Tory leader says leaders are 'unfit' to run council

The Welsh Conservatives have launched a scathing critique of Powys County Council’s Liberal Democrat and Labour-led Cabinet, accusing them of mismanagement and deliberate underfunding of schools across the county.

The comments come as the council prepares to review the Schools Delegated Funding 2025/26 report at its meeting today, December 17.

Councillor Aled Davies, Leader of the Powys Welsh Conservatives, described the report as an “admission of abject failure” by the Cabinet. Highlighting concerns raised in the document, he stated:

“They were warned again and again, not only by myself and the Welsh Conservative Group but also by the Scrutiny committee about the damage they will inflict by deliberately underfunding our schools.”

The report warns of significant risks to schools’ ability to meet learners’ wellbeing and educational needs, citing leadership challenges, strained resources, and potential intervention from Estyn, the education watchdog.

Davies pointed to what he called a sharp decline in the financial stability of Powys schools since the Liberal Democrat and Labour coalition assumed control in 2022. He claimed that the £9 million in reserves left by the previous Conservative-led council has been exhausted, forcing schools into financial hardship and regulatory breaches.

The Welsh Conservatives argue that the timing of the report’s release is strategic, aiming to mitigate criticism ahead of an upcoming Estyn inspection.

Cllr Davies accused the Cabinet of prioritizing optics over action:

“This shortsighted Liberal Democrat and Labour group are unfit to run Powys County Council. They’ve forced schools to deplete their reserves, leaving heads and governing bodies in impossible positions.”