ABERGAVENNY councillors have floated the idea that they should investigate the possibility of employing a town warden.

Councillor John Prosser told members at last week's town council meeting that with more and more services being devolved to them from Monmouthshire County Council they needed to have a 'vision for the future' on how to amalgamate these tasks into one role.

"We are currently negotiating to take over the town's public toilets and we need somebody to oversee this and I feel we ought to utilise this post by expanding it to take someone on to spot potential hot spots before they become a problem."

"Included in this role could be a regular inspection of the town for graffiti, unauthorised signs, loose paving slabs and controlling the use of A boards and also the supervision of major events in the park.

"I'm not suggesting a manager, but somebody to patrol the town keeping an eye on things. We have a network of councillors and a One Stop Shop for reporting issues, but with the cutbacks in staff at all levels, things don't necessarily get reported or done," he said.

"This is a town council conceptual idea for a town warden, not to be confused with the car park attendants or Community Police Support Officers, who are on the lookout for crime orientated matters.

"The role of the warden would be to initiate action and where appropriate oversee things and make sure that the task is completed.

"While this is just my initial idea it is something that could evolve and therefore needs debating further," he said.

Councillor Chris Woodhouse said, "It's amazing how these ideas come round again after a period of years.

"A warden, similar to what is being suggested here, was put forward some years ago as a possible scheme to be introduced by the Bryn y Cwm area committee.

"But I believe that the idea was not implemented at that time, as it would have not been cost effective.

"It would not have been one job, but with holidays and possible sickness taken into account could have involved the need for three or four people.

"Councillor Prosser's scheme is ultimately a good idea to pull all these elements together, but there are a lot of things going on behind the scenes at county level that we are not aware of," said Councillor Woodhouse.

Councillor Roger Harris added, "There were staff at the One Stop Shop in the early days of this facility being set up who monitored a lot of what has been suggested for a warden to undertake, but these staff members have since been laid off."

Councillor Doug Edwards said, "Whatever we decide to do is not going to be a cheap option for us. We are effectively committed to employing a toilet supervisor in the near future and perhaps this role could be extended to include some of the duties suggested for a town warden."

Councillor Maureen Powell stressed that volunteers who work in the town should not be 'pushed out' if a town warden was appointed.

"There are a lot of volunteers who do their bit for the town.

"Even though they only do five to ten minutes of work each day for the benefit of Abergavenny, we don't want them to feel pushed out by the appointment of a town warden."

Councillor Prosser concluded, "Once the concept of a town warden has been formally adopted by this council, we can identify and adapt the role in more detail."

The town councillors will debate the possible appointment of a town warden at a projects meeting at a future date.

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