Powys council’s main funding source will be reduced by one per cent next year.

The council will receive £172.5 million from the Welsh Government to fund services from street sweeping to libraries but with the largest sums reserved to fund schools and its cost heavy adult and social care services.

Across Wales the average cut to council funding is 0.5% and the only council in Wales which will get more money from the Welsh Government next year is Cardiff, which will receive a 0.2% increase.

The 22 Welsh unitary authorities have also been warned funding for local government is likely to face a further reduction of 1.5% in the following year.

The Labour Welsh Government’s cabinet secretary for local government Mark Drakeford blamed the Conservative UK government’s commitment to reducing public spending for cuts to councils.

He said: "Last year I told local authorities to prepare for the tougher times and harder choices that lay ahead as the flawed and failed policy of austerity continues to hit Wales hard.

"My priority, using a formula we have agreed with local government, is to try and protect councils from the worst of the cuts passed on to us by the UK Government. I think this is reflected in the settlement for 2018-19.

“We have acted to protect funding for key public services such as schools and social care while also recognising the pressures that exist in areas such as homelessness prevention.

“If the Chancellor of the Exchequer follows our advice and does not proceed with cuts in the Autumn Budget then my first priority will be to look again at the cuts we have been forced to make in 2019-20.

"Next year’s settlement might be difficult. We have done all we can to make it manageable. Councils must now use this time to plan ahead and ensure that funding goes to the services and people who need it the most."

Funding to council’s is determined by a formula which takes into account factors such as population changes. Across Wales the Welsh Government is passing £4.2 billion onto county councils.

The provisional local government settlement also includes a £1.8 million funding floor to ensure no authority has to manage a reduction of more than 1% next year.

Powys council faces £6m overspend - see this week’s Brecon & Radnor Express on sale now