An ‘open evening’ looking to encourage new members to join Tenby town council will be held next month.

Members of the town council want to host the event to explain to prospective candidates what it means to be a local councillor in an attempt to encourage more people to consider standing.

The town council are looking to fill three vacancies - two in the South ward and one in the North, after three more members recently handed in their resignations.

After there was no call for an election in either ward, the town clerk Andrew Davies told members at last week’s meeting that they were now in a position to co-opt for the positions.

“We’ve had several letters already from people asking to be considered for co-option,” he said.

Councillors all agreed that an ‘open evening’ would be a good way of engaging with those thinking about becoming a town councillor, with the Deputy Mayor, Clr. Christine Brown calling it a ‘brilliant idea’.

Clr. Mike Evans said that it would also be an opportunity for the town council to gain feedback on the thoughts of the people that come along and make it a two-way engagement.

“Perhaps we can listen to the practicalities of why people haven’t been coming forward to sit on the town council - is it because people are busier and find they have more commitments?” he told his colleagues.

Clr. Laurence Blackhall suggested that perhaps consideration was needed on how the town council operate holding meetings on a fortnightly basis and was this a reason why they had lost councillors in recent times.

“This is a chance to listen to what people who are interested have to say. There is an awful lot of people that love this town and are passionate about it, so we need to find a way to engage that and to encourage people who want to use that passion to come in and consider joining.

“It would also be good to encourage younger people in the community to join, and also anyone interested in health provision for the area, especially since we lost Caroline Thomas who was such a big part of the town council and local health group SEPCHN.

“I look forward to hearing people’s interests coming forward,” added Clr. Blackhall.

The Mayor, Clr. Tony Brown said that it would be a good idea to give a four week deadline for the the co-option and hold the meeting with the public in the meantime.

The ‘open evening’ for people interested in the council will be held on Tuesday, June 11 at 6 pm, at the Mayor’s Parlour in the De Valence.