PLANS to add another two members to Powys County Council’s cabinet – are on ice until a business case is made.

The Democratic Services committee had expected a report to be put in front of the them at their meeting on Monday, September 30, outlining the argument for the expansion as it was on the agenda.

Council leader, Cllr Rosemarie Harris (Independent – Llangynidr), would need to justify creating the two roles which will cost an extra £32,464 on the councillors’ wage bill when the authority needs to make cuts and savings of £22 million this year.

Committee chairman Cllr Elwyn Vaughan (Plaid Cymru – Glantwymyn) said: “We have’nt got a business for more members of the cabinet – so that’s not relevant to the agenda.

Head of legal service and monitoring officer Clive Pinney explained: “I spoke to the leader on Thursday afternoon, (September 26) she knew this (meeting) was coming up.

“She wants a little more time and has asked me to apologise for putting it on the agenda and not putting it (the business case) forward. It was just not ready.”

Cllr Roger Williams, (Liberal Democrat – Felinfach), said that he found the issue a “bit difficult”.

Head of democratic services, Wyn Richards, explained that any increase in cabinet numbers would have to be subject to a business case.

He said that the need stemmed from a recommendation by the democratic services committee, passed by full council earlier this year.

The next democratic services committee meeting is set to take place on Monday, January 6, 2020, however a special meeting could be held before then, to discuss any forthcoming business case.

The need to expand the cabinet from eight to 10 comes from the recent political crisis which saw two cabinet members resign and another moved sideways to avoid a vote of no confidence in her.

Cllr Harris has said that she has wanted to reconfigure the portfolios so that they correspond with the current directorate structure at PCC

She believed that too many portfolios cut across directorates.

At the moment Cllr Harris’ is not carrying a full compliment of cabinet members, with only six.

Following Cllr Martin Weale (Independent – Llanbadarn Fawr) portfolio holder for planning and the economy’s resignation last week (Tuesday, September 24) his cabinet role remains vacant.

While the portfolio for Highways, Recycling and Assets, also remains vacant.

This follows the incumbent, Cllr Phyl Davies (Conservative – Blaen Hafren) move to the education portfolio.

The former education portfolio holder Cllr Myfanwy Alexander (Independent – Banwy) moved to the adults services portfolio following  Cllr Hayes’ (Independent – Montgomery) resignation.

On Wednesday, September 25, Cllr Alexander was due to face a vote of no confidence and had been urged to resign.

This follows a damning inspection report into education services by Estyn.

But the meeting was cancelled due to the resignations.