The Editor’s Bit - Darn y Golygydd New Year, New Editor

Well, it’s the start of a new year and with each new year comes the promise of change. Many of you will have set new year’s resolutions promising to make positive changes in a certain aspect of your home or work life - maybe to start a savings account, aim for a promotion or to take up a new sport to improve your health and wellbeing. I hope whatever you have decided on that you are moving in the right directions even if you haven’t stuck to it religiously everyday.

One of the positive changes that I’m trying to focus on this year is to strike a better work-life balance. On many occasions over the past few years I, as I’m sure many of you have, have found myself overcommitting and then subsequently feeling like I’m under-delivering in some way or another. Those evenings that you intended to spend relaxing with your other half end up being postponed because you need to finish an article before a deadline or you end up taking a phone call or having to check emails on a family day out leaving you with mum guilt for the rest of the day.

In a bid to achieve this somewhat ambitious goal, I have decided that I need to pass on the Dyserth Times’ reins. I’ve loved my (almost) five years as editor of the magazine not least because I feel that the magazine is such a vital part of the community but also because the role has enabled me to be part of community events such as the Scarecrow Competition, the Easter Egg Hunt and last year’s World Book Day event. The role has also given me the chance to get to know so many wonderful people in the community, people who all contribute to our amazing village in one way or another.

I however feel it’s important to realise when things could be done better and I’ve come to recognise that due to working full-time, juggling family life and honouring other commitments I have made to various organisations, that the magazine was not getting the level of attention it deserved. I am thrilled therefore that Pete Robinson has kindly volunteered to take over as editor from the next edition.

Pete, as many of you will know, runs the Dyserth website and therefore is already a very valued member of the community. He has the experience, knowledge and expertise to build on the foundations laid by Malcolm and Richard and, with the backing of local businesses and the Community Council, will be best placed to ensure the magazine has a very bright future.

Before I sign off I would like to say thank you to all the contributors, the advertisers, distributors and DT admins (many of whom have been part of the magazine for longer than me) who make the magazine possible. I would also like to give a special mention to Paul Rad, who in addition to creating the kids fun page and distributing the magazine has committed a considerable amount of time and expenses into making a number of local community events hosted by the DT a success.

Finally, to my parents, Carole & Dave, who collect the magazine from the printers, sort it into rounds, get it to the distributors and bail me out by preparing articles at short notice every time I call them up in a panic - thank you so very much. I hope you also enjoy your DT retirement.

Dyserth Community Council Cynghor Cymunedol Dyserth

Edgar Jones (Retired Councillor) Minutes Silence held by Council

Councillor Andy Hughes addressed Members on the recent passing of retired Councillor Edgar Jones. Edgar was a lifelong resident of Dyserth and was appointed to the Council in October 1977 – and had served for 45 years until his retirement in May 2022. He had been Chair of the Council on four occasions.

Edgar’s passion for Dyserth was upmost and on behalf of this Council, we send our sincere condolences to his family. Members stood and held a minutes silence.

Thank you Katie

The Chair of Dyserth Community Council together with Councillors, wish to thank Katie Baker and express their appreciation on behalf of both the Council and residents, for her dedication to the community as editor of the Dyserth Times. Katie is thanked for her dedication and willingness in producing the bi-monthly edition of the Dyserth Times – which has been so appreciated.

The Council also appreciate others who assist Katie by providing the news reports, the advertisers, together with the residents who assist with the delivery of the news booklet to the properties in Dyserth. The Council also send the new editor Peter Robinson their best wishes and also thank Peter for his commitment with other community aspects in Dyserth.

Reported Criminal Offences in Dyserth:

The following criminal offences have been reported to the North Wales Police; that have occurred within the Community Council area:

2 x Anti social behaviour / 2 x Criminal damage / 2 x Other crime / 8 x Violence offences

Precept:

The Community Council current precept for a Band D property in Dyserth is £41.24 a year this generates an income to the Council of £48,500.00. The Council have agreed not to increase the precept for the new financial year – 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024. However, due to the decrease in the number of properties moving out of Band D, to maintain the aforementioned precept balance, there will be an increase in the actual community charge to each Band D household of around 68p a year.

County Councillor David Williams:

County Councillor David Williams advised Members in relation to the following:

1) Denbighshire County Council had advised the following: Drainage work to commence in the area of Hiraddug road during week commencing 28th November. The work will involve replacing the existing filter stone and installing an extra soakaway chamber

(2) Complaints in relation to a reduction in television signal in the Maes Esgob area. Councillor Williams has requested Denbighshire to complete a survey in the area

(3) Flood Defence Scheme for Dyserth: Councillor Williams has further written to Natural Resources Wales, to seek the present position in relation to the pending plan

(4) Complaints received in relation to speeding traffic on Waterfall Road. The Council have requested Denbighshire County Council Highways to place monitoring tubes to be installed on the B5119 Waterfall Hill – in the area of the Waterfall entrance and near the entrance to the Glan Ffyddion Estate. (It is hoped that an analysis report following the survey will be available for the next edition of the Dyserth Times)

(5) Request for overgrown hedge in the area of road travelling towards the traffic lights (down Waterfall Road) whereby it has become difficult for two vehicles travelling in opposite directions to use the road safely

(6) Request for traffic calming measures on Waterfall Hill received from residents, together with concern that the white painted slow warning signs have faded. Complaint referred to County Street Scene

(7) Complaint in relation to a high hedge in St. Asaph Road. Complaint referred to County Street Scene

(8) Pot holes on Waterfall Road and adjacent to the waterfall car park (these have been repaired).

The following planning applications have been commented upon by the Community Council:

1) Application number: 42/2022/0850 for the erection of single and two storey extensions to rear of dwelling and associated works, at 4 Maes Hyfryd, Dyserth

2) Application number: 42/2022/0831 – for demolition of existing car port and rear extension and erection of replacement pitched roof car port, front porch, single storey rear extension with first floor balcony above and associated works, at Bedw Arian, 78 Cwm Road, Dyserth.

Planning Decisions:

The following planning decisions have been received from Denbighshire County Council:

(1) Application number: 42/2022/0702 – for the erection of a single storey flat roof extension and associated works, at 17 St. Asaph Road, Dyserth. Granted

(2) Application number: 42/2022/0775 – for erection of first floor and wo storey side extensions and alterations to dwelling, erection of stone outbuilding and associated works, at Boverton House, Carreg Hellyn Lane, Dyserth. Granted.

Applications for Financial Support and Donations:

The Community Council have provided the following financial assistance: £2,000.00Dyserth Community Hall (Application for annual grant towards running costs) /

£250.00 - Urdd National Eisteddfod (Application for annual grant) / £250.00Dyserth Tuesday Morning Club (Application for annual grant)

Renting in Wales

The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 came into force on 1 December 2022. It makes significant changes to the law relating to residential property lettings in Wales. From now on, the legal basis of most agreements between landlords and people who rent their home will be an "occupation contract" and tenants and licensees will now be called "contract holders”.

Contract holders must be given a written statement containing all of the terms of the occupation contract within 14 days of moving in.

Most pre-existing rental agreements will automatically convert into occupation contracts, and in that case, landlords have until 31 May 2023 to send out the written statement.

The Welsh government has produced model written statements for different circumstances and they can be used as the basis for occupation contracts. The new law says that there are some fundamental terms which cannot be changed from the model wording at all, and others which can only be altered if the change benefits the contract holder.

Here are a few key things to note about the new law:

• Landlords must make sure that properties are fit for human habitation, having regard to a list of 29 separate factors including damp and mould, carbon monoxide, a lack of adequate lighting, exposure to pests, poor sanitation and drainage, inadequate water supply, etc.

• Properties must include hardwired smoke alarms on each floor and a carbon monoxide alarm in each room containing a gas appliance, oil-fired combustion appliance, or solid fuel burning combustion appliance.

• Landlords must give six months’ notice of a "no fault" eviction and one month's notice of an eviction due to a breach of contract. That notice period can be shorter where there is antisocial behaviour, or serious rent arrears.

• Two months’ notice has to be given of any rent increase.

• It is easier to add or remove contract holders to the contract: there is no need to end the existing contract and start a new one. Managing joint occupation contracts is therefore simpler.

• Where the contract holder dies the contract can be passed on to certain other people living in the property such as the contract holder’s spouse or partner, other family member aged 18 or over, or certain types of carers.

• The new law also gives landlords the right to recover possession of the property without issuing court proceedings by following a prescribed procedure if the property has been abandoned.

There are pitfalls for the unwary and it is important for landlords to get advice about the terms of their written statements, and to get advice before serving any notices to terminate an occupation contract or repossess an apparently abandoned property.

Brian Evans, Lanyon Bowdler

Conwy Office: 01492 557070/enquiries@lblaw.co.uk