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

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...