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Powys County Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
Powys waiting on another £6m in Levelling Up Funding
POWYS Council is still waiting to find out if it will receive a further £6 million in UK Government Levelling Up Funding (LUF) – a senior councillor has revealed. Earlier this month (June) the county council said that it had received 'almost £11 million' from the UK Labour Government and that the authority will use this to: 'invest in capital projects aimed at promoting recreational tourism in the county through transport investment.' The council said that this funding would be used on projects that include resurfacing works, walking, and cycling schemes (active travel) and rights of way refurbishment. However, a question from Plaid Cymru group leader, Cllr Elwyn Vaughan to the cabinet has prompted the council to say that the allocation is much lower than what they wanted. Due to this a number of projects are on hold and will not be worked on this financial year while others will be partly funded and completed in the future once more money is found. Cllr Vaughan asked: 'Can you please (provide) a full list of the projects being supported by the £11 million LUF recently received towards roads and paths.' Cabinet member for highways, transport, and recycling Cllr Jackie Charlton (Liberal Democrat) said: 'The original LUF bid was for around £17 million plus match funding, but we only received just under £11 million this year. 'The rest of the bid is subject to the UK Government Spending Review which we are still awaiting news on this.' She explained that 'some flexibility' may be needed with the resurfacing scheme as they will be dependent on departmental budget under and overspends as well as 'changes in conditions' since the bid was sent to Westminster. All the projects with funding - and those without Walking/Cycling (Active Travel) projects: Tri-Town Cycle Route – phase one (Llandrindod-Howey) – part funded. Crickhowell – Llangattock – part funded. Brecon Promenade – fully funded. U1670 Llandrindod Lake – fully funded. Rights of Way bridge projects Fron Footbridge – not funded. Festival Footbridge – not funded. Black Bridge – not funded. Llangadfan Footbridge – not funded. Pont y Milgy – fully funded. Trans Cambrian Cycle Links Project (Monks Trod & Claerwen byways) – not funded. Infrastructure Refurbishment C2040 Back Lane, Criggion – fully funded. C2040 Cross Road, Criggion – fully funded. NCN81 Cycle path Garreg Ddu reservoir to forestry entrance – fully funded. Llangorse lake – fully funded. U0176 / Llangorse Lake including access road – fully funded. C2089 Pennant Melangell Church – fully funded C2143 Montgomery Hill Road – fully funded. U2122 Cynhinfa Caravan Park – fully funded U2642 / C2051 /U2646 Dolforwyn Castle – fully funded B4381 Leighton Road – fully funded C2022 Llanidloes Dol Llys towards Caersws – fully funded C2025 Stepaside – fully funded B4395 Llanerfyl (more works to be identified) – fully funded. B4393 Llanfiangel (more works to be identified) – fully funded. C2 Abergwesyn to Devils Staircase – fully funded. U1135 Moelfre City to Newhouse Farm – fully funded. Newbridge to Builth cycle route – fully funded. C0060 – Llaneglwys – Road to forestry – fully funded. C0079 – Hay Bluff – fully funded. C0162 -Brecon Beacons Mountain Centre Visitor Attraction access route – fully funded. C0193 – Road to Pontmelin Waterfalls Coelbren – fully funded. C0194 – Road to Henrhyd Waterfalls Coelbren – fully funded. U0223 / Fennifach Road leading to Promenade second Car park – fully funded. U0305 – C50 junction to Pontarysgir via werngof to U0304 junction – fully funded. U0306 – U0306 junction to green lane – fully funded. Ystradgynlais various routes – fully funded U4231 / U4244 Lon Cerddyn Trehafren, Park Lane – fully funded. U2856 Husky Hill – fully funded B4389 Bettws – Aberbechan – part funded C2005 Red Lane – Powis Castle – part funded C1206 Elan Valley – part funded.


Powys County Times
07-05-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Powys Council may have to fund national insurance rise
POWYS County Council may have to dip into its reserves to pay higher staff national insurance costs - but neighbouring councils in England won't. Last month it was revealed that the NI hike will leave Welsh local authorities with a shortfall with estimates ranging from £20 million to £65 million. Funds have been allocated to English councils to cover the higher costs, but because of the way the Barnett Formula allocates Treasury funding to devolved nations, Wales is not expected to receive the full cost of the NI hike. English local authorities have suffered deeper cuts to services than Welsh ones – and as such have less services and staff to fund. Plaid Cymru group leader, Cllr Elwyn Vaughan asked: 'All public bodies in England will be protected against the national insurance increases cost. 'However, they have decided to fund Wales via the Barnett formula - a decision that is leaving Wales £65 million short of funding.' Cllr Vaughan asked: 'What effect will this have on Powys Council financially?' Interim head of finance Ann Phillips answered: 'Although we are aware that the funding is being transferred through the Barnett Formula, and there may be a shortfall, we do not have any detail about the overall quantum and what it is expected to cover.' Ms Phillips explains that as part of this year's budget setting process money has already been allocated to pay for the growth of national insurance costs for social care providers. Ms Phillips said: 'But we expect funding from Welsh Government to cover the cost of our directly employed staff. 'We have specific reserves set aside for payroll pressures, and this would need to be drawn against if there is a budgetary shortfall.' Ms Phillips added that as soon as the council has clarity on what will be funded or not, the finance department will work out what the overall financial impact to the council will be. The last financial report for the 2024/2025 budget as it stood at the end of February, the council had a total of £55.259 million in usable reserves. In April, the new class one national insurance costs for employers increased from 13.8 per cent to 15 per cent.