Powys budget exercise hailed a success

A major budget consultation exercise carried out by Powys County Council during the summer has been hailed a success.

Residents across the county were invited to take part in face-to-face interviews, budget workshops and internet based questionnaires and comment on their service priorities and identify potential savings.

Carried out by independent researchers, the exercise set out 21 key frontline services and residents were asked to identify their spending priorities. The results of the exercise will be presented at a seminar for councillors in November and will be used to inform future financial planning decisions.

John Green, Director from Research for Today, who carried out the exercise, said: “There was definitely a higher than usual level of enthusiasm from people in Powys to get their voices heard and take part in this consultation.

“It was clear that people appreciated the opportunity to contribute to the difficult decisions that have to be faced by the Council around service cuts. The data collected will allow Powys to weigh up these choices with a good insight into residents’ views.”

Councillor Tony Thomas said: “Like all local authorities we are facing huge budget pressures and will have some difficult decisions to make in the very near future.

“The consultation was a really useful exercise providing some interesting information, an in-sight into the areas of the council that the public value. It is all information that will be invaluable when we are making our budget decisions. “

During the consultation exercise more than 200 face to face interviews were held in Llandrindod Wells, Newtown as well as Welshpool, covering both urban and rural areas. Special workshops were also held in a number of towns across the county along with web-based questionnaires.

Full results from the exercise will be presented to a council seminar next month.