At a recent meeting of Tenby councillors, Clr. Laurence Blackhall commented that the last few elections of the Town Council had been uncontested elections, either because the number standing equalled the places or there were less, which had resulted in immediate co-options.

While this was great in terms of not having to pay for the election, it was not a great idea in terms of democracy, he told his fellow members.

“Hopefully the Tenby people will have a choice of who are their councillors in May and that there will be sufficient people coming forward expressing their interest to have an election, even if it meant not being re-elected,” he said.

“However, how do we, as a town council encourage this,” Clr. Blackhall asked.

“In the past TTC have hosted a meeting and invited people to come and talk about becoming a councillor. In the media we can make sure they know what it is to be a councillor and how to stand. We can encourage people to come forward and talk to existing councillors as to their role.”

Clr. Jim Cornwell showed members a document entitled Guidance for Candidates from the Electoral commission. He said that he had been talking to lots of people who he felt could be ideal candidates and had received lots of positive feedback.

He explained that he too would prefer an election as it provided a measure of ‘your worth as a councillor or not’. Even if it meant that he was voted out, he was prepared to do all he could to encourage as many people as possible to stand.

Clr. Dai Morgan backed both councillors, stating that when he first started on council, he didn’t know what to expect.

“Let’s invite people to watch and listen to our meetings to see what we do and then encourage people to stand, that way Tenby will get the council it deserves,” he remarked.

Deputy Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Tracey Evans commented that as a relatively new, co-opted member she had not been through the election process, and enquired as to how it worked.

The town clerk explained that the election would be called in March and potential candidates had a month to register their intent to stand, with polling day to be held on Thursday, May 5.

Clr. Blackhall felt a meeting in February where people could engage and ask questions of members about becoming a councillor would be another good way to encourage potential candidates to come forward.

The Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Sam Skyrme-Blackhall said that she had been on the town council for four years and still considered herself as ‘new’.

“This is now about creating a council for the present and the future and working with the community is key to making our town even better,” she added.