Sustainable Powys will 'avoid' bankruptcy, but not everyone is happy

Avoiding the fate of English local authorities that have gone bust, is the driving force of Sustainable Powys according to finance chiefs – which will see services centre on four towns, but not all councillors are happy.

At a meeting of the council’s Cabinet on Tuesday, July 16, senior councillors debated the “principles” that will underpin the radical shake-up of services in the Powys.

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Director of Corporate Services, Jane Thomas explained that the council has already cut £100 million from its budget “due to austerity” over the last 10 years.

Ms Thomas is predicting budget shortfall next year of £18 million which rises to £64 million by 2028/2029 if “nothing is done”.

Ms Thomas said: “The urgency of what we face over the next five years is extremely challenging.

“We have learned from other authorities across England that have reached near failure, and that learning has helped shaped Sustainable Powys and the structure we put before you.”

“Robust financial management, honest acceptance of the reality will really help us get through the challenge we face and provide the structured process to review and reshape what the council can offer into the future.”

What might happen in the future?

Future Powys County Council (PCC) services will be centred on four towns as the authority outlines a radical shake up of provision.

Agreeing the principles of ‘Sustainable Powys’ is the first step in explaining how the council will provide its services in the future. It will see the county divided into four quadrants called ‘core areas’ by the council which will be centred on Brecon, Llandrindod Wells, Newtown, and Welshpool.

Residents living an hour away, including children, will be expected to travel to these towns to access council services. Work on the project has already been going on for 18 months.

The report to councillors explained that ‘place-based planning’ helped the council divide the county into “manageable areas for services” and for collaborating with communities and partners.

'Reality'

Cabinet member for a learning Powys, Liberal Democrat, Cllr Pete Roberts said: “The reality is if we do nothing means we have nothing.”

He added that he had spoken with Lib Dem colleagues in Woking in Surrey where the borough council went bust last year.

Cllr Roberts told his colleagues that any service area not financially “in the black,” in Woking were cut.

Cllr Roberts said: “This saw them go from several leisure centres down to one.”

He pointed out that the programme “at least” gave Powys four core areas rather than just one.

'No easy answers'

Cabinet member for future generations, Labour’s Cllr Sandra Davies said: “I’m very much aware of the financial situation, there are no easy answers.”

She wanted the recommendations split up and voted on individually as from behind closed doors briefings for councillors she acknowledged many had raised “anxious questions.”

Cllr Davies said: “The concern is to approve the four core areas.

“If we accept this what happens if this doesn’t materialise as we wish, transport is key to it all.”

She wanted more information to be “comfortable on this point.”

Legal advice given to the cabinet was against splitting up the recommendations into seperate votes.

'Decimation of services'

The new principles have not gone down well with everyone, with Powys Independents and opposition joint-leader Cllr Beverley Baynham urging cabinet members for a re-think.

Cllr Baynham said:

“When residents hear the words Sustainable Powys the first thing that comes to mind is the environment and climate emergency.

“I am not sure they realise; in this context it is the decimation of services in all but four hub towns.

“I am here today to ask you, to please reconsider this ill-judged proposal that is going to ostracise my community and many others throughout Powys.

“Unless you live in Newtown, Welshpool, Llandrindod or Brecon you will not be able to access services in your community and will instead have to travel up to one hour each way on a bus.”

“Do cabinet members think it is acceptable for a small child to have to travel an hour each way to access a leisure centre or a library.”

“Do you think people in poverty who cannot afford to pay for broadband will finish work and drive all the way to their nearest hub to access computer and internet services in the library.

“That is the reality of your proposals."

“As you probably realise, I am extremely distressed at these proposals."

“You cannot seriously consider removing all services for all bar four towns is the way forward.”

She also wondered whether the Sustainable Powys would lead to a two-tier Council Tax system with those living in Brecon, Llandrindod Wells, Newtown, and Welshpool paying a higher rate than other parts of the county who “will no longer have any services.” She believed that the changes would see people leaving Powys to access services in other counties and over the border in England.

Cabinet agreed the principles with Cllr Sandra Davies abstaining, deputy council leader, Labour’s Cllr Matthew Dorrance was absent from the meeting.