Services at risk of cuts

Frontline services across Powys could face cuts over the next five years because of a £33 million budget deficit, it has been revealed.

Powys County Council said it would now be looking at the services it provides in more detail in a bid to help reduce costs.

Councillor Michael Jones, chairman of the county council's board, today promised to work with residents and said public consultations would begin later this year. He said the potential cuts would inevitably lead to difficulties.

"Powys, like other councils in Wales, cannot escape the impact of a massive reduction in public sector spending as the Government responds to the economic slowdown," he said.

"The council will be faced with a very difficult task of balancing available budgets against increasing service pressures. The scale of the task means that the council has no alternative but to ex-amine all available options."

He said it was too early to say what services would be affected.

"It is too early to say what actions can and will be taken, we will have to spend a considerable time looking at the services we deliver, what our priorities are and what areas can be delivered differently or if necessary not at all," he said.

"We will work with our communities and partners to identify priorities but it is inevitable that some of our decisions will not be popular and cause some concern among the public.

"But, I am confident that the county council can meet the challenge of the coming years and deliver the services the public need.

"The council will start extensive public consultation on the scale of the problem and the possible options available later in the year."

He said details on the public consultation would be ann- ounced in the next few mon-ths and the council said it would decide what action to take following the consultation. The council has already been looking at its services and how it can cut costs.

Last year thousands of street lights across Powys were turned off in a bid to save money. But, following a public outcry, many were turned back on again.

Schools have also been under threat and some have closed as part of a county-wide review of education.

By Anwen Evans