Councillors have called for the right to inspect a new plan to reshape the future of the Mid Wales economy.

In May, the Strategic Economic Plan and Growth Deal Road Map, which sets out the ambition for the economies of Ceredigion and Powys, was agreed at the first meeting of the Growing Mid-Wales Board.

Earlier this month the document was jointly presented by Ceredigion and Powys County Council’s to both the Wales and UK Governments.

That will allow discussions to begin on the types of projects which could be brought forward for funding applications.

Now members of the council's economy, residents, communities and governance scrutiny committee have raised the plan as an issue which they should be discussing in depth.

Councillor James Gibson-Watt (Glasbury – Liberal Democrat) said “I do think this committee has a discussion on that document before anything further happens.

“I  keep asking about this and I get frustrated with the lack of opportunity for councillors to be involved.”

The committee's chairman, Councillor Mathew Dorrance (Brecon St John – Labour), said a working group had been set up to look in depth at the growth deal, but that it has since been suspended.

He added that joint scrutiny arrangements across both Powys and Ceredigion were being set up.

Cllr Dorrance said he thinks the scutiny committee should have a say on the deal.

“We need to get it back on track,” said Cllr Dorrance.

The deal is now being seen as an essential part of re-starting the Mid-Wales economy post-coronavirus.

The Mid-Wales Growth Deal was first brought up by Chancellor Philip Hammond in 2017, and was hoped to be worth as much as £200 million.

In October 2019 the UK Government announced a £55 million injection of funding, spread over 15 years for the Mid Wales Growth Deal.

The expectation is that the Welsh Government will also add £55 million and another £55million will come from business.

Among the areas it will look at are transport, broadband and mobile connectivity, agriculture, food and drink and tourism.