Tenby councillors are to set up a working party to look at opportunities that could be provided through a ‘Community Asset Transfer’ of the resort’s high street market from Pembrokeshire County Council to the town council

Clr. Mike Evans listed the matter for the agenda of Tuesday night’s remote meeting of the town council, stressing to his fellow members that it was an item that should be considered as one for the town council to consider going forward into 2021.

He said that everyone on the town council were all aware of the market and its importance to Tenby, but there were, he felt, opportunities for the town council to look at to make it even better.

Clr. Evans explained that the ‘Freeholders’ of the site are PCC, but unfortunately they are unable to access certain grants that the town council can.

He said that the running of markets was a discretionary service and historically PCC have operated four in the county, but questions were being asked as to why do the county council run them when private enterprises could?

Clr. Evans said that he was not advocating the market be taken over by the private sector but believed that the town council could look at the building and have a better vision for Tenby. That was not to say that PCC have been poor but simply saying that a ‘local eye’ could be more proactive.

He told his colleagues that the town clerk will recall, that some time ago when PCC were actively looking at possibly disposing of their markets portfolio via ‘Community Asset Transfer’ - the town council were approached and had several discussions around whether the market building could be taken on either through the town council, a development trust or a corporation of market traders.

Of the four council run markets throughout Pembrokeshire, three were losing a considerable amount and looked more like liabilities, continued Clr. Evans, but Tenby market was profitable and was seen as a benefit to the town.

The then development trust had submitted an expression of interest and the county council were open to the idea and happy to explore it further.

However, when there was no similar interest in the other towns that had markets PCC decided to retain ownership of all four.

Clr. Evans felt that the market could be a key driver within community and, if the town council worked with PCC, they could access funding to make it a stronger more viable part of Tenby thereby giving more security for tenants there.

He suggested that a working group be set up to look into the matter and that the town council contact PCC to express interest in the possibilities of allowing a community asset transfer of this market.

Clr. Laurence Blackhall felt that this could be a huge opportunity to do something ‘very positive’, as the town council can access resources that the county council could not.

He said that the town council should make this a key priority for the coming year.

Clr. Trevor Hallett suggested caution however, feeling that there would be a lot of work to spend money on in the market which should be considered before the town council put pen to paper. He felt that the town council needed to see figures, such as the profit and loss account, as it could be a major liability to take on.

Clr. Blackhall felt that this could be an exploratory conversation at this stage, and that the town council could look at what was possible to make the market an even better asset for Tenby without making a firm commitment.

It could prove worthwhile to secure opportunities for existing tenants and strengthen their position, added Clr. Blackhall, taking on board Clr. Hallett’s view that the town council proceed with caution.

He was happy to second Clr. Evans’ proposal, with the majority of councillors agreeing to set up a working party to look at the opportunities that could be provided by a Community Asset Transfer, and to contact the county council to express interest in exploring this option. Clr. Hallett abstained from voting.