Opposition groups on Powys council have accused its ruling cabinet of "dangerous complacency" over its projected £4 million overspend.

Latest figures show the council could be overspent by £4.3m by the end of the financial year if it doesn’t meet its savings targets and that trend is getting worse by the month.

That has prompted council opposition leader and Liberal Democrat group leader James Gibson-Watt and his Labour counterpart Matthew Dorrance to release a joint statement criticising the Independent/Conservative cabinet’s financial management.

Cllr James Gibson-Watt said: "There seems to be a dangerous complacency among cabinet members about the position.

"The most serious projected overspends are in the council’s most critical services, such as social care, and the schools budget is showing a worrying trend towards increasing deficits. This is exactly the same position the council was in last year and unless cabinet members get a grip on their budget management vital services and the welfare of service users will be put at risk."

Labour group leader Cllr Dorrance said: "The cabinet recently published its vision for Powys to the year 2025.

"But if this cabinet does not stabilise this year’s revenue budget and its medium term financial plan that vision will not be worth the paper it’s written on, because the vision cannot be delivered when the council’s finances are in chaos.

"The people who will be affected most by the council’s failure to operate within budget are the most vulnerable in Powys and we cannot allow that to happen. This cabinet must get its act together."

A report, before the council cabinet on Tuesday, said council finance officials believe the figure is likely to reduce to less than £4.3m by the end of the financial year in April.

For more on Powys council’s budget position see this week’s Brecon & Radnor Express - on sale now