A pilot assigning county council officers to town councils for support looks unlikely to continue.

Following a working group’s evaluation of the town council link officer scheme recommendations were made to end the pilot which included nine town and one city councils.

Of 20 link officers, eight responded to a survey about the scheme and “noted that the scheme has helped to improve communications and build relationships.”

On Tuesday (March 26) members of the partnerships overview and scrutiny committee were told that the working group thought that further work looking at how the council “communicates and builds relations” with all town and community councillors be carried out.

Clr. Simon Hancock praised the scheme and said it was thanks to the link officers that Neyland Town Council had a strategic plan.

He added that he “regretted” the recommendation to end the scheme which he felt needed “more corporate support.”

Clr. Phil Kidney said that community councils should also receive support while Clr. Ken Rowlands argued it was a county councillors’ job to be responsible for the needs of their communities.

He added: “The county councillor is the conduit between the community and this authority.”

Director of development Dr Steven Jones that refinement and a longer time period the scheme would be more successful, especially in light of Welsh Government plans to increase the responsibilities of town councils.

A suggested extension to the scheme was not approved by members.