A ROW over Welsh Government funding cuts for Powys council is continuing between rival political parties.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats, led by Brecon and Radnorshire AM, Kirsty Williams say they will vote against the Labour administration’s local government settlement "unless a better deal for rural authorities is put forward".

Meanwhile the Conservatives say the Lib Dems should be clear about the deal struck to support the government’s overall budget. The Lib Dems reached a deal in 2014 to abstain on the Welsh Government’s overall budget in return for concessions.

Ms Williams said her party will however oppose the government on a separate vote on the local government settlement, which determines how money is allocated to each local authority in Wales.

That has seen Powys council’s budget cut by 4.1%, the biggest cut of all 22 unitary authorities in Wales. In contrast Cardiff council has seen its budget reduced by just 0.1%.

"There is absolutely no way we could support cuts that hit rural areas so badly," said Ms Williams.

"I have been discussing this issue with government ministers to persuade them to introduce a rural grant and I believe this is a battle that can be won."

Gary Price, who is standing for the Conservatives against Ms Williams at May’s election, said First Minister Carwyn Jones had refused to give details of the deal struck with the Lib Dems.

Tory leader in the Welsh Assembly, Andrew RT Davies had questioned the Labour First Minister on the agreement in the Senedd.

Mr Price said he wants to know "exactly where the Lib Dems stand" on the local government settlement.

He said: "Once again we are seeing rural voters and rural councils bearing the brunt of an anti-countryside budget set by the Welsh Labour government and propped up by the Welsh Liberal Democrats.

"If Kirsty Williams and the Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly members simply sit on their hands and abstain as they have promised, they will allow this package of potentially devastating cuts a clear passage.

"The First Minister will not rule out that the local government settlement and the cuts to the rural affairs budget are part of the two year deal done with the Liberal Democrats. That is a pretty broad hint that they are.

"Kirsty Williams and the Liberal Democrats must be open and honest about the level of support they have promised Labour in the bid to get this budget approved.

"I call on the Liberal Democrats to join us in fighting for rural Mid Wales and voting against this budget."

Mid and West Wales Lib Dem AM hit back at the Tories and said: "The Welsh Liberal Democrats are leading the fight for a better funding deal for our communities.

"Contrast this with the Tories who once again spend their time shouting from the side-lines and not actually lifting a finger to support our communities.

"These cuts are unfair and must be stopped. I have called upon Labour government ministers to attend a rural stabilisation summit with council leaders involved so that views can be shared and we can find a way forward on this issue."

A vote on the overall Welsh Government budget, in which the Lib Dems are expected to abstain, will be held on February 9. A vote on the local government settlement, which the Lib Dems are threatening to vote against, hasn’t yet been scheduled.