'Fairness' call over funding for Welshpool day centre when other towns don't have to pay
A town council that has taken on the running of its day centre has demanded fairness from the local authority after the cabinet voted to give other centres in the county a reprieve.
Robert Robinson, town clerk to Welshpool Town Council, said it is unfair for residents in Welshpool to pay for a service that is provided elsewhere in Powys.
There were fears that the centres in Newtown, Llanidloes and Machynlleth could have been shut down as part of Powys County Council's cost-cutting measures, but on Tuesday, the council's cabinet decided to keep all day centres open until a full review has been undertaken.
Extra money will now be made available in 2017/18 to allow day centre activity to continue in existing localities while an early intervention service is trialled and evaluated.
Last year Welshpool Town Council stepped in to run the town's Westwood Day Centre, when centres across Powys were initially threatened with closure.
Mr Robinson said: "It's nice to hear that the day centres will still be here for those who need them, and from where we're standing it makes no odds to us because our day centre is safe but it just seems unfair that our taxpayers are paying for something that's being provided elsewhere.
"It's an issue of fairness, so we're looking to have a discussion with Powys County Council as to how fairness can be achieved."
This year's accounts show running the town's day centre is costing taxpayers £34,000 a year, while a grant is also provided by the county council.
Despite the stay of execution being given for the centres, Mr Robinson has urged the public and other councils to show caution.
"This really is just a delay, Powys County Council is wanting town councils to take on the service, so I would advise councils to do so before it's too late because if they don't it's likely the centres will all be phased out by 2019," he said.
Powys County Council is now expected to continue to talk to town and community councils who have shown an interest in partnership arrangements for funding or management of day services.
If additional funding or arrangements cannot be found, day centres will reduce in the number of days/hours it will operate with the worse case of a centre closing by March 2019.
Last night Welshpool councillors were due to discuss the situation at a meeting of the town council.
