Councillors raise concern over officer's budget email

A Newtown county councillor is among four Powys councillors who have written to the council's solicitor to express their concern at an email sent ahead of the budget vote taking place on Thursday.

The email received from the monitoring officer contained an interpretation of legislation that could be regarded as coercing Councillors to support the proposed 9.5% Council Tax increase.

But the council's acting chief executive has told MyNewtown there was no attempt to pressurise councillors.

Cllr Mark Barnes, who represents a ward in Newtown, Cllr Claire Mills, Cllr Iain McIntosh and Cllr Jonathan Wilkinson have jointly prepared a response that has also been shared with all Powys councillors. The four are members of the council's Conservative group.

The councillors' letter says there is an equally strong interpretation which hands back freedom of choice when considering the budget.

Cllr Barnes said: “We are alarmed that the solicitor’s email includes elements picked out of legislation that is out of context when read in isolation.

“Councillors must feel able to make the right decision for their constituencies and not feel pressurised into voting for a huge Council Tax rise.”

The group of four said they feel that "this is a budget that benefits no one and that considerations of savings and inefficiencies have not been thorough enough."

Cllr Iain McIntosh said: “All four of us regret having to take this action and we understand all the challenges that PCC faces but there is a sense that we are being pressured into voting in a manner that we don’t believe to be right for Powys residents.”

The four Councillors also feel that ‘scare tactics’ have been applied to all Councillors with regards to what might happen if the budget is not passed on the 21st.

Cllr Claire Mills said: “Needless to say, all four of us are voting against the 9.5% tax rise and are saddened by the uncomfortable environment that currently exists within the Council.

Cllr Jonathan Wilkinson added “All Councillors should be assured that they can make the right decision for their residents without fear of consequences.”

The four Councillors have also supplied their interpretation of legislation to all Councillors to help them understand that they still retain a democratic right to vote as they choose to best represent their residents.

Acting Chief Executive, Dr Mohammed Mehmet or Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Aled Davies said: “Elected members are facing a difficult challenge in setting a balanced budget for 2019/20. It is for them, not officials, to determine both the level of the council tax and what is or is not included in the council’s budget.

"As a result of a number of councillors asking questions and making comments about the budget setting process, the solicitor to the council circulated legal advice to all members.

"The advice, which was based on information in the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and the Ombudsman for Wales Member’s Code of Conduct, stressed that the intention behind it was to clarify the process and set out elected members’ responsibilities.
 
"Issuing the advice was in no way an attempt to pressurise or influence members about their budget priorities, but an action to ensure that members were aware of the process and their responsibilities for setting a balanced budget.”