The latest round of negotiations over Powys County Council's budget has saved Hay-on-Wye Swimming pool from closure. The council will also save £1.5 million by cutting the budget it hands the county's schools by 2.5 per cent. But the council is at pains to point out the fund has still grown by just under £1 million as it plans to increase overall spending by £8 million. To fund its spending increase the council has been forced to make £4.9 million in cuts and savings to balance the budget. Most of the cash handed to schools will end up in teachers' pay packets rather than in classrooms. £800,000 is allocated for teachers' workload and leadership scale, as the authority must meet national agreements over pay and preparation time for teachers. Councillor John Morris, a part-time lecturer and former teacher, said he welcomed the council's decision to cut school spending. "The delegated budget will increase by nearly £1 million, but over 90 per cent of that will go on staff pay packets. I'm pleased to see we're considering cutting the delegated budget by 2.5 per cent as schools too have to live in the real world." The big winner in the council's budget looks to be its hard pressed social services, which will receive an extra £3.8 million, with £2.3 million earmarked specifically for children's services. Board member for social care and health, Councillor Rosemary Harris welcomed the cash: "I'm grateful for the investment of £4 million in social services, it should have taken place a long time ago." A controversial plan to save £70,000 by axing the children's bookrunner service, a mobile library for primary schools, has also been dropped. Councillor Margaret Morris said: "You don't need to be the brain of Britain to work out this is an essential service for education in a country area where only 56 per cent of households are able to get to a library." A predicted under-spend in the council's job evaluation budget has allowed it reconsider cutting the bookrunner service and Hay swimming pool though Powys still plans to end its involvement with Sennybridge Sports Centre. Powys currently provides a fitness suite at the school for public use, but the authority plans to transfer that room to the school's governing body which would then decide on its future use. The latest spending plans were unveiled as the council's board and principal scrutiny committee held a joint meeting to discuss the budget. Powys has received a 5.7 per cent increase in its funding from the Welsh Assembly and councillors are expected to approve a 4.95 per cent council tax increase, equivalent to £36.30 on an average Band D property. Other planned cuts including further reducing the county's network of public toilets, by 20, and axing its community transport scheme. An appeal by Cllr John Morris for more detailed reports on axing the Red Kite bus community transport scheme, and closing the Gurnos Youth Centre in Ystradgynlais was rejected by the scrutiny committee, which accepted the board's budget. The full council will consider the budget at its January 27 meeting.
