Powys County Council's leader and her deputy are on a collision course over whether the council's farm estate will be expected to play its part in future cuts?
The council owns numerous smallholdings and land in the Newtown area and throughout the county that help support young people and existing tenants into farming and agriculture.
A statement has been made by deputy leader and finance portfolio holder Cllr Aled Davies on the financial crisis facing the authority.
He claims that up to £46 million needs to be cut over the next three year.
At the last cabinet meeting, the council's leader, Cllr
Some councillors had suggested selling off parts of the estate to help plug last year’s funding black-hole and keep the council tax low.
Cllr Harris who is responsible for the farm
“I’m not sure that sort of contribution can go on indefinitely without it affecting the core farms, sooner or later I would appreciate a conversation about that.
“I know we have sold off spare houses, bits of
Cllr Davies in his statement said that various funding scenarios show the funding gap ranges from £30 million to £46 million over three financial years.
And an anticipated gap of between £8 million and £13 million next year.
Cllr Davies, said: “We have modelled a range of funding scenarios to help us understand what funding could be available over the next three years – even with a flat-cash settlement.
“It is inevitable that the way in which we deliver our services will continue to change and the levels of service offered will be guided by what we can afford.”
Mr Davies said PCC would look to “engage with the public” this autumn as proposals for next year’s budget
He has already said that the starting point for Council Tax hikes will be five per cent each year, for the next three.
With 144 holdings and 11,400 acres of land, PCC’s
Most of the land is in Montgomeryshire with some holdings in both Brecknockshire and Radnorshire.
The ethos behind keeping the estate is that it gives people the chance to set up and develop farm-based businesses in rural areas.
Photo: Cllr Aled Davies
By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter