Councillor resigns over disagreement
A councillor and health campaigner has resigned from the leading group on Powys County Council after disagreeing with a string of decisions by the cabinet.
Councillor Joy Jones, who represents Newtown East, has left the independent group that runs the authority with the Conservatives, to become a non-aligned member.
Councillor Jones said she cannot support decisions made by the cabinet, with the budget spending not under control.
The council has recorded overspends, and at the same time is failing to make significant savings.
She said: "I found myself increasingly unable to support the policies of the cabinet
"I'm becoming increasingly concerned at the budget situation as the cabinet appears to be unable to bring the various overspends under control.
"Money is being used to shore up the overspends rather than being directed to help those who need it through the provision of services."
Since exiting the group, fellow councillors have praised her for sticking by her laurels.
Councillor Jones is the authority's anti-poverty champion, and she added: "They said well done for standing by my principles.
"I'm here to represent the people who elected me and I will continue to do that to the best of my ability.
"I'm talking to people in my ward who are being hit by cuts.
"It's hitting services and people are paying more and more.
"They can't see what they are now paying for.
"It's causing unrest."
She is the second councillor to leave a group on the council this year, after Llandrindod county councillor Gary Price left the Conservatives to become a non-aligned councillor.
