Plans to force councillors to consider the cost implications of motions before they are debated could be scrapped if they prove unworkable, a meeting has heard.

On Friday, December 3 the council’s democratic services committee looked at how the financial assessment of motions will work in practice as part of a number of changes proposed to the constitution.

In future councillors will need to submit their motions to council 21 calendar days before a meeting to allow for the costings to be worked out.

If the motion is agreed for debate by the council chairman, it will be circulated confidentially to all councillors 18 days before the meeting, to allow for amendments and costings to be considered.

But amid questions from councillor Kathryn Silk, legal chief Clive Pinney suggested it could be reviewed after a certain period.

Cllr Silk said: “If we gave it a full year, it would allow some motions to go through, it’s only fair to give it an opportunity to see how it works.”

Cllr Graham Breeze added “I’m happy with this, it’s a positive to have amendments properly costed before they go for lengthy debates and enabling the council to work far more efficiently.”

Another big change proposed to the constitution will be around the budget timescales.

From next year a timescale for a draft budget will need to be published at the end of July and this will allow for “alternative budgets” to also be drafted and scrutinised.

At a stormy Powys County Council meeting on Thursday, September 23 the cost implications motion was presented by Conservative councillors Iain McIntosh and Lucy Roberts and approved by 32 voted to 25.

All the constitutional changes will be debated and voted on again at a council meeting this Thursday, December 9.