I would like to thank all Councillors, our County Councillor, and Catriona, for their continued support and advice over the past year.

Cllr. Meriel Morgan was co-opted as Councillor, and joined us in September to fill the vacancy left after the resignation of Councillor Mike Anthony. Meriel makes useful contributions at meetings, and has already attended a shire liaison meeting at County Hall, and would seem to be getting a grip on procedures.

As is usual, a wreath for Remembrance Day was purchased on behalf of the Community Council, and placed on the monument by Mike Anthony.

A lot of planning applications, probably 20 or 30, have passed through the Council during the past year.

We have held public meetings for controversial planning applications, inviting the developers and architects involved to meet with the community for a question and answer session. So far, developers and architects have responded well to our requests, and we have had reasonable community involvement. From these meetings we are able to inform the planning department of the comments and general feelings of the community.

Councillors have attended local meetings with Highways officers and planning officers, and they have also attended site meetings.

Several meetings of the Powys Association of Town and Community Councils have been attended, and we wait to see how the new association One Voice Wales turns out before deciding whether to join or not.

The village design statement has been adopted as `development control guidance'.

We have looked into the possibility of affordable housing and had a presentation from Shane Perkins, Director of Mid Wales Housing, and David Thomlinson, front Powys County Council, who explained what options were available, and how they may be able to help us.

Following the December meeting, Councillors stayed on for what has now become an annual event, and that is to share a glass of wine and mince pies to celebrate Christmas.

The Castle Tump sub-committee did quite a lot of site clearing and marking of trees for removal. We had the rubbish that had been dumped on Castle Tump removed, although we have since decided not to renew the lease of castle Tump, having been unsuccessful in obtaining a reduction in the rent.

We have had a number of extra houses, barn conversions and of course new people in the community, some of whom are already joining in with various community activities. We have had had a few extra lights on the bypass, and have received comments in both favour of, and against, these.

Cllrs. M Morgan, Hood and I attended the official opening of a new building at Pentwyn School. Kirsty Williams AM performed the opening ceremony, and a number of residents from Begwyns Bluff were present, as well as other villagers. Many favourable comments were made about the appearance of the building, both inside and out. This was a positive step for Hillcrest (owners of the school) in view of some of the problems in the past.

I met with Trevor Thomas (of Highways) to discuss the return or replacement of our missing bench. Mr Thomas offered to supply a new bench, as there was probably no chance of finding the original one. This bench, from above the school, and which was taken away for repair, still has not been returned.

A meeting of the Hay/Talgarth group for the community strategy was held in Clyro, although this was not particularly well-attended. Other community strategy group meetings have been attended by Councillors and the Clerk.

As mentioned earlier, Catriona, Cllr. M Morgan and I attended the Radnorshire Liaison meeting at County Hall. We found the talk on the forthcoming elections and procedures very interesting. There was also a talk about reduction of village hall grants, and on the County Council budget for- 2004-5, as well as questions from community councils. One of these was about the lack of time for planning application consultations; another about the cost of non-election charges.

My wife and I have been invited to attend a garden party at Buckingham palace in July. We will be flying the flag for Clyro, Radnorshire, and Powys, in that order.

I commend this report to the house.