Powys County Councillor Report – December 2025 – Vale of Grwyney Community Council

Starting from November there is a dedicated traffic operation to continue until Christmas in the Usk valley. These are permanent traffic officers which we have not had for many years and will focus on road policing. The two specialist traffic officers will be targeting specific areas of concern with a speed gun. These will be un-announced. We have requested an update following this activity. I have advised the officers that the A40 through Glangrywney should be included.

Crickhowell Community Transport

Crickhowell & District Community Transport Group are putting in an application to the National Lottery with Dial-A-Ride to run a community bus pilot project. The application includes funding for a bus and drivers and focussed on connecting communities across this area with services in Crickhowell. The grant application deadline is February.

Powys news

140 households could be missing out on extra help with their rent

Around 140 Powys households could be missing out on extra help with their rent and other housing costs, through Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP), the county council believes.

It has used data analytics to identify the relevant homes and will be writing to all of them over the next few weeks to encourage them to check if they are eligible.

If they are, they could get extra money on top of their Housing Benefit or the Housing Costs element of their Universal Credit.

The council believes around 40 of them are its own tenants, while the rest are living in private rented accommodation or homes provided by other social landlords (housing associations).

The letter from the council explains what DHP is, and offers help with applications, if needed.

A DHP can be used to cover housing costs, such as:

A rent shortfall
A deposit or rent in advance if you need to move home
Help to move house if it’s to improve your rental situation
In some cases, a payment towards rent arrears if you are facing eviction

A claim can be made online through the council’s website: https://en.powys.gov.uk/discretionaryhousingpayments

Or, by phone: 01597 827462.

Powys County Council has invested in intelligent data analytics software for a year called LIFT (Low Income Family Tracker), to help identify people in need of help.

In June it wrote to nearly 900 Powys households, it believed could be struggling financially as bills and other prices rise. And in August it wrote to 700 people it thought could be missing out on Personal Independence Payments.

Free and confidential money advice is available at any time.

Get help as a council tenant:

Phone: 01597 827464
Email: fsogroup@powys.gov.uk
Website: https://en.powys.gov.uk/Financial-Support-Officers-Information

For all other households:

Phone: 01597 826618
E-mail: moneyadvice@powys.gov.uk

Website: https://en.powys.gov.uk/moneyadvice

Powys Cabinet unanimously backs next steps for Severn Valley Water Management Scheme

Powys County Council’s Cabinet has given its full support to the next major phase of the Severn Valley Water Management Scheme (SVWMS) – the £10m pioneering project to tackle flooding, water shortages, and land pressures across the upper Severn catchment

Landlords wanted – join the Powys Bond Scheme and help tackle homelessness

The Powys Bond Scheme, managed by Powys County Council, offers landlords a Paper Bond instead of a traditional cash deposit. This covers damage and rent arrears, while tenants save towards their own deposit over two years in a Credit Union account, supported by the Bond team.

By joining the scheme, you’re helping someone avoid homelessness while ensuring you have the backing of our dedicated team every step of the way. Together, we can provide safe, secure homes and build stronger communities.

To find out more visit https://en.powys.gov.uk/Private-Rents-and-Bonds

Future Generations Commissioner joins Powys leaders to discuss climate risks and resilience

On 11 November 2025, senior leaders from the Powys Public Services Board (PSB) came together at The Strand Hall in Builth Wells to explore how their organisations can continue to work collaboratively to address climate risks and build resilience within the county. The workshop, facilitated by Local Partnerships, focused on the growing threats posed by a changing climate and built on the collaborative work of the PSB’s county-wide climate risk assessment.

Drawing on real experiences, including recent wildfires and the 2022 heatwave, attendees looked at how climate risk actions can be embedded into everyday decision-making and how shared approaches can be developed to manage overlapping risks.

This session is part of the wider work Powys PSB is doing to respond to the climate and nature emergency (as defined in the Wellbeing Plan) and includes ongoing engagement with stakeholders and communities.

Have your say on increases to the Police Precept

Dyfed Powys Police are asking residents to respond to a survey on policing priorities in their area and how much people would be willing to see added to their precept next year for the police service. Please complete and share the below survey.

https://forms.office.com/e/XX2deDpL24?origin=lprLink

Update from Powys County Council Social Services

Children’s Services:

· Our Front Door Team responded to over 9,000 contacts, providing information and advice to more than 4,400 families. Early Help Services received 971 new referrals, and our assessment teams undertook 987 assessments, ensuring timely support for children and young people.

· We worked with 242 children on the child protection register, completing 3,286 statutory visits to ensure their safety and wellbeing.

· Participation and engagement have been central, with young people shaping services, co producing the Junior Start Well Board’s Partnership Pledge, and taking part in national reform summits.

· We have significantly reduced our reliance on agency social workers, from 54 in December 2021 to just 9 currently, and improved retention rates through targeted recruitment and development programmes.

Adults Services:

· Our transformation programme has increased capacity within domiciliary care, trialled new technologies, and delivered an average of 2,300 more hours of domiciliary care per week compared to April 2024, reducing waiting lists by 50%.

· We have supported nearly 15,000 contacts to ASSIST, with 9,000 being new contacts, and seen a rise in the complexity of needs, particularly for nursing care.

· Workforce development has been a priority, with new training, mentoring, and leadership programmes, and the successful “Grow Our Own” initiative supporting staff to qualify in social work and occupational therapy.

· Our teams and individuals have received numerous awards, reflecting their professionalism and impact on the lives of adults and families.

Challenges and Priorities

· Rising Demand and Complexity: Both Adults and Children’s Services face increasing demand and more complex cases, placing pressure on teams and resources. We remain committed to meeting statutory duties and delivering safe, effective services.

· Recruitment and Retention: While progress has been made, recruitment to specialist and residential roles remains challenging. We are investing in innovative campaigns, “grow our own” programmes, and enhanced wellbeing support to attract and retain skilled staff.

· Financial Pressures: Ongoing budget constraints and market pressures, particularly in securing sufficient placement provision and specialist support, continue to be a challenge for both service areas.

Welsh Government Speeding Review update

Ken Skates has responded to my email indicating that the guidance on the new 20mph limit should be completed by the end of the year. Information from other sources suggests it is more likely to be May 2026.

Powys County Council Faces Significant Budget Shortfall Despite Increased Government Funding

Powys County Council is addressing significant financial challenges for the upcoming financial year, despite an increase in support from the Welsh Government.

Today, the Welsh Government announced a 2.3% uplift in the Revenue Support Grant. However, the council anticipates a £19 million shortfall in its budget for 2026-27.

The councillors noted that the authority has delivered £52 million in savings over the last five years but emphasised that additional measures will be necessary.

Future Generations Commissioner visits key innovation sites in Mid Wales

The Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, Derek Walker, visited Mid Wales on 25 November to explore long-term opportunities for a thriving, sustainable regional economy. Derek met regional leaders, businesses and innovation partners to see first-hand how opportunities to build a fairer, greener and more prosperous future for communities are taking place across Ceredigion and Powys

To keep up to date with the progress of Growing Mid Wales, follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram or sign up to the regional newsletter at www.growingmid.wales/newsletter .

Powys Finalise Day Opportunities model for Llanidloes

A new through-age service for adults, Llanidloes Day Opportunities, will be delivered from Maes Y Wennol and Sylfaen, adjacent sites in the town, Powys County Council has confirmed.

Following a cabinet decision in May 2025, a new Day Opportunities model will be implemented throughout Powys using a locality-based approach.

The new model is flexible, focussed on increasing independence, resilience and community connectedness. It will deliver a tiered approach to support based on individual needs, focusing on Preventative, Personalised and Specialist Support. This will enable an enriched level of opportunity tailored to the individual needs of residents.

Powys Budget Survey Launched

The people of Powys are invited to share their views on how money should be spent on local services for the year 2026–27 and beyond, the county council has said.

Feedback will help shape decisions on priorities such as schools, care for older people, and maintaining roads, helping us build a Stronger, Fairer, Greener Powys where every voice shapes the future of our communities and the services that matter most.

How to get involved:

Complete the online survey: https://www.haveyoursaypowys.wales/budget-survey-2025
Paper and Easy Read copies of the survey are available to download or can be picked up from a Powys library. Please return completed forms to library staff, or scan and email them to haveyoursay@powys.gov.uk.

The survey closes at midnight on Sunday 4 January 2026.

Brecon High School removed from special measures after significant progress

Inspectors judged that Brecon High School has made sufficient progress against all recommendations from its previous core inspection – a milestone that reflects the hard work and commitment of the entire school community.

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