Powys County Council says it is facing a £19 million budget shortfall for next year despite receiving more money from the Welsh Government - prompting calls for resignations from Reform UK.

The Welsh Government confirmed this week that Powys will receive a 2.3 per cent rise in its Revenue Support Grant for 2026–27. But the council’s leadership said the uplift falls far short of covering rising costs.

Council leader Cllr Jake Berriman and cabinet member for finance Cllr David Thomas said growing demand for services, inflation and nationally agreed pay awards for teachers, carers and other staff have left the authority with “difficult choices” ahead.

In a joint statement, they said: "Although our provisional local government settlement from the Welsh Government has increased, it does not fully meet our rising expenditure.

"Growing demand for services, inflationary pressures, and pay increases for teachers, care workers, and other staff mean we face difficult choices as we work towards setting a balanced budget for 2026-27."

They said Powys has delivered £52 million of savings over the past five years but warned further measures will be needed to set a balanced budget.

“Raising council tax alone will not cover the gap. We must review which services can be sustained and continue to transform how we deliver them to ensure financial stability while meeting residents' needs,” they said.

The announcement has drawn a response from Reform UK, with the party calling for every Liberal Democrat and Labour councillor on Powys County Council to resign.

In a statement today, Reform UK Branch Chairman of Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd Iain McIntosh claimed the council leadership had “lost control of service spending” and “failed to identify ways of cutting waste.”

He said the budget position “without a shadow of doubt, proves that the current Liberal Democrat and Labour councillors running Powys County Council are out of their depth.”

“They have lost control of service spending, and have all failed to identify ways of cutting waste and ensuring value for money across the county,” he said.

Mr McIntosh also criticised the administration for rejecting an earlier cost-saving motion put forward by him, in his capacity as a Powys county councillor, and fellow councillor Geoff Morgan, this year.

“We at Reform UK are therefore calling on all Liberal Democrat and Labour County Councillors to resign immediately, which will lead to by-elections for residents with more skills and determination to stand and be elected to run the county council,” he said.

Powys County Council has been asked to comment on the criticism.