THERE are just two week left to have your say on how Powys County Council should cut its spending by £27million.

The council has been running an online consultation exercise since September which will end on November 30. The exercise, which sets out a range of proposals that could be used to generate savings over the next three financial years, has attracted more than 300 visits.

Residents who are not confident in taking part in the online exercise can call in at council libraries during the final week of November where consultation staff will be able to provide support.

Council leader, Councillor Barry Thomas said: "Over 700 people have visited the online simulator but only half have submitted a final budget and we’d really like more people to take part.

"Residents can take over the Powys purse strings and increase or decrease funding on a range of services. Each time they do so they will see the consequences before submitting their final budget.

"Information collected as part of the exercise will be considered by the cabinet as part of the budget making decisions which is going to be a very difficult process this year."

Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Wynne Jones added: "The council has to produce a balanced budget so cannot set a deficit, so when residents are supporting one service with more money they have to balance the decision with a reduction from another area.

"The simulator gives immediate feedback showing the impact of a decision on the overall budget and gives information about the consequences of the funding change on a service.

"It is a different style of exercise for residents to try and we have made arrangements for libraries and their staff to those who do not have access to the internet or don’t feel confident in using an online model.

"During the last week of the month we will have additional staff at libraries to help people complete the budget exercise."

Support will be available at the following libraries

Monday November, November 23

Machynlleth 10am – 11.30am

Llanidloes 1pm-2.30pm

Tuesday November, November 24

Montgomery -– 10.30am-12noon

Welshpool – 1.30pm – 3pm

Newtown – 4.30pm-6pm

Ystradgynlais Library 1 – 2:30pm.

Wednesday, November 25

Knighton – 11.30am – 1pm

Presteigne – 2.30pm-4pm

Llandrindod Wells Library 12 – 1.30pm

Rhayader library 2 – 3:30pm

Thursday, November 26

Llanfyllin – 2pm-3.30pm

Llanfair Caereinion – 5pm-6.30pm

Hay on Wye library 10 – 11:30am

Llanwrtyd Wells library 2:15 – 3:45pm

Builth Wells library 4:15 – 5:45pm

Friday, November 27

Crickhowell library 11:30 – 1pm

Talgarth library 2 – 3:30pm

Saturday, November 28

Brecon Library 11-12:30pm