The leader of Powys Council is facing calls to delay a decision on a major overhaul of education in the county amid accusations that it is taking place under the "cover" of coronavirus.

Cllr Rosemarie Harris will next week have the opportunity to approve the Strategy For Transforming Education under delegated powers.

It will shape education for the next decade and will see school closures and some secondary schools lose their sixth forms.

Ordinarily the decision would be taken by the whole cabinet, but because of the coronavirus outbreak, political decisions at cabinet level are now being taken by Cllr Harris alone.

Labour group leader, Cllr Mathew Dorrance said: “I urge the cabinet to do the right thing and pause this decision until proper scrutiny and proper debate can take place.”

“Using the Covid-19 pandemic as cover to unilaterally take decisions on the future of education and schools in Powys is an abuse of power.

“When teachers, school staff, Councillors, parents and our young people are all busy dealing with the immediate pressure of the coronavirus the council should not be pushing ahead with its plans without proper scrutiny or discussion from our communities.

“Council services are under immense pressure, our staff are working really hard and our focus has to remain on fighting the coronavirus."

But Cllr Harris is confident that the decision should be made next week.

Cllr Harris said: “We have had this discussion in cabinet as we still meet frequently (by remote).

“It has been discussed at several meetings already. I have asked each individual cabinet member if they were happy that I was taking the decision and they said that they are.

“The feeling is that we shouldn’t delay the decision so that we can start work straight away on the next stage of consultation.

“This report has been scrutinised and opposition councillors have had the opportunity to have their say.

“I know that legislation on meetings may change, but many feel that School Transformation is long overdue. We are not talking about specific schools or locations, if we were it may be different."

If the decision is paused for a week, new legislation may mean that Schools Transformation Strategy decision could be discussed and then taken collectively by the cabinet at a remote meeting that could be accessed by the public.

A change in the law allowing English local authorities to hold meetings where decision can be taken came into force on April 4.

Responsibility for Local Government is an an area devolved to The Welsh Government.

It is expected that these emergency changes for local authorities will come into force in Wales on or just after April 20.