A NEW Chief Executive, Dr Caroline Turner, is supposed to start at Powys County Council on Monday,  February 25, and the first issue she could be dealing with is a busted budget.

The proposal to raise the Council Tax by 9.5 per-cent and cuts of nearly £12 million to plug a financial black hole could be rejected by councillors on today’s meeting (February 21) of the full council – even though the ruling Independent/Conservative coalition has a majority of 23.

If all non-aligned and opposition group councillors vote against the budget that would still make only 25.

But with two members of the ruling group unlikely to attend, and further five publicly saying they won’t vote for a Council Tax rise, it only needs six more to switch votes for the budget to be voted down.

Opposition and non-aligned councillors have already been saying why they cannot support the budget.

Non-aligned councillor for Newtown East, and PCC’s anti-poverty champion, Joy Jones, said: “On top of the Council Tax rise the council expects residents to pay 15p more for their children’s school dinners, cut the amount of 3+ care and breakfast clubs.”

“Council tenants will have rent increases. Some Powys libraries will be reduced along with funding for arts and voluntary groups, as well as cuts to other important services.

“This is a budget I cannot support.”

Ange Williams, Independent Councillor for Knighton, has also indicated that she will not support the budget.

Some member of the Independent/Conservative ruling group have also broken ranks.

Iain McIntosh, (Yscir) Claire Mills (Llanyre), Mark Barnes (Newtown Llanllwchaiarn West), and former cabinet member Jonathan Wilkinson (Meifod) have issues a joint statement explaining why they will not back a budget being set by their own group leader, Cllr Aled Davies.

They also feel that there have been instances of bullying “scare tactics” and misinformation given by senior council officers to get the budget through.

Cllr Jonathan Wilkinson added: “All councillors should be assured that they can make the right decision for their residents without fear of consequences.”

PCC acting chief executive, Dr Mohammed Mehmet said: “Elected members are facing a difficult challenge in setting a balanced budget for 2019/20.

“It is for them, not officials, to determine both the level of the council tax and what is or is not included in the council’s budget.

“As a result of a number of councillors asking questions and making comments about the budget setting process, the solicitor to the council circulated legal advice to all members.

“The advice, which was based on information in the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and the Ombudsman for Wales Member’s Code of Conduct, stressed that the intention behind it was to clarify the process and set out elected members’ responsibilities.

“Issuing the advice was in no way an attempt to pressurise or influence members about their budget priorities, but an action to ensure that members were aware of the process and their responsibilities for setting a balanced budget.”

If the budget is not backed by councillors, they will be asked to reconsider.

Then the authority can ask the Welsh Government for an extension.

If there is still deadlock the council’s s151 (Head of Finance – Jane Thomas)  who is required to ensure under the Local Government Act 1972 ,

“arrangements for the proper administration of their Finance affairs and shall secure that one of their officers has responsibility for the administration of those affairs,” can push the budget through without backing from councillors.

A Full Council meeting to formally set the budget is scheduled for March 7.