A WARNING has gone out to Powys councillors on the impact of cuts to voluntary groups ahead of this week’s budget meeting.
The full council is due to meet in County Hall, Llandrindod Wells on Thursday, February 21 where they will be asked to approve the budget proposed by the ruling Independent/Conservative cabinet.
That proposes an £11.7 million cuts package and to raise council tax by 9.5%, before charges for police and community councils are added.
But ahead of the meeting the umbrella organisation for charities, voluntary organisations, community groups and social enterprises in Powys has warned slashing, and even scrapping entirely council grants to them, will badly hit services in the county.
Carl Cooper, the chief executive of PAVO, said impact assessments into the decision have not been published yet.
He said: "I entirely sympathise with the situation in which the council finds itself.
“We all know that Powys has received the worst Welsh Government settlement for the last nine years. This inevitable has a detrimental impact.
“I’m not arguing that the voluntary sector should be given special treatment or should be immune from such impact.
“However, I expect that informed and intelligent decisions will be taken based on robust and reliable evidence.
“We have examined the documents made public ahead of Thursday’s council meeting.
“It is disappointing that no impact assessment has been carried out on the effect the removal of this funding will have on people, communities, services and organisations.
“The absence of a meaningful, reliable impact assessment means that decisions will be taken based on ignorance and not intelligence.”
Mr Cooper said in Powys voluntary groups and charities that make up what is known as the third sector deploys around 60,000 volunteers, provides approximately 3,500 paid jobs and generates in the region of £58million income for the Powys economy.
The multiplier effect of third sector funding needs careful consideration explained Mr Cooper who said
for every £1 invested in a third sector service, Powys receives service of much more value in return.
PAVO says small sum of money placed wisely can and does reap dividends for the citizens of Powys.
Mr Cooper added: “Powys County Council is required, by virtue of Wales’ Well Being of Future Generations Act, to look to the long term and to consider how decisions made today will affect people in the future.
“These budget proposals seem to focus on short-term savings.
“If, as a consequence of third sector reduction, greater demand is placed on statutory services such as social care, PCC’s future budgets will be worse and not better.
“The loss of a grant to run a village community centre could result in the closure of the groups that use it e.g. lunch club, youth club, community choir, yoga class.
“This could increase problems of loneliness and social isolation.
“Art and Cultural groups could have a projects that offer significant help for people living with dementia.
“If this finishes – what happens to them?
"This is why we’ve written to all councillors. We don’t want them to make a decision without knowing the full facts."
A spokesman for Powys County Council, said: “There will be risk assessments with all budget lines.”
100 per cent reduction of the Community Enablement Support Fund (The main community grant fund)
100 per cent reduction of the Tourism Development fund
80 per cent reduction of the Grounds Maintenance Budget
50 per cent reduction of the Tourism Development and Marketing Budget
Youth service – Review grants to external bodies and staffing and service costs to save £165,000
Arts and Culture Service, Review Options to save £139,000 including creasing service and removing the Council from arts and cultural partnership arrangements.
Countryside services – Reduction of third party spend, review staff labels to save £145,000
Museum Service – Cease external grant support, review staffing, maximise opportunities for partnership working to save £85,000
Outdoor recreation – transfer of play areas to housing and community councils, review grass cutting and review staffing levels to save £97,000
Budget reduction proposals for Sports Development, reduction in staffing levels and reduced level of participation and support with clubs and activities to save £108,000.
Cuts will ’decimate’ sport in Powys, warning - see this week’s Brecon & Radnor Express on sale now