PROPOSALS to cut libraries, blue badge car parking, Sport Powys, Youth Services and that people just cannot afford a 9.5 per cent council tax hike, proved to be the breaking point for many councillors.

Councillor after councillor from right across the political spectrum spoke out against the proposals at the Full Council meeting on Thursday.

Cllr Huw Williams (Labour – Ystradgynlais) focussed on what the budget would do to young people: “They suffer yet again and it’s driving them out of this county. Do we blame them for going?

“The cuts disproportionately affect the young and disadvantaged.

“The schools budget is being cut despite the smoke and mirrors, the YFC and Urdd are being cut, so much for the Welsh language.”

Cllr Williams went on to read a letter by 17-year-old Esme Doherty which had been sent to Cllr Davies outlining the importance of Sport Development to young people, especially those from poorer backgrounds.

“Where is the transformation, consultation or discussion with opposition groups, these are exceptional times?” asked Cllr Williams

Cllr Gary Price (non-aligned – Llandrindod North) said: “We’ve seen that professional sports stars from Powys, Wales and Lions international rugby player Dan Lydiate, and many others condemn the proposals.

“I can’t support a budget that takes 80 per cent of funding from the Sports Development Department that I care about so much.”

Cllr Joy Jones (Non-aligned – Newtown East) said: “This is going to cost just under £10 extra, which is an awful lot before the police and community council charges are added.

“Many families are living hand to mouth and are struggling from one pay cheque to the next.

Cllr Jones noted the increasing dependence people have on foodbanks.

She said that over Christmas in Newtown, 180 hampers and 165 children’s toy parcels had been given to struggling families.

Cllr Jones also explain how a rise to the Council Tax could affect someone living on Universal Credit.

They received £503 a month, with £64 on Council Tax, but when all bills had been paid were already £17 in the red, before buying any food.

“I have sat with someone so hungry they want to take their own lives.

“The budget will impact on these people,” said Cllr Jones.

Cllr David Thomas (Labour – Cwmtwrch) said: “I want to address this smokescreen that seems to be developing.

“We are where we are, we have to accept it and it’s the fault of the Welsh Government. Which is not true.

“This time last year the Labour group were calling for an investigation of our asset base and a plan to be put in place to dispose of certain assets.

“And then using the (capital receipts) dispensation from the Welsh Government we could have built up a war chest to be in place for this year and we could have avoided what we are facing.

“Let’s be honest the fault rests with the cabinet, they set the strategic direction of this budget and they failed to make full use of the capitalisation directive.”

“If this budget is accepted Vision 2025 is in tatters, it’s going nowhere.”

Cllr Mark Barnes, (Conservative – Newtown Llanllwchaiarn West) said that he’d given up contacting the leader, Cllr Rosemarie Harris, about the budget months ago.

“We never get a response or reply, and people in our group have put forward ideas that have been completely ignored. I don’t think they involve us at all.

“I’ve been called lazy and taking the easy route by voting against the budget.

“We are not scared of making difficult decisions – I’m doing this because it’s right.”

Cllr Barnes said he would have preferred a more aggressive stance tackling the budget.

Cllr Barnes added: “We have tried to please everybody, and ended up pleasing nobody at all.

“And the different mechanisms that have been used in  the last few days to get me to vote this through, have been appalling.

“This hurts me as I’m a true blue all the way through.”