More than £200,000 has been given to projects in areas impacted by second home ownership in the first six months of the ‘Enhancing Pembrokeshire Grant’ scheme.

Funded by the second home council tax premium the scheme aims to help communities support their viability and well-being.

Second home owners pay an extra 50 per cent council tax and that income is split between providing affordable homes and the grant scheme.

A review of the scheme’s first six months is due and the policy and pre-decision overview and scrutiny discussed how it had been progressing at its meeting on November 13.

Some of the organisations to receive grants include Pembrokeshire Peoples First with £7,689, Solva Care’s £46,555 and £65,460 was awarded to SPAN Arts.

Amroth Bowls Club received £4,000, St Dogmaels Football Field £6,500, Llanychllwydog PTA £1,550 and Broad Haven Boardwalk £17,520.

Cabinet member for finance Clr. Bob Kilmister told the committee he was “very pleased with the progress of this scheme so far” and he expected it would continue beyond its allotted two years.

Some adjustments had been identified and changes would be made to “make sure it works for everybody and in the best way.”

These include providing support for town and community councils to develop more robust applications, with the majority so far coming from the third sector.

Extra advice and guidance will also be given to ensure applicants illustrate the connection with second home ownership issues in the community, accessible before the application process.

Paperwork involved will be simplified and a panel will be set up with cabinet members and the chairman of the second homes working group to deal with applications.

It is also proposed that some funding areas will be merged to allow smaller areas access to larger grant possibilities.

Clr. Tony Baron said his community council had withdrawn an application “due to complexities” and welcomed the adjustments.

While Cllrs Michelle Bateman and Michael James praised the support their communities had received in making successful applications.

The meeting heard that key to the scheme that it was “underpinned” by mitigation of second home impacts with “vanity projects” refused.

“It’s crucial that every application makes that clear and evidences that really clearly,” said community regeneration team leader Sinead Henehan.

Clr. Mike Evans called for an extra councillor place on the reviewing committee along with cabinet members, which was backed by Clr. Rhys Sinnett.

It was also felt that sharing applications with town and community councils for information would be beneficial.