After a coffee and chat, the meeting began with apologies from absent members because of illness or holidays and the minutes of the November meeting were agreed.
In his report, the chairman told the meeting about their local MP, Nick Ainger, hosting a gathering of business people at the Cleddau Bridge Hotel when Nick and Wayne David AM addressed a group of 50-plus business people who were asked to express their real concerns about their present business difficulties, so that these matters could be taken up at the Welsh Assembly and at Westminster.
Nick was pleased to announce the new job opportunities at Pembroke Power.
Mansel Thomas also reminded members of the meeting at Tenby Cottage Hospital, regarding local health provision issues. This led on to the chairman allowing an in-depth discussion of these issues and his own concerns, as a member of the CHC.
The chairman also expressed his pleasure at the success of the annual dinner held in January and thanked the organisers.
There were a number of interesting points raised for discussion in any other business, some of which will be raised at the constituency meeting at the end of the month. This included the question of banks being included in post offices.
The main focus of the meeting was the presentation of Labour Party Policy Documents, which had been produced by the National Labour Party exec. and had been distributed for ordinary members to discuss and respond to.
The three documents up for discussion, had been read and summarised by three volunteers, Mike, Maria and Vic, and these three proceeded to give the meeting a synopsis of each document. The documents were about 'Prosperity and work,'Improving public services' and 'Building and viable communities.'
There was a great deal in the documents, many ideas and many questions were raised. But it was agreed that all three documents needed further discussion and this would now be arranged at a separate date, so that party members could respond fully, before the deadline for getting them returned, which was May 2009.
Tony thanked the three volunteers for their work and it was agreed by Norman that he would arrange a further discussion opportunity.
After the drawing of the raffle, Mollie, in the absence of the secretary Marjorie, reminded members of the following dates when speakers would be coming to Tenby to address members: March 21 - Martin Mansfield, Euro candidate; May - Julie Morgan MP and June - Jane Hutt, Welsh Assembly Education Minister.