Economic and Community Regeneration Services

Economic and community regeneration services within Powys County Council are changing to meet the challenges of the current economic climate, the council has announced.

The services, which currently employ 60 staff, will see a radical overhaul which will improve efficiency and the ability to react to rapidly changing economic circumstances, as well as reducing overall running costs.

Board Member for Regeneration, Councillor Wynne Jones said: “Regeneration services and the way they are managed have changed dramatically in recent years and we must adapt to meet the latest challenges.

“We must have a service that is flexible and capable of responding quickly and professionally to different emerging priorities as set by national government and European directives. We are confident that the changes we propose will leave us well placed to meet those challenges in a positive way.

“The economic climate today is very different from when the service was established, the council has reduced the number of visitor centres it directly manages and it no longer provides the Welsh Assembly Government funded Business Eye service.

“Our new service structure reflects these important changes and has been designed to reduce costs while continuing to deliver the service’s new priorities. It is regrettable that 11 posts will be lost as part of the proposals. We are hopeful that some staff will be redeployed within the council but it is likely that there will be some job losses,” he added.

Staff and trade unions have been informed of the proposals and a formal two-month consultation process has started.