Can you help to make a difference for Tenby?

Anyone interested in helping to make a difference for Tenby is urged to put their name forward to be considered as a councillor for the town.

Tenby Town Council will co-opt new members to fill recently vacated roles, after there was no call for an election. You don’t have to live in Tenby to join the Town Council, but you need to reside within 3 miles of the town.

Any ten local government electors (at least 10 people from each of the seaside town’s wards) were required to write to Pembrokeshire County Council’s election services to call for an election to fill the vacancies, but not enough members of the public requested this process, so now the Town Council will go down the route of co-opting new members.

At last month’s meeting (February 8) - five councillors handed in their resignations, leaving three casual vacancies in the town’s south ward, and two for the north ward.

“As there have been insufficient requests to Pembrokeshire County Council to hold elections to fill the vacant seats on Tenby Town Council, (three in the South Ward and two in the North Ward) members of the town council are now required to fill the vacancies via co-option,” said the town clerk Andrew Davies.

“This is an opportunity to anyone interested in helping to make a difference for Tenby to put their names forward to be considered.”

When discussing the matter at this month’s meeting of the Town Council, Cllr Laurence Blackhall referred to timescale and process in relation to the co-option.

“Tenby Town Council need to get this right,” he stressed.

“On an ideological level, elections are better. That said, had there been contested elections it would have cost the Town Council £14,000,” he continued, stating that he was rather glad this amount is not going to being spent.

However, he highlighted, that process was important.

“As the councillors left nine months after being elected by the public, it will be four years before our electorate have the option to remove any councillors we co-opt,” Cllr. Blackhall continued.

“This needs to be conducted in an as careful and transparent a way as possible. There may be people out there asking why no election, there will be the inevitable criticism. It must be done in a clear, open and transparent way.

“We should look at interviewing potential councillors, publicise the opportunity to chat with all councillors informally to see how they can work with us; how they can contribute to make our council and our town better.

“We should make the Code of Conduct and the Guide to being a Good Councillor available for them to have a look at. Let people come and see what we do, meet with members then they can put their names forward,” he continued.

“We also need to be clear about what happens if insufficient people come forward, or what happens if, in our view, someone comes forward who we feel is wholly inappropriate.

“Perhaps clarification is needed before the next meeting,” he added.

Cllr Charles Dale said he felt it was all about communication, and it was up to the Town Council to take responsibility to ensure people know about these vacancies and how to apply.

“Council meetings are free for all to attend to see what we do,” he stated.

The Mayor suggested that they remind members of public that they can go along to the Town Council’s April meeting to sit in and watch.

“Many don’t understand what goes on and, once elected or co-opted, it can be very daunting for those first few meetings,” she told her colleagues.

“It would be good for any potential co-optees to get a feel first.”

Cllr Trevor Hallett reminded everyone that councillors represent the public and that councillors are volunteers.

• Be a British citizen, Commonwealth citizen, citizen of the Republic of Ireland, a relevant citizen of the Union or a qualifying foreign citizen who has attained the age of 18 years and is - registered as a local government elector for the community; or who has been during the whole of the twelve months preceding the appointment occupied as owner or tenant land or other premises in the community; or his/her principal or only place of work during those twelve months has been in the community or has during those twelve months resided in the community or within 3 miles of it.

• You must also not be disqualified from holding office by reason of any disqualification set out in section 80A of the Local Government Act 1972, or any decision made under section 79 of the Local Government Act 2000.

Anyone who would be interested in filling one of the vacancies is invited to write to the Town Clerk stating which Ward they would like to be considered for, and also give a brief outline as to why they would like to be a town councillor and what qualities and experiences they can bring to the role.

The Town Council will be considering those put forward for co-option at their meeting on May 2 which gives anyone interested the time to chat with the Town Clerk or any serving councillor to find out more about what the role involves.

“Anyone interested will also be able to attend the Council meeting on April 4 to see how we work,” continued Mr Davies.

“You will be asked to attend the meeting on May 2 where you will have an opportunity to expand on your letter.”

Letters asking to be considered for co-option must be received by the Clerk either by email to: [email protected] or by post to Tenby Town Council, De Valence Pavilion, Upper Frog Street, Tenby SA70 7JD by Friday, April 21.

Anyone requiring further information can contact the Clerk on 01834 842730.