Tenby Town Council have agreed their budget for 2019.

At their first meeting of the new year on Tuesday night, members unanimously agreed to a precept of £63.80 for 2019/20, a 3.65 per cent rise on last year.

The town clerk, Andrew Davies, explained in his report to councillors that when the revenue and capital budgets were combined, the total gross expenditure proposed was £372,559.23, which included an ambitious £180,500 capital spend programme.

“Although expected income from normal sources is only marginally increasing, anticipated funding from grants (if achievable), Section 106 agreements, and earkmarking of reserves, leaves a net precept requirement of £183,835.23,” he stated when summarising the report.

“With a slight uplift in the Council Tax base for 2019/20, this would see an increase of the Band D equivalent precept levy to £63.80 (£2.25 or 3.65 per cent) on last year,” continued Mr. Davies.

Breaking down some of the costs of ‘town maintenance’, the town clerk said that he had proposed a reduction in the general maintenance provision of the Jubilee, but as per the budget working party recommendations, had added two new budget heads - ‘special maintenance projects with the community’ and ‘Winter beach cleansing’ to help assist the town council in offsetting any proposed reductions in Pembrokeshire County Council’s maintenance provision for the town.

Mr. Davies said that provision to cover promoting Christmas activities, provision of the ‘park and ride’ services from the Salterns during the pedestrianisation scheme and an annual contribution towards Ironman had been maintained.

“With an ambitious capital programme, I have, in line with the budget working party’s recommendation, included a new budget head - ‘consultancy fees and specialist project support’ to allow the town council to engage people with the right expertise to assist in bringing these projects to fruition,” he added.