The Council
A Community Council is a type of local authority which is the lowest, or first, tier of local government.
The Council represents the local community on a wide range of matters, liaising with and making representations to Carmarthenshire County Council, the Welsh Government, Dyfed Powys Police and many other organisations on a regular basis. It has a statutory right to be consulted on some matters, notably planning applications, highway and other environmental issues. The Council also supports other local organisations by providing small grants, and by offering assistance in relation to their activities, where possible.
A Clerk is employed to help with the administration of the Council’s affairs.
The Council’s activities are funded by a precept levied on all local households and collected as part of the Council Tax by Carmarthenshire Council Council. For 2023/24, the precept equivalent in Council Tax Band D is £118.68 per year. All of the Council’s activities and expenditure are monitored annually by independent auditors appointed by the Auditor General for Wales.
The Council is responsible for a range of local amenities and services. It also supports, normally through grants, a number of organisations who provide local services and facilities. The Council have recently taken over the maintenance and running of Bryn Avenue Park, Maes Elwyn Park both in Brynaman and also part of Ystradowen Park, Ystradowen. The playgrounds at Rhosaman and Cefnbrynbrain are also maintained by the Community Council. The Pride in Our Community project which has developed since 2020 has been as been a worthwhile exercise and the villages are much more attractive with the flower displays and hanging baskets.
Cwarter Bach Community Council has a maximum of 14 elected Members representing the wards of Brynamman (5 members), Quarter Bach (5 members) and Llynfell (4 members).
A description of the wards: the Brynaman ward incorporates the area from the west of Brynaman up to Nant Melyn; the Cwarter Bach ward incorporates the area from Nant Melyn to Afon Aman (Brynaman east and Rhosaman west); the Llynfell ward incorporates the area from Afon Aman, bounded by the Afon Llynfell, up to the Afon Twrch (Rhosaman East, Cefn Bryn Brain and Ystradowen).
The Clerk to the Council is an appointed officer, not an elected Member. His/her contact details are on the Home page.