THE Citizens Advice service in Powys says a decision to cut its funding in half this year and completely the following year will lead to its closure.

Powys County Council leader Barry Thomas announced at the cabinet's Tuesday, February 18 meeting a proposal to amend the council's budget so that funding to the Powys Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) is reduced by half in the coming financial year and cut completely from April 2015.

But Chris Mann, the chair of trustees of Powys CAB, said staggering the proposed withdrawal of the funding over two years will still force the closure of the CAB: "The decision by Powys County Council's cabinet to vote to cut our funding by half and to zero in a year's time is a death sentence for the CAB's unrivalled advice service to the most vulnerable people in the county."

The cabinet approved its proposed budget, which also includes a 3.95 per cent council tax rise and as many as 400 redundancies, as it looks to overcome a £20 million shortfall in its funding over the coming financial year. The council must save £40 million by April 2017.

It also intends increasing charges for pensioners attending day centres from £6 a day to £35 a day while funding to the meals on wheels service will also be withdrawn.

The budget, including the cut to the CAB and other cuts and the council tax hike, must be approved by the full council when it meets next Tuesday, February 25 at County Hall, Llandrindod Wells.

Mr Mann said it is hoped the full 73 member council can force a re-think over funding to CAB: "I would respectfully urge all councillors, not just the nine cabinet members, to think long and hard before ratifying this drastic action which will impact on the very people they represent.

"No other authority in Wales is proposing to slash funding to their CABs to the extent that they'll have no option but to close.

"Without core funding from the county council, Powys CAB will lose all other sources of grants. These pay specialist and professional advisers on debt, welfare benefits, employment and housing and allow our volunteers to assist clients on a range of pressing social issues.

"We fully realise how challenging the county council's budget problems are. But we have set out in writing and at meetings what we can demonstrate is an overwhelmingly persuasive case to keep the CAB functioning.

"If the county councillors agree not to ratify the cabinet's proposal, the thousands of clients we help every year will have continued access to our unique and cost-effective role in minimising hardship.

"If they do not, these people will have no comparable service and their lives - and those of their families - will suffer greatly as a result.

"Not only that but the wider economy of Powys will also lose the £2.2m which the CAB generated for clients in secured welfare benefit income last year alone. "

The council's Conservative group has already said it intends proposing amendments to the cabinet's budget, including a 2.3 per cent council tax rise and savings in central services intended to continue funding the CAB.

Other proposals in the budget include charging post 16 students for transport, reviewing the school meals service and transferring some central costs to schools.

The council will broadcast next Tuesday's full council meeting on its http://www.powys.gov.uk//"target="_blank&quot">http://www.powys.gov.uk//"target="_blank">website.

The anti austerity http://powysuncut.wordpress.com/"target="_blank&quot">http://powysuncut.wordpress.com/"target="_blank">Powys Uncut campaign has also held a public meeting in Llandrindod Wells as it steps up pressure on the authority ahead of Tuesday's crunch meeting.

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