Cash to fight farm diseases cut

Furious councillors in Mid Wales have demanded an explanation after the Government cut funding to prevent animal diseases by £35,000. The move will mean less disease prevention work.

The cut by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) means Powys County Council has had to cut two of its 10-strong team dedicated to the work.

Council officer Chris Taylor said that, after the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001, local authorities had been tasked with additional duties to prevent outbreaks of animal disease, funded by Defra.

This year, £287,000 was needed to fund this work, paying for 10 officers in Powys trading standards' service.

Mr Taylor said: "In November, we were advised Defra's budget for his function was being reduced by 12 per cent, due to a funding crisis within the department.

"Defra decided to resolve this with a floating scale of cuts to authorities, with no cuts for smaller councils, while larger ones take the full 12 per cent reduction.

"We are a large rural authority so we are having to take the cuts, which mean a reduction in budget of £35,000."

Members of the council's health, social care and well-being committee said the council's board should make the "strongest representations" to Defra to reinstate the funding.

Councillor Joe Griffiths said: "If they want a proper job done, then they've got to pay for it."