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| Protestors stop crunch Powys council savings meeting | Protestors stop crunch Powys council savings meeting |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A crucial meeting to finalise Powys County Council's budget has been disrupted by protestors. | A crucial meeting to finalise Powys County Council's budget has been disrupted by protestors. |
| About 100 demonstrators gathered outside County Hall in Llandrindod Wells ahead of the meeting on Tuesday morning. | |
| But a small group went inside the building to the council chamber where one set off a personal alarm. | But a small group went inside the building to the council chamber where one set off a personal alarm. |
| They were then removed by police after stopping the meeting for around 10 minutes. | |
| The authority needs to save almost £20m in the coming financial year. | The authority needs to save almost £20m in the coming financial year. |
| Many of the demonstrators were concerned over the future of special or additional needs education. | Many of the demonstrators were concerned over the future of special or additional needs education. |
| Service cuts | Service cuts |
| Powys is considering closing pre-school assessment centres in four schools and specialist support units in 16 schools. | Powys is considering closing pre-school assessment centres in four schools and specialist support units in 16 schools. |
| Before the meeting Powys Citizens' Advice Bureau (CAB) handed over a 5,000-name petition to Powys council. | Before the meeting Powys Citizens' Advice Bureau (CAB) handed over a 5,000-name petition to Powys council. |
| The council aims to halve the county's CAB funding in the next financial before shelving it the year after. | The council aims to halve the county's CAB funding in the next financial before shelving it the year after. |
| The bureau says it would leave Powys as the only county in Wales without CAB services. | The bureau says it would leave Powys as the only county in Wales without CAB services. |
| The organisation claims its offices in Newtown, Brecon and Ystradgynlais are under threat with 22 full and part-time staff facing redundancy. | The organisation claims its offices in Newtown, Brecon and Ystradgynlais are under threat with 22 full and part-time staff facing redundancy. |
| The council's budget savings plan includes service cuts, a possible 3.95% hike in council tax and increased service charges. | The council's budget savings plan includes service cuts, a possible 3.95% hike in council tax and increased service charges. |
| 'Drastic action' | 'Drastic action' |
| Up to 400 Powys workers are also likely lose their jobs as the local authority aims to save £40m by April 2017. | Up to 400 Powys workers are also likely lose their jobs as the local authority aims to save £40m by April 2017. |
| Last week the council's cabinet decided back a plan to halve the £93,580 grant to the county's CAB in the next financial before cutting all financial support the years after. | Last week the council's cabinet decided back a plan to halve the £93,580 grant to the county's CAB in the next financial before cutting all financial support the years after. |
| Powys CAB chairman Chris Mann urged councillors to "think long and hard before ratifying this drastic action". | Powys CAB chairman Chris Mann urged councillors to "think long and hard before ratifying this drastic action". |
| He added that the funding cut would be a "death sentence" for the "unrivalled service to the most vulnerable people in remotest parts of Wales". | He added that the funding cut would be a "death sentence" for the "unrivalled service to the most vulnerable people in remotest parts of Wales". |
| "If they go ahead these people will have no comparable service and their lives and those of their families will suffer greatly as a result," he said. | "If they go ahead these people will have no comparable service and their lives and those of their families will suffer greatly as a result," he said. |
| 'The wider economy of Powys will also lose the £2.2m which the CAB generated for clients in secured welfare benefit income last year alone." | 'The wider economy of Powys will also lose the £2.2m which the CAB generated for clients in secured welfare benefit income last year alone." |
| Far reaching cuts | Far reaching cuts |
| Other proposals include: | Other proposals include: |
| Powys council leader Barry Thomas said: "We have to balance the needs of providing statutory services such as education and social care, alongside those that are socially desirable, while taking into account the county's ability to pay. | Powys council leader Barry Thomas said: "We have to balance the needs of providing statutory services such as education and social care, alongside those that are socially desirable, while taking into account the county's ability to pay. |
| "This year we are recommending a council tax increase of 3.95% the minimum we felt was acceptable and will add £38 a year to an average Band D property." | "This year we are recommending a council tax increase of 3.95% the minimum we felt was acceptable and will add £38 a year to an average Band D property." |