An early Christmas present for Powys!

Powys County Council is set to receive an extra 4.2% in Welsh Government funding next year, bringing optimism that the county’s financial woes could be easing.

The regional authority has had to make tens of millions of pounds in saving over the past decade, and has made jaw dropping increases in our council tax year-on-year in a bid to balance the books.

But the increase in funding has been welcomed by the Council’s Cabinet, who warn that pressures still remain.

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Aled Davies said: “This is a better settlement than we were expecting. The additional funding will go some way to recognise significant financial pressures being faced by Powys County Council, but we will still need to reduce our spending in some areas to deliver a balanced budget.

“The increase in funding is welcomed but increasing demand and costs and a decade of poor financial settlements means there is still a great deal of work to be done and our transformation plans have to continue at pace.”

We will find out in the coming weeks how much of an increase that households will face in their council tax.