Band D Newtown Council Tax will be £1,545

The discussion and vote actually actually took place at last week’s Powys County Council full meeting.

The purpose of yesterday's meeting was to formally approve the decision and set the charges for the coming financial year.

Head of Finance Jane Thomas explained that there was a time table to stick to, so that all the work printing and issuing the bills could be done in time.

Cllr CllrPete Roberts said: “Last week brought up serious questions. We spend months preparing with budget seminars to understand and produce a detailed budget.

“We spent time at our scrutiny committees looking at the details.

“To then find at the last minute that there’s extra money floating around to reduce the council tax, it does beg the question, is there more?

“This is the serious point, as confidence in the budget and confidence in the way it’s been prepared and delivered is essential both for ourselves and our constituents.

“We did not have the opportunity to scrutinise whether the investment in the 0.2 per-cent reduction is the best way to spend that money.”

“I know it’s a technical motion and this is true of my colleagues that I won’t be able to support this today.

“I ask everyone to reflect that the budget process for next year needs to be open and transparent and not have last minute surprises.”

Finance portfolio holder, Cllr Aled Davies, responded: “Can I stress this is not about reopening the budget but a technical report so that we comply with legislation.

“Our budget is robust and we have confidence in it.

“It was a small adjustment that does not make a substantial difference which does not affect services.”

Not supporting it would cause difficulties for services and impact on our cashflow.”

The resolution was approved by 29 votes to 20 and one abstention.

Band D Tax for Powys communities is calculated as:

Montgomeryshire

Aberhafesp- £1,391.02
Banwy- £1,382.50
Bausley with Criggion- £1,388.68
Berriew- £1,377.29
Betws Cedewain- £1,393.68
Cadfarch – £1,383.96
Caersws- £1,411.19
Carno – £1,403.05
Carreghofa- £1,399.16
Castell Caereinion- £1,404.49
Churchstoke- £1,392.15
Dwyrhiw- £1,384.75
Forden –  £1,401.20
Glantwymyn- £1,382.33
Guilsfield- £1,383.07
Kerry – £1,392.36
Llanbrynmair – £1,391.11
Llandinam-£1,448.95
Llandrinio and Arddleen – £1,389.15
Llandysilio- £1,395.14
Abermule with Llandyssil – £1,413.57
Llanerfyl- £1,385.94
Llanfair Caereinion- £1,414.97
Llanfechain – £1,392.17
Llanfihangel- £1,415.96
Llanfyllin- £1,411.06
Llangedwyn- £1,379.98
Llangurig- £1,376.53
Llangyniew- £1,394.45
Llangynog- £1,414.94
Llanidloes- £1,499.05
LlanidloesWithout – £1,396.86
Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant – £1,384.90
Llansantffraid- £1,391.79
Llansilin- £1,374.23
Llanwddyn- £1,434.63
Machynlleth- £1,581.66
Manafon- £1,392.18
Meifod- £1,385.95
Mochdre with Penstrowed – £1,394.20
Montgomery – £1,427.74
Newtown & Llanllwchaiarn – £1,543.11
Pen Y Bont Fawr- £1,416.25
Trefeglwys- £1,378.48
Tregynon- £1,403.90
Trewern- £1,396.10
Welshpool- £1,583.33

Photo: Powys County Council offices in Newtown

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporting Service