Tenby councillors facing criticism for not turning up to meetings, has led to a long-standing county councillor reiterating a call for the Town Council to be scrapped altogether.

At May’s meeting of Tenby Town Council, Cllr Laurence Blackhall slammed some fellow members for overall poor attendance, as well as not turning up for important events and functions, calling matters ‘embarrassing at times’.

In response, county councillor for the seaside town’s north ward, Cllr Michael Williams has once again called for the Town Council to discontinue.

“After reading Cllr Blackhall’s observations regarding the poor attendance at Town Council meetings perhaps he should reflect on recent history,” remarked Cllr Williams.

“When Cllr Skyrme-Blackhall was Mayor, 50% of Council members resigned, many long serving highly respected Councillors, and since then the Council has continued to hemorrhage members, the latest just last week.

“Perhaps Cllr Blackhall should look a little nearer to home before seeking to apportion blame! “There is something fundamentally amiss in the Town Council, going back several years, and we should now be asking is there any point in it continuing, with a detailed look at exactly what it contributes to the well being of the town.

“The Williams commission of a few years ago did put forward detailed recommendations to reorganise Local Government, specifically Town councils, but I’m afraid turkeys rarely vote for Christmas!” continued Cllr Williams.

At this month’s meeting of Tenby Town Council, Cllr Laurence Blackhall said that in proposing the new Mayor earlier in May, he did speak about the importance of supporting the council in its collective endeavours.

He felt conversations needed to be had with some members as to whether they really wanted to be doing this.

There were only four councillors present at the meeting, with the Planning Committee not quorate to be able to discuss applications before them.

In recent months, a further two councillors have stepped down, with currently a vacancy in the south ward.

“When people don’t turn up, it diminishes the chances of the council achieving what it sets out to do,” remarked Cllr Blackhall.

“We’ve got some brilliant councillors who are really committed and trying to do things but where are the others?

“Do they feel able to contribute, do they find it difficult to contribute, do they find it difficult to attend, is the time of our meeting wrong?

“Whatever the answer, the fact is we get non-attendance, often with the Clerk not even having the courtesy of being given apologies.

“Personally, I do not feel this is fair when there are a number of people in Tenby who would like the honour of serving the town and are not able to because we have some members who are not fulfilling their role.

“I believe we need to have an honest conversation with some members; ask them ‘do you still want to do this?’ - The impression I get is some don’t want to be bothered,” he continued.

“We are doing much good work in partnerships with other organisations and our staff, and it’s a great shame that we are in situation where we have to ask people if they wish to carry on.

“Even at signature events, like Remembrance Day, Civic Service, and Mayor Making, attendance is poor.

“Decisions are made by people who turn up and people aren’t turning up. It’s embarrassing at times, particularly when there is a queue of people waiting to do good for the town.”

He added that his comments were not a reflection on all that were absent that night.

As a recently co-opted new member onto the Town Council, Cllr Dr Carmody likened regular non-attendance at meetings to ‘bed-blocking’.

She wondered if it was worth having a conversation around communication, and whether some felt they required more training to be able to engage more.

Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall commented: “You swear, when you make your acceptance of office, to participate, but maybe being a councillor is not what they think it is. I feel there is an element, some not all, who don’t take it as seriously as they should.”

Mayor, Cllr Dai Morgan said he would be happy to speak with members to ascertain their position.