Serious cutbacks need to be made to Powys County Council’s staffing levels, pension scheme and administration costs before bosses axe any more front line services, it has been claimed.

Glyn Davies, Montgomeryshire MP, has now called on the authority to look at what it is spending internally before making any further cuts to its vital public services.

It comes as bosses at neighbouring Shropshire Council said today they had started talks with staff and trade unions in a bid to save £7 million over the next three years.

It plans to change job terms and conditions to prevent hundreds of staff from being made redundant.

Today Mr Davies said: “Powys County Council needs to start looking not only at staff cuts, but also what is being spent on staff pension schemes, subsidised meals and its overall administration costs before it starts making cutbacks to vital public services.

“It is crucial that it looks at saving money internally before even thinking about looking anywhere else.

“We just can’t afford a reduction in any more front line services and instead of looking to save money through closing schools and other vital services, the council needs to start looking closer to home.”

It is feared future budget cuts could affect public toilets, libraries, youth centres and leisure centres. Welshpool Town Council is already in talks about taking over town public toilets.

Councillor Russell George, from Newtown, said the council needed to make sure its back office was running as efficiently as it could.

Powys County Council said today it would be looking at the budget in more detail next week.

Councillor Tony Thomas, the council’s board member for finance, said: “Our priority is to make sure front line services are protected from the spending.”

Changes in Shropshire, which will affect thousands of staff, include a shorter working week of 35 hours instead of 37 and a reduction in sick pay entitlement. Staff will not be paid for the first three days they are off work ill.

The council is pressing ahead with moves to create a more flexible workforce and will change its opening hours from 9am to 5pm five days a week to 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays.