Does Powys need a storms budget?

Does Powys County Council need to set aside £1.5 million a year to be able to deal with flooding and the consequences of storms a senior councillor has asked.

At a meeting of the council’s Liberal Democrat/Labour Cabinet on Tuesday, March 4 members received the details of the 2024/2025 budget as it stood at the end of December.

The use of money squirrelled away in reserves to be used for a rainy day could see the budget for this year end with a £894,000 surplus.

The council’s financial position as it stood at the end of December shows an improved position on the £3.938 million deficit the council was predicting to post on its £341.6 million budget at the end of September.

Within the report it was noted that the council’s response to Storm Bert in November and Storm Darragh in December cost £345,000 while the recovery work is estimated to cost £1.1 million.

Cabinet assistant for climate emergency, the Green Party’s Cllr Jeremy Brignell-Thorp said: “I notice the £1.5 million for the storms, when we’re looking at future budgets what position are we taking in terms of predicting what the cost of future storms are.

“Are we assuming that this year was a one off?

“Are we putting £1.5 million in as an ongoing cost for that?

“Or do we think storms are going to get worse and looking at having to increase that for the future?”

Cabinet member for a greener Powys, Liberal Democrat Cllr Jackie Charlton said: “There is a risk budget we set aside for flooding and other challenges on an annual basis is around £450,000 to £600,000 – I can’t quite remember.

“Anything above that will be clawed back from the Welsh Government.

“This is an annual cost we have to find, and I don’t see it going away.

“I suspect it will get worse; it’s not just about flooding but other weather risks we have as well.”

Cllr Charlton added that on Thursday (March 6) she and the chief officer for Place, Matt Perry who oversees the highways, transport, and recycling department, will be giving evidence to the Welsh Government on the impacts of Storms Bert and Darragh on Powys.

Cllr Charlton said: “I do intend to make a big plea as a rural county with mountains and river valleys that are creating real problems for us, whether it’s highways, farming, in schools or social care, this (storms) is adding an extra annual burden on us.”

Earlier in the discussion finance portfolio holder, Labour’s Cllr David Thomas was congratulated by fellow cabinet members as well as Finance Panel chairman, Conservative Cllr Aled Davies, for bring the budget in close to target – with still a quarter to go.

This is despite the “wobble” in quarter two.

Cabinet agreed to note the forecast position and approved the virements.