Council tax in Powys looks set to rise by nearly four per cent, it was revealed today. The increase would mean a bill of £861.20 for the Powys County Council share for a band D property.

That is an increase of £33.04. This, when added to the shares for Dyfed-Powys Police, the fire service and community council precepts, could mean a total of more than £1,000 for some payers.

Members of Powys County Council’s board were expected to agree to the increase at a meeting in Llandrindod Wells today. 

Frontline services across Powys are already facing cuts next year because of an “extremely disappointing” budget settlement. 

Powys County Council will get a 1.5 per cent cash increase in Welsh Assembly Government funding. The Welsh average is 2.9 per cent and council leaders say services may suffer. 

Councillor Michael Jones, chairman of the council’s board, said the settlement would lead to severe difficulties. He said: “The provisional settlement announc- ed by the minister is ex-tremely disappointing. The lowest in Wales for the second year running, it will cause considerable budget difficulties for the council. 

“If we had received an increase at the rate of inflation, currently at 5.2 per cent, then this would provide the council with about £8.9 million extra, but the 1.5 per cent increase means we will only receive an extra £2.6 million. 

“An increase at the Welsh average would have provided the council with an additional £5 million to meet service pressures.” 

He said the council would look for efficiency savings, but inevitably there would be a considerable shortfall.