At their first meeting of the new year members of Tenby Town Council have agreed their budget for 2020.

The town clerk, Andrew Davies, explained in his report that came before town councillors at their meeting on Tuesday night, that based on the Council Tax base for 2020/21, an increase in the Band D equivalent precept levy to £68.00 (an uplift of £4.20 on last year) would be finalised.

“Council will see that when the Revenue and Capital budgets are combined the total planned gross expenditure proposed is £346,660.30 which includes a reduced £90.000 capital spend programme,” stated Mr. Davies.

“Although expected income from normal sources is only marginally increasing, anticipated funding from the tourist information centre, grants (if achievable), Section 106 agreements and earmarking of reserves leaves a net precept requirement of £197,734.07.”

The town clerk’s report stated that should the town council take on the running of the Tourist Information Centre from Pembrokeshire County Council under an ‘asset transfer agreement’ - provision has been made to employ one member of staff, with it proposed that a bid be made to the ‘Enhancing Pembrokeshire Fund’ to try and meet 80 per cent of these costs for the first year of operation.

Other factors featured in the budget breakdown included town maintenance programmes recommended by the town council’s ‘budget working party’.

“We added two new budget heads to assist the town council in offsetting any proposed reductions in Pembrokeshire county council’s maintenance provision for the town,” continued Mr. Davies.

“While funding from the ‘special maintenance projects with the community’ budget has been committed to works at the Paragon gardens this year, the finance working party were concerned that this may be insufficient to complete the project and also deal with further potential cuts by PCC. Therefore, as per recommendation, this budget has been increased.”

Mr. Davies explained that he has included a sum for the proposed expansion of the skate park area and Jubilee although the amount required has been reduced following the Skate Park Association’s decision to pursue a reduced scheme, with an Enhancing Pembrokeshire Fund bid towards the costs prepared.

He stated that there had been no progress on proposals to light the town walls due to feasibility study tenders received alone being well in excess of double the total budget allocation.

“As the project appears to be in abeyance, the Finance Working Party recommendation is that we should remove it from our Capital Expenditure programme for the forthcoming year although earmarking funds in reserves towards this project should it be revived during the year,” he continued.

“I have given conservative estimates of projected cost and an anticipated, but not guaranteed, estimate of how much could be raised through grant aid and other fundraising.

“Cost of provision of Christmas Lighting reflects the council’s decision to replace the town’s lights on a four-year payment deal.

“However, provision has also been made to cover costs of additional unforeseen replacement of equipment (eg time clocks, fuses etc).

“The estimated increase in expenditure of the contract price for 2019/20 reflects the additional work that was required by our contractors to prepare the new lighting scheme for erection. The contract for the next three years went out to tender in November and the new contract price is reflected in the estimates.”

Mr. Davies said that an increase in fees agreed by the New Cemetery Management Committee had seen an increase in income to cover costs of the site. However, concerns of the Finance Working Party over the delays to renovation work to the cemetery were accepted, and as a result funding has been added to the maintenance budget to provide fo additional resources to complete the project.

Councillors agreed to accept the budget as proposed, although the Deputy Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown abstained from voting as she told her colleagues that she didn’t agree with certain aspects of it.

“It is very difficult for the town clerk to accurately set a precept requirement, before the county council’s budget is set, which can have an impact on the town council’s” said Clr. Laurence Blackhall, before proposing to accept the budget based on the figures approved in the report before them.