James Evans asked at the Senedd last week what the Welsh Government is doing to protect local authorities from funding cuts.

The Brecon and Radnorshire MS said Powys County Council is putting up council tax and cutting services while paying more of its managers salaries of over £70,000.

He said that this year, the Liberal Democrats running the council put council tax up by 7.5 per cent and are forecasting putting it up by five per cent next year.

Mr Evans said: “This has come to light at a time when the number of senior managers on over £70,000 a year has doubled.

“While they've doubled that number, they've decided to cut community cardboard services, take away leisure services in towns and also revert some of our roads back to chippings - all to save money.”

He asked Local Government Secretary, Jayne Bryant, what she can do to ensure that the Liberal Democrats running the council spend money more wisely and protect front-line services from funding cuts.

Mr Evans said: “If something isn't done to protect Powys County Council from the Liberal Democrats, all we're going to have is senior managers and no front-line staff to deliver the services we all need.”

Ms Bryant said the Government has protected front-line public services as far as possible, with a 3.3 per cent like-for-like increase this year.

She said: “It’s for local authorities to determine the allocation of funding for services. Local authorities have prioritised social care and education for many years.

“This has inevitably meant that other services have borne greater pressure for savings and efficiencies.”

“I look forward to visiting Powys County Council shortly and will hopefully see them soon. I look forward to working with them, as I will with other local authorities in Wales,” she said.