Senior councillors in Powys have backed proposals aimed at improving the county’s bus network – but the final decision will rest with the full council at an upcoming extraordinary meeting.

At a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, June 24, Powys County Council’s Liberal Democrat/Labour leadership approved plans to invest in a revised network of longer-distance routes linking key towns. However, to fund the move, all councillors will need to agree to a £1.349 million virement between council budgets.

The proposals follow a re-tendering exercise for bus service contracts and a public consultation held earlier this year on planned timetable changes. Feedback from the consultation was mixed.

Cabinet members were presented with two options. Their preferred choice, Option A, would see improved links between the county’s five “Sustainable Powys” hub towns and onward connections to major cities for access to healthcare, education and other vital services.

This option would require an additional £2.35 million in funding by 2031, plus a one-off payment of £1.75 million.

The alternative, Option B, would maintain the current network while incorporating nine additional school contracts and a re-tendered T14 route. It carries a lower price tag – an additional £1.5 million over the period, and a one-off cost of £375,000.

Cabinet member for highways, transport and recycling, Cllr Jackie Charlton (Liberal Democrat) said: “The passenger transport service has completed a re-tendering exercises to enhance local bus services and outlines the next seven years of public transport in Powys.

“We engaged, consulted and listened to lots of feedback from public transport users. This is the starting point for along the improvement journey for local transport users.

She added that “lots of ideas” for further improvement had been received from consultation feedback which could be used in the future if more money is found.

Cllr Charlton said: “I do believe with Option A we will be able to pull in more funding to improve our services in the future in a way our residents want to see.”

Cllr Gary Mitchell (Plaid Cymru) vice-chairman of the Economy, Residents and Communities scrutiny committee criticised the lateness of the report coming in front of the councillors and that it had to be “squeezed in” to a special “last minute” meeting last Friday (June 20).

He added that the proposal had been “unclear in its financials” and that made making informed decisions “harder”.

Cllr Mitchell said: “There were only two options, and that limits us in making recommendations and we must understand there are significant budget pressures to both of them.”

“Option A does give a significantly enhanced service, this will definitely benefit our residents and those visiting our county and choosing to use public transport to do so.”

He said “ultimately” the committee supported Option A.

Finance portfolio holder, Cllr David Thomas (Labour) said that he was “confident” that the extra money could be found within council budgets to fund the proposal.

Former council leader and now portfolio holder for a prosperous Powys, Cllr James Gibson-Watt (Liberal Democrat) said: “The perception out there is we hardly ever see a bus in Powys, when you look at the list there is a really comprehensive network operating and this will enhance that immensely.”

He added that there was a need to better promote bus services in the county.

Cabinet then went to a vote and unanimously backed Option A.

The extraordinary council meeting needs to take place in the next week so that bus timetables are finalised ahead by July 4 and can come into force from September 1.