Local councillors in Tenby have once again agreed to waive a personal allowance that members of town and community councils are entitled to, with one member reiterating that they do it for the ‘love of the town’ and not to get paid.

At Tuesday night’s meeting of Tenby town council, correspondence came before members outlining draft proposals for the determination of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales which sets the range and maximum level of allowances payable for the financial year for 2020/21.

At present the town council has the discretion to determine annually what payments they will make to members in relation to their duties as councillors other than those the panel have mandated to comply with the requirements under Local Government in Wales.

The town clerk Andrew Davies said that no councillor from Tenby took up the option of the funding payment in the first year it was introduced.

With the panel continuing to mandate a payment of a contribution of costs and expenses for members of all councils - where each individual is eligible to receive £150 - discussing the matter at their meeting, members of the town council were unanimous in agreeing to waive the payment again as they had done in previous years.

“I propose we agree in line with what we did 12 months ago with each councillor signing to say that the £150 payment that they’re eligible to goes back into a fund for the town council precept,” stated Clr. Laurence Blackhall, with his colleagues agreeing.

“It is important that it is recognised that members of this town council choose not to take these payments,” he added, with his colleague Clr. Mrs. Tish Rossiter concurring.

“I’d like that made clear to everyone, as some people in the community still seem to think we get paid in our role as a town councillor, when we don’t - we do it for the love of our town!” she said.