Mayor of Tenby, Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown, hit back this week at claims she was 'treating fellow councillors like children'.

At the last meeting of Tenby Town Council, Clr. Miss Lis James felt it was "a damned disgrace" that the Mayor was now asking councillors to give 'valid' reasons for non-attendance at meetings

She commented that town councillors were not paid to attend meetings and felt that the council had no right to demand attendance nor a reason why a councillor could not attend.

At Tuesday's meeting of the council, Clr. Mrs. Brown explained why she had decided to ask for 'valid' reasons.

"Poor attendance at council meetings is becoming a problem," she commented. "Not only at main meetings, but also at sub-committee level."

She claimed that in the 15 months she had been Mayor, she had only chaired one meeting when there had been full attendance of all 13 councillors.

"Some absences are obviously because of illness, work commitments or holidays, but I know, and you know, that apathy creeps into one's mind and non-attendance on occasions is because of a 'can't be bothered' attitude.

"If there are other reasons, let's have them."

Clr. Mrs. Brown said that, personally, she took her position as a town councillor extremely seriously and felt honoured to have been elected to serve the town.

"I feel it is in the public's interest that I attend all meetings where possible and give a reason for any non-attendance that may occur," she said.

"In December 2001 all members of this council signed the Standard of Conduct for local councillors," she continued. "This code of conduct says that it is for individual members to decide how they must act to comply with the code.

"My interpretation of the section on accountability is one of the reasons I put forward the suggestion of having a valid reason for an apology.

"It says that members are accountable to the electorate and the public generally for their actions and for the way they carry out their responsibilities as a member.

"The local council administration handbook also states that "it is very desirable to record briefly the grounds upon which apologies for absence are tendered in case they have to be approved to prevent a casual vacancy arising."

Clr. Mrs. Brown said that since the "rather ludicrous comments" made at the previous meeting had appeared in he press, she had been approached by members of the public supporting her stance.

"The electorate obviously want to know who is representing them on the issues dealt with around this table," she continued. "We are here to represent the people of this town and should consider it an honour to do so. If councillors feel that apologies should not be given, nor reasons for them, then I suggest they seriously ask themselves are they a councillor for themselves or the people and the town of Tenby."