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

More than 60 new council homes will be built in Carmarthenshire over the next two years in an £8.5million investment to grow the local authority’s housing stock. Phase one of the development could start imminently if councillors agree plans for the new-build programme. As well as planning the first new-build homes across four priority areas, the council is also adding new homes to its stock at an average rate of one a week by buying suitable properties on the open market – nearly 20 homes have been bought already this year at a cost of £1.7million, with the needs of specific families in mind. Carmarthenshire is one of only half of Welsh local authorities to retain its housing stock, and became the first in Wales to build new council accommodation since the 80s when it developed 12 new homes in 2014 – an act followed up shortly later when it became the first in Wales to suspend its Right to Buy policy in order to protect its stock. Now Carmarthenshire is also making good on promises t...

Apologies. The blog has been out of action for a couple of months. Normal service (if there is such a thing) about to resume . . . .

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. The taxman at HMRC has always had procedures in place to deal with complaints. These procedures have now been extended to include an online form which can be used to make complaints about your self-assessment and PAYE. The guidance also includes other ways to complain. Of course, if you would like help with PAYE or self assessment issues, please contact us at Clay Shaw Butler. If you want further information about making a complaint directly to the taxman, then you can go to this website address - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/complain-to-hm-revenue-and-customs Here’s what the official Government website has to say about complaints to HMRC - Examples of things that you might not be happy with are: unreasonable delays  mistakes  how HMRC have treated you  The advice is to cont...

The latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in West Wales) from the Carmarthen Journal and the Llanelli Star - The ‘boys’ of Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir are getting ready for their annual concert at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli. The celebrated Pontarddulais soprano Adele O’Neill will be joining the choir for their much-awaited concert at 7pm on Saturday, September 24. Adele’s passion for singing was inspired by her grandmother’s old records of the opera greats and the beauty and emotion of such voices. Adele’s singing talent was first spotted in her early years as she enjoyed various singing roles with regional societies before her singing career swept her to London, where she studied and graduated from the acclaimed Guildhall School of Music and Drama London under the tutelage of Professor Laura Sarti, the internationally celebrated Italian mezzo-soprano. Adele’s exciting singing career has seen her perform with a wealth of choruses, orchestras and artists with ...

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 ------------------------------------------ THE STAND-UP WHO SIMPLY WON’T STAND FOR IT! Unless you’re a fan of American stand-up comedy, you may not have heard of Amy Schumer. She emerged in recent years and developed into a younger version of the late Joan Rivers. Although as outrageous, insulting and downright rude that Joan could be on stage, she didn’t pepper her act with four-letter words like Ms. Schumer. Since 2013 she’s had her own TV series, “Inside Amy Schumer”; she makes hit movies; and when she tours, she no longer plays cramped, sweaty comedy ‘clubs’ in basements where you go down several steps, physically and socially. This girl sells out arenas. So you’d think with all her success, having managed to survive through the early years – and it must be far tougher for comediennes starting out th...