AN INFORMAL meeting for community and town council leaders in Carmarthenshire was held earlier this week.

The meeting was arranged by Llandeilo mayor Christoph Fischer, deputy mayor Charlotte Morgan and mayoress Kate Glanville at The Plough, Rhosmaen, on Tuesday, September 19.

The purpose of the meeting, said Mr Fischer, was so that the council leaders were given teh opporutnity to meet, exchange information and ideas and to encourage a supportive environment for everyone to work together.

Mr Fischer said: “We all face the same challenges but we don’t have many opportunities to talk with each other about them. The meeting was very harmonious and showed we all can learn from each other and probably help each other.

“It was good to meet the faces behind the email addresses and find out what motivates them, what projects they have and how they run their councils. We were all keen to meet again soon and strengthen the new ties being built.”

Ms Morgan said: “I would like to extend our thanks to those who braved the weather and joined us. The conversations flowed and in a short time, everything from successful events, new initiatives and festivals to concerns, training, technology and grant funding was discussed.”

Ms Glanville added: “We all agreed that recruiting younger councillors and getting younger people involved is a priority for us. A broad cross section of our demographic being represented on the council is something we all want and need.”

Joining the three at the meeting were Llandovery mayor Gina Jones; Ammanford mayor Emyr John; Delyth Beynon, chair of Dyffryn Cennen and Ffairfach; Carey Thomas, chair of Llandybie; Ella Peel, deputy mayor of Llandovery; Sally Newell, deputy chair of Manordeilo and Salem and Edward Thomas, deputy chair of Dyffryn Cennen and Ffairfach.