembrokeshire County Council, explains: “Occupational therapy provides support to people whose health or disability pr...