Present: Ron, Goronwy, Hywel, Colin and Chris, Alan and Bella, Philip and Judy, John and Celia, Kate, Jo, Kath, Janet, Nikki, Huw.

Apologies: David, Nigel.

Thanks to Kath for all her hard work in the shop and to all who have shown their support enabling us to win the Countryside Alliance Wales Regional Award. The trip to the House of Lords in London for the National Awards was enjoyed by all. We were up against very stiff competition from much larger villages so although we did not win, we have done very well. Hywel has written to HRH Prince Charles to inform him of our success and has received a reply from his secretary to say he will pass our good news on to HRH.

* Upstairs sitting room - lampshades, occasional tables, coal hod and poker have been purchased. Rug has been donated. Chimney has been swept and the fireplace is usable. The TV is now permanently available and customers will be encouraged to make use of the room on all nights the pub is open. It was suggested that informal DVD film nights would be a good idea.

* Broadband - Cost will be £15 per month (plus VAT), paid by Tafarn Cwmdu, for which we get free WiFi router and be a part of BT Open Zone. Community members will have free access. Vouchers will be available to buy from the shop to enable cottage visitors to use Open Zone. Colin will action with BT and deal with the installation.

* Celia will write occasional reports on events in Cwmdu for the Carmarthen Journal in order to promote the Shop and Post Office and     will welcome contributions from others.

* Paul Falkner has been following up on the Tourist Sign but reports slow progress.

* Cooks - continuing problems with commitment from anyone apart from David and Jenny.

* Daffodils from Community Council have been planted.

Finance We have just under £6000 in the account. Cymdeithas paid for the trip to the Senedd in Cardiff. Colin will be reimbursed £165.79 for items in the sitting room and £142.50 for TV Licence renewal. Other items needed are new lawn mower for the pub garden, log splitting axe, shed for storage. Edwin will be asked to source and buy these. Colin will ask Geoff and Wendy in Talley the cost of new picnic tables for the pub garden.

Bar Takings hit by the bad weather, down by £972 compared to last January.

Shop Has benefitted from the bad weather, takings up by £806 compared to last January. Booking queries are to be passed to Janet and her phone number will be posted on the Cwmdu website.

Friday 5th February - Folk night.

Saturday 6th February - Concert in Providence Chapel 7.30pm.

Saturday 6th February - 6 Nations Rugby. Tafarn open from 4.00pm

Wednesday 10th February - Talley History 7.00pm

Thursday 11th February - Classic Club.

Saturday 13th February - 6 Nations Rugby. Tafarn open from 1.00pm

Friday 19th February - Games night 7.30pm.

Friday 26th February - 6 Nations Rugby. 8.00pm.

Monday 1st March - St. David’s Day Celebration 6.30pm. Catrin will cook Cawl.

Saturday 13th March - 6 Nations Rugby. Upstairs. Tafarn open from 1.30pm.

Saturday 13th March - Indian Curry Night. Restaurant and Bar. Booking essential.

Saturday 20th March - 6 Nations Rugby. Tafarn open from 1.30pm.

Sunday 23rd May - Open Air Service at Pant y Celyn 5.00 / 5.30pm. start.

This year is the 10th Anniversary of Cymdeithas Cwmdu, also 100th Anniversary of the opening of Cwmdu School ( closed July 1986 ). We will promote our events this year with those dates in mind. A special event is planned for Saturday 4th September. Kate will undertake research on past pupils and will ask Talley History Society to be involved. All help and suggestions welcomed - contact Kate.

The Community Council are applying for grants to develop land in Talley as an area for community use. Philip will write a letter of support from Cymdeithas Cwmdu to the Community Council.

Colin will follow up on the viability of the shop being a Calor Gas supplier. Permission may be needed from the National Trust if a cage is sited in the log storage area of the pub garden.

Village information sign - Conservation plan by the Trust for the coming year is to be finalised in May. Although the sign has been approved, any final action may not be until after May.

Alan will put up the Countryside Award plaque above the shop door.

Edwin will be asked to fill in the deep pothole going into the car park.

The Community Council will ask the Highways Department of the Council to examine the bridge by Gwaunforfydd as cracks are appearing in the stone work.

Next meeting - Thursday 4th March

Meeting closed 9.25pm.