Tenby's own council should be putting on events at the town's entertainments facility, rather than just relying on others to book the venue.

That was the view expressed by Clr. Mrs. Julie Evans at Tuesday night's meeting of the town council, when she praised recent events held at the De Valence Pavilion, but expressed concern that the council itself and the Tenby DV (the new trust of the De Valence) weren't doing enough to put on their own events.

"I have a huge amount of respect for anybody putting on any of the well attended events that have been held at the De Valence lately, including most recently the Renaissance night, but surely now it's time that the town council and the Trust started planning on running their own events for the venue," she commented.

"The persons hiring the facility are making vast profits from events they are putting on, but now it's time I think for the Trust to adopt a more business-like attitude to running the De Valence and I'd urge this council to consider that," continued Clr. Mrs. Evans.

Clr. Lawrence Blackhall, who also sits on the Tenby DV, said that the Trust and town council did benefit from a fee for the hall hire and made a percentage from the bar takings of any events that were put on.

"As a short term plan, we're not taking any financial risk," he said, while Clr. Mike Evans said that he agreed with Clr. Mrs. Evans's sentiments, but felt that the current events being facilitated at the De Valence were having a positive knock-on effect for business in the town.

"These events that we've hired the hall out for are bringing the community back to the De Valence," he remarked.

"We're fortunate as a town to have a venue of this size and at the moment it's being utilised more so than at any time over the last four to five years, so there are many benefits to the set-up at the moment," added Clr. Evans.

Clr. Mrs Evans appreciated the business that the events were bringing into the town, but felt that overall, it was not cost neutral for the town council.

"It's costing the council a lot of money to open the doors to the De Valence, and it's still our duty to oversee the maintenance of the building and make sure that it does not fall into disrepair.

"I just feel that we're missing an opportunity to make some money for this council-owned building, rather than just subsidising individuals who are making their own profits," she added.

The town clerk said that he had received two new booking requests for the De Valence, one a night for a Smiths tribute band to appear on July 28 and also a wedding reception evening party on August 24.

Meanwhile, councillors agreed that it wasn't worth renewing the civil ceremonies licence that was held for the De Valence Pavilion, as they couldn't justify the cost of the application, as there had only been three weddings held at the venue over the last 11 years.

"Anyone can still have a blessing here or a wedding reception; it's just that they won't be able to get married at the venue," said Clr. Evans.