LLANEGRYN COMMUNITY COUNCIL

CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSALS TO AMEND THE PUBLIC AUDIT (WALES) ACT 2013

Llanegryn is a small village of approximately 240 residents with a small Community Council of 7 members & a clerk. The Councillors are proud to be custodians if this community ensuring that the roads are in good order, the footpaths are cleared, the public toilet is taken care of, small local charities & associations are supported financially & practically & if a problem arises in the village they will do their utmost to sort it out.

The clerk deals with administrative issues & was perfectly content until; 2013 when the Welsh Assembly & BDO (for Audit purposes) came together in an unholy alliance. They are under the misapprehension that all councils are large conglomerates with numerous & well paid Councillors & staff (Llanegryn have refused to accept even the £150 allowance), & the only one who is paid is me (the clerk), & I have not asked for a raise in 7 years. 

But clerks of small Councils are rapidly dwindling as during the 'Audit Season' the demands & requirements of BDO & the Assembly are often never ending & unreasonable & I for one am sick of being totally ground down by aggressive bullies.

I haven't fiddled the books, all I do like most other clerks is care & support my community & my aim is to do my best for Llanegryn & the people who live here. Small Councils should be treated differently, they must be audited, but the requirements should not be as stringent as for larger councils who have more facilities, staff & are paid more. 

Llywela Hughes

Clerk Llanegryn Community Council