A CONFERENCE bringing rural councils together to discuss countryside issues could now be held in the autumn

The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) event was supposed to take place in Builth Wells on April 8.

But due to issues coordinating the logistics, including the diaries of Welsh Government ministers, it was postponed.

Powys County Councillors had seen the conference as an the opportunity for rural councils to get together and discuss how to press the Welsh Government for a better funding settlement.

Powys County Council (PCC) leader, Cllr Rosemarie Harris, (Independent – Llangynidr) was to lead the day along with Gwynedd County Council leader, Cllr Dyfrig Siencyn.

Cllr Harris, said: “It was disappointing that it had to be postponed – but I understand that we are now looking at dates at the end of September to hold it.

“We will have the same agenda looking at all the issues that affect rural authorities, including funding.”

A spokesman for the WLGA, said: “It is being considered to hold the conference at the end of September or early October.

“We expect to be able to confirm a date soon.”

When compared to urban councils, rural county councils come bottom of the funding table each year.

This is due to the calculation that takes into account population and deprivation indicators.

This year’s budget which has seen Council Tax increase by 9.5 per cent has been partly blamed on Powys receiving the poorest or one of the worst budget settlements in the whole of Wales each year, for the last decade.

And with the way the formula is balanced it is unlikely that PCC will receive a vastly better settlement next year.

As part of the proposals adopted at Full Council in March, PCC will lobby the Welsh Government and Westminster Governments for a better funding solution for rural authorities.