ON the subject of the year - effective public spending - I am worried that more taxation is on the horizon with the police authority, fire authority and council precepts all set to rise.
I am fervently against any kind of inflation-busting increase such as the 4.25% increase in council tax that is being considered by the Powys Liberal Democrat Alliance on the council.
We are in the deepest recession in living memory and only beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel and a rise of this size will cause serious problems, particularly for those on low incomes.
Council Tax in Powys has already increased by, on average, 150 per cent over the last 12 years. This is the second highest increase in the whole of Britain! In light of this, residents are well within their rights to ask why, once again, they are facing such a large above inflation increase.
I have some sympathy with Powys County Council as once again the Labour-Plaid Assembly Government have given them a dreadful financial settlement this year, however under the current economic and political climate, residents are expecting their council, just as they are the national government, to tighten their belts and rein in spending. A rise of 4.25% will not suggest to residents that this is happening.
I could not write this column without a mention of the horrific report that came across my desk about huge cuts and drastic reform of secondary provision in Powys that is being considered.
The Draft Strategic Outline Programme for Secondary Modernisation in Powys put forward four models for future provision. The conclusions in this report and all four recommended models are unthinkable in Powys.
I am at a loss as to how this document could have progressed so far under the current Powys Liberal Democrat Alliance and have been in discussions with the Conservative Group on Powys as to how this can be stopped.
We are in the most rural authority in Wales, a sparsely populated area with huge travelling distances.
Travelling is a way of life in Mid Wales but I will never agree that blanket cuts to make a quick buck are tolerable. This report should be shredded.
I have just come back from the chamber to finish this article; I raised on the Government's Business Statement the sale of Crosfield House in Rhayader. This is an excellent care home which is currently owned by theRoyal British Legion; sadly they have decided to sell.
Across parties we have sought clarification on the sale, tried to prevent the sale and we are now all united in the campaign to retain the care home, despite who owns it. With this in mind I was particularly disappointed to see an advert that they are trying to sell the site as a care home or a site for development to a potential buyer.
Their admission that they are willing to accept offers other than for a care home, is a betrayal of our community.