At the January meeting of Saundersfoot Community Council, the main topic on the agenda was setting the 2013/2014 budget.

Members were extremely pleased at the wide range of activities that the council were able to support in 2012, the Vintage Motorcycle Run, Christmas Market, the Senior Citizens Christmas Dinner, New Year's Eve Fireworks and New Year's Day Swim all benefiting from donations and assistance, and bringing people to the village who enjoy these events and bring in custom. All members were eager that this help would be available in 2013 and to that end a review of the budget was undertaken.

Last year saw the council dig deeply into its reserves, due to no increase for the last seven years, and members considered that the current Band D property rate of £21.87 had been prudently used over many years. Members therefore studied what other community councils collected for a similar property, looking at neighbouring Tenby, St. Florence and Penally.

With an ambitious programme of work in the Sensory Garden, St. Issell's Cemetery, Multi User Games Area and Christmas lights and the planned ongoing support for events and village charities, members unanimously voted to increase the Band D property rate to £28.13, or an increase of 12p per property per week.

They realised this was a substantial increase in percentage terms this year, but hoped that residents appreciated that without the additional monies this raised, the fantastic events the village enjoyed may not happen.

This rise would still ensure that the village Band D rate was less than Letterston, Solva, Herbrandston, Narberth and still remains half of what Tenby residents pay for the same band, which will be £56.77 in 2013.

All members hope that villagers support the members in their decision, and the work they are doing on behalf of the village.