After three standstill budgets, Tenby Town Council have agreed to cut their precept this year.

Members heard on Tuesday night that 'prudent housekeeping' had enabled them to trim some £4,525 off their budgetary requirements for 2003/4, allowing them to pass on the savings to the council tax payers of the town.

Deputy Mayor, Clr. Andrew Rees - who, as the town council's internal auditor worked with financial officer/clerk to the town council, Miss Nicola Williams, on the compilation of the budget - took fellow members through the estimates on Tuesday night.

He revealed that a projected £105,343 would be needed by the council next year, as opposed to £109,868 this year.

While this was only a reduction of some £4,500, it was, he felt, "still rather good", as the council had produced a standstill budget for the last three years in a bid to "recoup expenditure that almost got out of hand at times."

He pointed out that there was little change proposed across the board, the main fluctuation being a proposed 30 per cent increase in the amount included in the budget for insurance premiums.

"Premiums are tending to go up, and we have called upon our insurance quite heftily over the last year with a few claims for storm damage," he explained

While income on the general account was estimated to be over £2,500 lower than last year at £2,300, savings of £9,000 would be made by making no provision for building improvements.

"If, as we hope, the De Valence Pavilion is handed over to a not-for-profit Trust in April, it didn't seem necessary to carry such a substantial amount for building improvements, as this will then be their responsibility," Clr. Rees pointed out.

As a result, it was estimated that expenditure on the general account would be £74,554, as opposed to £83,041 in 2002/03.

Savings of £1,000 could also be made on the De Valence account, while a marginal increase in income was projected.

"We have tried to reduce running costs," said Clr. Rees.

"Again, while it is planned that the building will be handed over to a Trust - with the town council agreeing that our commitment will be £10,000 from our general account for office hire and £35,000 for the De Valence - we have got to be mindful that it may not go ahead and we have to precept for the year," Clr. Rees continued. "This would carry us through."

Increases in the gardens account pushed expenditure up nearly £8,000 to a projected £72,180, but this was mostly offset by an increase in the gardens contract from Pembrokeshire County Council.

However, the budget did include a £2,000 provision for the development of a Beatrix Potter garden, once works around the nursery garden on The Croft were completed, and an increase of over £1,000 for rent of the nursery gardens as a result of a new leasing agreement with the county council.

"The gardens seem to be holding their own," commented Clr. Rees.

Another major increase in the precept was on Christmas lighting, which goes up from £12,000 to £14,000. This was due to the fact that the town council was now expected to pay for the cost of the electricity used.

If accepted without amendment, the proposed precept would make Tenby Town Council's portion of the Band D council tax levy £46.96, a saving of £2.34 on the 2002/3 charge.

"We have been able to save this over the last year because we have not been profligate," said Clr.| Rees. "It is all down to prudent housekeeping; there is no other word for it.

"We are fairly solvent this year, our reserves are increasing, and it is hoped that, with the Trust coming through, a lot of Tenby Town Council's expenditure on the De Valence will disappear after our contracted £45,000 for the first three years."

The Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown, thanked Miss Williams and Clr. Rees for all their hard work on the estimates.

Clr. Mrs. Caroline Thomas agreed, feeling that it was a clear and concise report which she proposed be accepted.

Members agreed unanimously.