24th

CAR PARK POST OFFICE - IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Tregynon Post Office is now operating a mobile service in the Sarn Village Hall Car Park at the following times: Monday 13-00-14.00 Thursday 14.30-15.30

Please take advantage of the resumption of this valuable service.

NEW YEAR Yes it is a long way off but you can look forward to a New Year’s Eve function in the Village Hall. More information nearer the time.

RECREATION ASSOCIATION

A quiz will be held in early May. Look out for adverts. The AGM will be held in the Village Hall on 19th May at 8pm. All are welcome as we review the past busy year. The Newsletter can now be collected from the box by the Hall door. If you know anyone who doesn’t get one delivered, please let them know.

SARN BAPTIST CHAPEL

On Saturday 6th June the Annual Meeting of the Radnorshire and Montgomeryshire Baptist Association will be held at Sarn and the Revd Michael Collis will be inducted as President for the year 2015/2016. Full details of the programme are given on our web site, We celebrate our Church Anniversary on Sunday, 28th June when our preacher will be the Revd Peter Thomas, former Secretary of the Baptist Union of Wales. We extend a warm invitation to all our services.

May Sunday, 3rd / 10.30 a.m. / Holy Communion - Revd Michael Collis
Sunday, 10th / 10.30 a.m. / Revd Michael Collis
Sunday, 17th / 10.30 a.m. / Revd Michael Collis
Sunday, 24th / 10.30 a.m. / Pentecost – Revd Michael Humphreys
Sunday, 31st / 10.30 a.m.
6.00 p.m. / Trinity Sunday - Joint Service with Kerry Baptist Church at Sarn – Julia Lane
Montgomeryshire Baptist Singing Festival at Llanidloes Baptist Church
June Sat, 6th / 2.00 p.m. / Radnorshire and Montgomeryshire Baptist Association Annual Meeting
Sunday, 7th / 10.30 a.m. / Holy Communion - Revd Michael Collis
Sunday, 14th / 10.30 a.m. / Revd Michael Humphreys
Sunday, 21st / 10.30 a.m. / Revd Michael Collis
Sunday, 28th / 6.30 p.m. / Revd Peter M. Thomas

SARN COFFEE MORNING GROUP meets at Sarn Village Hall on 2nd & 4th Mondays of each month from 10am to noon. All welcome.

LOCAL HISTORY

Many of you will remember Miss Evelyn Evans MBE, of Hollybush. Her life & family will be the focus of our May meeting. In June we will be looking at Sarn related photos, eg the YFC & Show.

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH.

Thanks to all those who supported the cake stall held in Bear Lane on Easter Saturday, £200 was raised to support the running of the church. We are looking forward to Mainstone coming over the hill for the rogation service on May 16th. There are two services a month at 9.30. The 2nd Sunday in the month is a Communion Service and 4th Sunday is Lay lead Service. Every one is welcome.

KERRY COMMUNITY COUNCIL

In February Sue Simson from PCC addressed KCC on Devolution of Services. Sue explained to Council that as a result of a 25% decrease in funding in the Powys C C’s budget an overall saving of £7 million needs to be made over the next few years. In order to achieve this PCC are piloting a scheme inviting Community Councils to take on non-statutory services, by means of a “Cluster System”. This allows smaller Community Councils to join forces with a larger Community or Town Councils, thereby reducing the financial commitment of individual councils by pooling resources. Council raised the following points. Q “Do we have to join a cluster group”? A:“No, you can continue to work independently, but there is a need to reduce the number of Community Councils in Powys”. Q. “ Will KCC lose the power to make decisions on the management of Village Finances and matters related to the everyday running of the village”

A:“KCC will only be commissioning specific services, ie. Day Services, Library, Grass Cutting, Social Housing”. You will be pooling experience and funding” “There will be no change to constitution” Q. “Will this result in job loss?” A:“Yes, PCC will need to shed 1,600 jobs over the next 4 years. A reduction of 500 jobs has been achieved in the last year. Q. “A grant of 50% of total cost offered by PCC to assist Community Councils in meeting additional financial liabilities is awarded for the first three years. Will financial assistance continue after that date? A:“PCC are not able to predict future funding after the initial three year period, but at the moment there is no intention to extend that period” Q. “Would KCC be less recognisable if they do not join a Cluster Group”?A:“No, KCC would be just as viable if it chose to stand alone”. It was noted that KCC is the largest Community Council in Powys being somewhat bigger than some Town Councils. The Chairman thanked Sue for her input and invited her to stay while Council discussed the Government White Paper Survey in order to further inform Council. Following an initial discussion it was apparent that the survey would need more time and attention. Council voted to hold an additional Council Meeting on the 18th March. At this meeting Cllr. K. Lander read a letter from Montgomery Town Council summarising the meeting which he attended on 11th March 2015. Montgomery propose: A cluster of equal partners with no nominated lead council to provide PCC with an identified group with which to communicate & possibly giving an economy in costs for service delivery. To offer a choice in the Cluster model being offered elsewhere & to share experience with other councils. The discussion which followed noted the need to keep options open and to attend Newtown Town Council Meeting. Independent representation for Sarn and Dolfor was proposed giving KCC 3 representatives. Since KCC is already a “cluster” of three villages and larger than some Town Councils perhaps there is no need to join a cluster group. Clerk was instructed to inform Montgomery Town Council that KCC wish to formally declare an interest in becoming a member of this cluster group. Cllr Lander and Cllr O. Stanier were elected to represent KCC at the Montgomery Town Council meeting of the 15th April 2015 when work will begin on developing a plan of work and the election of a Chairperson. The Devolution, Democracy and Delivery White Paper - Reforming Local Government: Power to Local People Having been provided with printed copies of the survey questions and a not insignificant amount of background information, Council made an enthusiastic start to the survey. However, Councillors were dismayed at the nature of the questionnaire, not only because of its impenetrable language, but also because the questions do not allow sufficient flexibility for a truly representative answer. Consequently it was proposed by the Chair that Council should call a halt to completing the survey and to write to the Welsh Assembly expressing their views as best as possible but mainly to highlight the total inadequacy of the wording of the questions and the resulting waste of time and money of the whole exercise. The Chairman & Clerk drafted a letter for Council’s approval, which, following minor adjustments, has been posted. Contact the clerk, Angela Feltham, at tel 01686 650747, or Email opies of Minutes are available on KCC Website (

SARN W.I.

Sarn WI meet every 2nd Thursday of the month at 7.30pm in the village hall unless we are going out (which we do fairly often).We would welcome new members so come along and try us out. Contact Carol on

01686 670995, Helen on 01686 670285 or Janet on01686 670754

SARN BOWLING CLUB
Why not join us & have a go. For more information contact either Ted or Don.

YOGA

MixedAbility Yoga classes are heldin the Village Hall onWednesday evenings.Please contact Karen for further details - phone 01686 621783 or email .

CONTACTS
Badminton- Linda (01686 670764) or Sam (01686 670615) Community Council –P.Dyer (01686 670459)

YFC- Sarah Probert (07811 555674) Chapel – Rev M Collis (01686 670236)

Montgomery Practice Patients Assoc- Cheryl Davies (01686 670612)

Sarn Local History – Marilyn Price (01686 670237)

Sarn Show - Brigit Clacy ( 01686 670949 or ) Bowls- Don Pryce (01686 670507)

Sarn Holy Trinity Church –Alice Davies (670306) Rev Stephanie Fountain (01588 630324) Jo Thornton (670781)

Sarn W.I. Carol Cotton (01686 670995) Yoga: Karen – (01686 621783) or

Sarn Recreation Assoc – Norman Cotton ( 01686 670995 ) & Hall Bookings - Anne Williams (01686 670635)

Items for the July/August newsletter should be sent to Tricia Sterling -- email . Or phone (01686 670367) no later than 17th June 2015