Powys County Council Report – JANUARY 2026 – Vale of Grwyney Community Council

Powys County Council’s Cabinet will next week consider proposals for a balanced budget for 2026-27, which aims to protect vital services, support the most vulnerable, and invest in the county’s future, despite ongoing financial pressures.

The draft budget has been shaped by feedback from residents, councillors and partners, and reflects the priorities identified in the recent budget survey. If agreed by Cabinet, the proposals will be recommended to Full Council for final approval in February.

The draft budget proposes a 4.9% Council Tax increase—lower than many expected—while prioritising investment in schools, social care, and road maintenance. Schools delegated budgets will see a 5.7% uplift, and significant additional resources are allocated for adult and children’s social care, including the Real Living Wage for care workers.

We have worked hard to present a balanced budget for 2026-27, limiting the proposed Council Tax increase and prioritising investment in schools, social care and essential infrastructure. However, the medium-term outlook remains challenging, and we will need to continue our transformation journey to deliver savings and protect vital services for our communities and deliver a Sustainable Powys.

To balance the budget, over £12 million in savings are planned for 2026–27, building on £120 million delivered over the past decade. These are all aligned with the Sustainable Powys principles and will be achieved through service remodelling, digital transformation, and efficiency improvements, with a focus on minimising the impact on frontline services.

Our draft capital programme for 2026–31 sets out a total of £742 million of investment, supporting essential infrastructure, including schools, regeneration, and climate action.

Despite the improved settlement, the Council faces a projected budget gap of £28.8 million by 2030-31, even after delivering all identified savings. The Council continues to call for multi-year funding settlements and further support from Welsh Government to enable sustainable long-term planning.

The draft budget will be considered by Cabinet on 20 January 2026. If agreed, it will be recommended to Full Council for approval in February.

Winter Maintenance of Powys Roads

Depending on detailed forecast and data from temperature sensors, the decisions are made to plough and grit the roads of Powys as necessary, with crews making up to three scheduled runs a day and remaining on a standby rota 24/7 to retreat as required. The fleet of gritters cover over 1,400km each time they grit the county’s primary routes.

In between gritting roads, our crews are busy treating footways within town centres, outside schools, care homes, medical centres, etc. We are also focusing on restocking our reserves of grit and replenishing salt bins across the county as quickly as possible. There are nearly 3,300 salt bins located across the county to help communities treat local roads and pavements. These bins are placed where gritters can’t reach – steep hills, narrow access, rural spots, shared spaces, etc. You can check the salt bin locations and request any refills online.

Please note that members of the public cannot collect salt directly from depots. You can find your nearest salt bin, and let us know if it needs refilling, here: www.powys.gov.uk/saltbins

Find out more out how we treat roads during the winter here: https://en.powys.gov.uk/gritting

During period of extreme weather, we will often provide quick updates to the public via social media. To stay up to date, you can follow our Facebook pages here:

Powys County Council – https://www.facebook.com/powyscc/

Cyngor Sir Powys – https://www.facebook.com/cspowys/

Powys County Council Highways, Transport and Recycling – https://www.facebook.com/PowysHighwaysTransportRecycling/

Business Consultation

The county council is inviting businesses to comment on the 2026/2027 revenue budget as part of an online consultation exercise.

Those who are interested are invited to visit the Council’s website: http://www.powys.gov.uk and click the link to Councils Committees and Meetings/Cabinet agenda 20th January 2026 or use the direct link below:

Cyngor Sir Powys County Council – Agenda for Cabinet on Tuesday, 20th January, 2026, 11.00 am

which will take you direct to the Cabinet papers with full details of the proposed Council`s budget (available from 12th January).

All responses to the consultation should be addressed to the Head of Finance, Powys County Hall, Spa Road East, Llandrindod Wells, LD1 5LG for this purpose by 16th February 2026.

£1.22m investment in Powys economy after 18 business grants awarded

A total of £1.22 million is being invested in the Powys economy – by businesses and the county council – after 18 capital grants were awarded.

The companies are investing nearly £1 million in their own futures, while the council has added £243,000 to the pot from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund.

There were 150 applicants for the capital grants, announced in August, which are being used to cover up to 50% of eligible costs, up to a maximum of £25,000, for projects that support growth or long-term sustainability.

The 18 businesses that were successful, are buying new equipment, or green technology, ranging from coffee and soldering machines to solar panels and LED lights

Anyone with questions about economic development in Powys should email: economicdevelopment@powys.gov.uk

Powys County Council also wants to hear from companies, in and outside the county, that need new sites or premises to help them expand. They can use this online form to provide their contact details and a brief summary of their needs: https://powysapi.evolutive.co.uk/form/anonymousform/6728eed7783ab7106537eb74

Hospital delays cut by a third after more social care staff recruited

The number of hospital patients waiting for support from Powys County Council, before they can return home, has been cut by a third, after extra social care staff were recruited.

A £1.3 million Pathways of Care Transformation Grant, awarded by Welsh Government, has been used to fund additional social workers, occupational therapists and enablement assessors. And follows work by the council, throughout the year, to strengthen the home care market.

Twelve-months-ago there were 60 Powys patients waiting for social care to be provided before they could leave community hospitals in the county, or larger district general hospitals in England (Shrewsbury, Telford and Hereford). This year, that figure is down to 38.

The grant has been used to strengthen discharge co-ordination, with the many health bodies serving Powys patients, and to increase social care assessment and home care capacity.

More information on working in social care in Powys:

Working for Powys County Council: https://en.powys.gov.uk/working-for-adult-social-care
Working for a care agency: https://en.powys.gov.uk/homecareworker

More information on accessing support and advice:

Contacting the council’s Front Door team: https://en.powys.gov.uk/ASSIST
Support at home across Powys, including Home Support: https://en.powys.gov.uk/Early-help-and-prevention–home

Major Transport Boost for Powys

The region is set to receive £12.8m from the Welsh Government after a regional plan to deliver public transport services, infrastructure improvements and sustainable transport solutions.

Council Leader Cllr Jake Berriman said: “We are pleased to announce that the Welsh Government has made an indicative allocation of £12.8 million towards the Regional Transport Delivery Plan for Mid Wales. This proposed investment signifies a vital step towards enhancing the connectivity and sustainability of our regional transport network.

“The indicative funding is planned to support a variety of projects aimed at improving public transport services, upgrading infrastructure, and promoting greener travel across the region.

“By prioritising sustainable and accessible transport solutions, we aim to reduce congestion, lower carbon emissions, and develop a more integrated system that better serves our communities and businesses.

From community connections to sign language success – Powys early years settings recognised for excellence

Two Welsh-medium early years settings in Powys have been highlighted by Estyn for their innovative approaches to supporting young children’s development and wellbeing.

Cylch Meithrin Machynlleth was commended for forging strong community links that deliver rich, meaningful educational experiences for young learners.

Meanwhile, Ysgol Feithrin y Trallwng Ltd was praised for its effective use of sign language to encourage children’s communication skills.

New wetland habitat created to boost rare plants on the Montgomery Canal

Rare aquatic plants are to be given space to thrive along the Montgomery Canal at a new wetland habitat at Wern in Powys after it was opened in a ceremony by Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr MP Steve Witherden.

MBE for Powys foster carer who says she is ‘part of a team’

A foster carer, who has worked for Powys County Council for 18 years, has received an MBE in the New Year Honours.

Top award for carers who helped young man ‘find his voice’

John and Stacey Darrell, from Llandrindod Wells, Picked up the Living Well prize at the Shared Lives Plus Awards 2025 in November.

Their work was seen as an inspirational example of person-centred support and care from among Shared Lives carers across the UK.

To find out more about becoming a Shared Lives carer in Powys email shared.lives@powys.gov.uk or telephone 01597 826539.

More information is also available on Powys County Council’s website: https://en.powys.gov.uk/sharedlives

Shared Lives carers provide long-term, short breaks, emergency and day support to adults with learning and physical disabilities, sensory loss, autistic spectrum disorders, dementia, those experiencing poor mental health, or issues with substance misuse. They also help older people too.

They receive an allowance, when the person they are looking after stays with them. They also have access to training opportunities, respite entitlement and support from the Shared Lives team.

More information on Shared Lives Plus: https://sharedlivesplus.org.uk/

Early years excellence – two Powys settings featured in Estyn’s national report

Two Welsh-medium early years settings in Powys have been highlighted for their excellent work in Estyn’s latest Early Insight report, which showcases strong practice across WalesThe Early Insight report, which includes effective practice from Cylch Meithrin Y Drenewydd and Cylch Meithrin Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant, provides an early summary of inspection findings ahead of the full Estyn annual report. It helps providers reflect on their own practice and share good examples across Wales.

Powys residents urged to act on urgent baby sleep pillow safety alert

Residents in the county are being urged by Powys Trading Standards to stop using baby sleep pillows immediately following a national safety alert.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards has issued a warning that baby sleep pillows present a serious risk of suffocation and should never be used. These products are designed to keep a baby’s head in a fixed position, which can restrict airflow and lead to fatal consequences.

Powys Trading Standards is urging households who may have purchased or been given one of these products to:

Stop using baby sleep pillows immediately
Remove them from your baby’s sleeping environment
Dispose of the product safely so it cannot be reused
Spread the word to friends and family to prevent harm

For more information, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/safety-alert-issued-for-baby-sleep-pillows

Legacy Scheme for Powys Backed

National energy infrastructure projects approved by the Welsh Government need to provide a lasting legacy for communities in Powys, according to the County Council’s Cabinet.

The Region’s approved Energy Plan envisions a transition to a low-carbon energy system that delivers social and economic benefits, eliminates fuel poverty, and better connects Powys to the rest of the UK.

It is a clear principle that in doing so it should deliver a fair and just transition to a greener future, support investment in the region, job creation, affordable energy and encourage increased community and public sector ownership of energy assets. However, this is not what either the Government or big business is proposing and as such Cabinet is thinking differently and testing out a new idea to better benefit the people of Powys should any large-scale energy projects be given the go ahead by Welsh Ministers.

The Cabinet today (December 16) backed a recommendation that large-scale energy schemes approved by the Government should provide both a community benefit fund that has become an industry standard, and a five percent profit share to be used for council priorities for the duration of the project’s operation.

Powys residents urged to act on urgent tumble dryer safety alert

Residents in Powys are being urged by the county council to check their tumble dryers following a national safety alert involving approximately 85,000 appliances.

Households with specific models of integrated heat pump tumble dryers manufactured by Haier must check if their machine needs an urgent safety repair because of the risk of fire. The product safety alert has been issued by the Office for Product Safety and Standards.

Affected brands include Baumatic, Candy, Caple, Haier, Hoover, Lamona, Iberna and Montpellier.

Now Powys County Council’s Trading Standards Service are urging households who may have one of the affected appliances to:

Immediately stop using any affected tumble dryer
Unplug the appliance if it is safe and accessible
Check their model and serial number via the manufacturer’s online checker

Contact the manufacturer to arrange a free repair before using the machine again

For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/government/news/urgent-safety-check-for-85000-tumble-dryers

Powys County Council Cabinet to consider balanced budget proposal for 2026-27

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