ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2025/2026 (MAY 2026)
Hello and welcome to all of our existing and new residents.
The Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021, introduced as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of each financial year, that a community council must prepare and publish a report (an “annual report”) about the council’s priorities, activities and achievements during that year.
This is our first report which we hope you will find of interest. There are 10 members on Henllan Community Council. Councillors are office holders who sign a declaration of acceptance of office upon their election or appointment – they are therefore a part of the local government structure of Wales. Although they carry out many community activities on a voluntary basis, they are not volunteers.
The Council is led by a Chair, who is elected annually from among the serving Councillors. For the 2025/26 year, the Chair was Councillor Jackie Jones and the Vice-Chair was Councillor Ian Carrie.
Formal meetings are held on the first Tuesday evening of each month at 7.30pm at Henllan Church Institute. These meetings follow a structured agenda and are working meetings rather than public presentations. Members of the public are welcome to observe, and there is an opportunity at the start of each meeting for public questions. Meetings are not held in August due to recess.
Depending on the projects being undertaken, Councillors may also meet between monthly meetings as Working Groups to progress specific areas of work and report back to the full Council.
Our Vision Statement
To maintain and enhance the facilities, environment and historical heritage of our village for the benefit and wellbeing of all residents. By being proactive in addressing needs and engaging with the community and other agencies the council will ensure a safe, pleasant and engaging place to live.
Your Community Councillors for the Year 2025/26 were:
DENBIGH CALEDFRYN HENLLAN WARD
Cllr Jackie Jones
Cllr Ian Carrie – Co-opted
Cllr Cerian Jones
Cllr Nia Bellis
Cllr Clwyd Spenser
Cllr Merfyn Roberts
Cllr Gwyn Roberts
Cllr Thomas Marshall – Co-opted
Cllr Helen Clift – Resigned May 26
Cllr Nathan Penfold – Resigned May 26
We started the year with two vacancies following resignations during the year.
We advertised both vacancies and no elections were requested, which meant the council had to co-opt to fill the vacancies.
On both occasions the council received a number of Expressions of Interest, all of which were a very high calibre and would have been an asset to the council.
On the positive side we employed a replacement Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer in September 25 this is Stephanie Kelly 5 Smithfield Road, Denbigh, Denbighshire, LL16 3RG.
Message from the 2025/26 Chairman – Cllr Jackie Jones
Well yet another year has passed for Henllan Community Council. We have said goodbye to another Cllr Geraint Williams and thank him for his support over the past years. And hello to new Cllr Tom Marshall. We have also welcomed our new Clerk and Financial Officer Stephanie Kelly who is settling into her new role fantastically with the help of our Vice Chair Ian. We have given a good number of Grants to help with Community Projects within our village as well as overseeing and maintaining our village planters with the help of local volunteers who make this possible.
With Road Safety always being a major concern we have been able to increase the number of volunteers to go out and deter speeders in our village and Ian and myself reported 15 the other week to North Wales Police.
We are also making progress with the transfer of the Top Park recreation field with a huge thanks to Cllr Delyth from Denbighshire County Council and Cllr Nia for all their hard work they are putting in on behalf of Henllan Community Council.
We are also seeing some significant repairs starting on our roads thanks mainly to Cllr Ian for his tireless campaign e-mailing constantly to Denbighshire County Council to get then to commit and indeed carry out the work.
Lastly I would like to thank the councillors for your commitment and support to our village and its residents but, mainly for you putting up with me for the last twelve months.
Thank you very much.
Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Jackie Jones
Chair
Henllan Community Council.
Your Community Council
The Community Council are responsible for the numerous flower planters around the village, maintain the Public Conveniences at Top Park, the two notice boards, a number of benches in various locations, provide the Christmas tree at the Ysgol Gymraeg Henllan.
Budget/Precept
The precept is set annually and presented to Denbighshire County Council in December for the following financial year. The precept is collected on behalf of the Community Council by Denbighshire County Council and is the only source of tax revenue available to Town and Community Councils. The process of deciding on the level of precept by Henllan Community Council includes the preparation of a draft budget on the basis of the financial situation of the Community Council by considering the likely costs, plans for projects, setting an amount for contributions, within the guidelines published annually and any other financial matters. The Council’s required revenue for 2025/26 was £17,991 and the precept requirement was £18,818. Here is a brief explanation of how the precept is calculated: The forecast expenditure for the Community Council was £17,991. In addition to this, we have to allow for having a £30,000 ‘buffer’ in the bank, so the total we needed to raise was £18,818. By the end of the financial year (31 March 2025), we did not expect to have spent everything that was budgeted for in the previous year and anticipated a final balance in the bank of £30,472.37, plus the estimated VAT which will be reclaimed of £504.53. These two figures are taken away from the total we need to raise, leaving a balance of £18,818 to be raised via the precept. The Tax Base for the 2025-26 financial year of equivalent Band D properties is £2,318.87 and the cost per Band-D property: £48.25 (an annual increase of £3.25p / 7.2%). At the end of the financial year 31 March 2026 the council’s actual expenditure was £15,839.42.
Accountability
The Community Council has adopted a Member’s Code of Conduct. Each councillor has to declare any interest they have in items to be discussed at the start of each meeting and these are noted in the minutes. All members are required to attend the Code of Conduct Training. Each year an Internal and External Audit are undertaken.
Internal Audit
The Internal Audit was completed by Harold Smith Chartered Accountants Co Ltd and the External Audit undertaken by Audit Wales. Internal Audit The Internal Audit completed 25th June 2025 was for the year ending 31 March 2025 and there was no recommendations at the time of the Audit.
External Audit
The ‘full’ (in-depth) External Audit is undertaken by Audit Wales and for the year ending 31st March 2025 the Audit opinion was Qualified.
The Audit Wales comments were
- has not been not prepared in accordance with propor practices;
- that relevant legislative and regulatory requirements have not been met;
- is not consistent with the Councils governance arrangements;
- that the Council does not have proper arrangements in place to secure economy, efficiency and effectiveness in its use of resources.
War Memorial
The Community Council assisted St Sadwrn’s Church by getting the War Memorial railings painted before the Annual Remembrance Service in November. Ther service was attended by a number of members of the council, with the Chair laying a wreath. The Council also pays for the Road Closure and signage during the service.
Road Safety
Henllan Community Council have signed up to North Wales Police (NWP) speed watch scheme and go out randomly to catch speeding vehicles exceeding the 20mph within the village. We get regular reports of speeding vehicles passing Ysgol Gymraeg Henllan and Garn Lane however, other roads within the village have been passed to NWP for authority for HCC to use in future.
Annual Grant Applications
A number of Grant Applications have been made to the Council during the year with enough information for the members to assess each grant is awarded fairly and proportionally.
The council sets a budget annually to be able to offer financial assistance to local groups and organisations. Applications usually open all year. For 2025/26 we are pleased to report that we helped 6 local groups/organisations to the sum of £4250, together with an additional £100 for the Poppy Appeal, a donation of £200 to Denbigh Aged & Disabled Association and £250 DPJ Foundation for the Mental Health Support for the farming Community.
If any group or organisation requires any assistance with completing the forms, please contact the council and we will be happy to help.
Planning
As a statutory consultee the community council during 2025/26 received and responded to 5 planning applications, which is similar to the previous year.
Defibrillators
The community council maintain the Defibrillator outside the Henllan Post Office. A further defibrillator for our community has been installed at the rear of Henllan Church Institute on Lon Fain Henllan.
Know where your nearest Defibrillator is??
- Henllan Post Office, Denbigh St, Henllan, LL16 5AR.
- Henllan Church Institute, Lon Fain, Henllan, LL16 5DJ.
- Ysgol Gymraeg Henllan, Denbigh St Henllan, LL16 5AW (only when school is open).
Henllan Top Park, Portacabin, LL16 5BB (only when football match or training is happening).
Maintenance Operative
The community council employs Gareth Evans who cleans the Public Convenience’s in our community and also sweeps and cleans the bus stops in the village.
Litter Picking
Is carried out by volunteers within the community, including the children from Ysgol Gymraeg Henllan with the assistance of the councillors from time to time.
Planters and Flower Beds
There are 6 large planters (3 at Meifod Road, 2 at Maes yr Efail, 1 at Maes Sadwrn). There are also three smaller planters 2 at Llindir St and 1 at the junction of Bryn Y Garn Road and Garn Lane. A number of volunteers maintain the planters on behalf of the Community Council we are very grateful for their help. These were planted with winter flowers and bulbs.
Benches
There are 3 benches in the area belonging to the Community Council, 1 at Hen Lon, 1 at Llindir St, and the other outside Henllan Post Office. All others at the bus stop and Maes Sadwrn Park are maintained by Denbighshire County Council.
The bench outside the Post office was replaced this year as it was in a very poor condition.
Old Bench
New Bench
Flooding Issues
Useful information for homeowners – National Flood Forum; The Flood Hub; Natural Resources Wales; NRW Floodline: 0345 988 1188, DCC Streetscene, you can call our customer service centre on 01824 706000 from 8:30am to 5pm. Outside of these hours, you can phone 0300 123 30 68, and obviously any risk to life would be Emergency Services: 999.
Police
The Community Council have always maintained strong links with North Wales Police and our Police Community Support Officers and try to obtain regularly updates on the crime statistics for our area, which are relatively low.
Key Council Objectives for the Year 2026/27
➢ Continue to pursue highway and safety issues
➢ Improvements to public outdoor areas within our villages
➢ Purchase a further rural defibrillator for the community
➢ To refurbish notice board in Bee Garden and Henllan information board.
➢ Improve our community engagement
Budget – 2026/27
The total approved revenue required for 2026/27 is £17,991, with a precept request of £18,818. At the start of this financial year the council held £20,317.59 in reserves. This is in anticipation of the legal fee’s in taking on Trusteeship of Top Park recreation field from Denbighshire County Council.
For more information about the Henllan Community Council, council business and to see regular updates please view our website: www.henllan.cymru and follow us on facebook: Henllan Community Council.
Stephanie Kelly
Clerk and Financial Officer
5 Smithfield Road, Denbigh, Denbighshire, LL16 3RG
Email: communitycouncil@henllan.wales
