A FIFTY per cent increase in day centre charges has been ’sneaked’ through by the council, according to a community leader.

County and community councillors have reacted angrily to moves by Powys Council to increase day centre costs from £10 to £15 and meals from £5 to £7.50 from April 1.

Described as outrageous by the cllr James Gibson-Watts, the increase was approved by cabinet two week after the council tax levy was set.

Cllr James said: “The Independent Cabinet sneaked this increase through two weeks after the 2017/18 Budget and Council Tax rate had been set and I cannot recall there being any discussion about an increase in charges during the numerous budget seminars and debates over the past few months. The Council agreed to a higher-than expected Council Tax increase to put enough money in to the budget to keep the day centres open, so these increases should not be necessary.

“To make matters worse, the proposal was tacked on to an agenda item about raising the maximum that the Council can charge per week for community-based adult care services from £60 to £70, to bring the council in line with Welsh Government policy; and at the end of a very long cabinet agenda in which attention had been focussed on the debate about the future of the Welsh stream at Brecon High School and a host of other things.

“I cannot think of a more devious and disreputable tactic in my time as a county councillor and the cabinet should be ashamed of itself. I and my Welsh Liberal Democrat Group colleagues condemn both the increases and the way they have been introduced.”

Powys Council bowed to pressure from residents to scrap plans to close day centres throughout the county, but warned that funding pressures meant an increase in council tax was inevitable to meet the £4m deficit.

Finance chiefs recommended a significant increase in council tax to meet the costs, but community leaders are furious that day centre users are being hit the hardest.

County cllr Matthew Dorrance has hit out at the council for increasing the costs by 50%.

He said: "They bowed to the pressure from the public, and rightly so, but they are asking the most vulnerable people in our community to pay extra for essential services.

"The council needs to be looking at other funding avenues to maintain services without having to hike up council tax. An income generation strategy identifying areas where we sells services to other organisations would help bridge funding gaps."

The council has defended the increase claiming that 70% of day centre users have said that they would be willing to pay more.

Dylan Owen, the council’s Head of Transformation for Adult Services, said: “During the consultation on day centres, a number of service users stated that they valued the service and would be willing to pay more for attendance in order to ensure continuity and sustainability of service.

“There is a cap on how much the council can charge for community services, including day centre attendance, and this is currently at £60 per week, as allowed by the Welsh Government. The meals cost approximately £11 per meal on average across the day centres for older people. Increasing the cost to £7.50 means that the council continues to subsidise more than a quarter of the cost of the meal. Work is ongoing to consider cheaper options for the meal provision.”