Powys Council faces high agency costs and grant‑reliance worries

Councillors have highlighted that Powys County schools have spent more than £11 million on supply‑teacher agencies over the past four years, with annual outlays of £1.5 m (2022/23), £3.5 m (2023/24), £3.1 m (2024/25) and £3.3 m (2025/26). Independent councillor Graham Breeze questioned the council’s education portfolio holder about the figures, the lack of centrally verified data and the impact on school budgets. The council replied that agency use is largely reactive to staff absences and that detailed breakdowns are not consistently recorded.

Separate concerns were raised about the council’s dependence on one‑off grant funding. Finance Panel chair Aled Davies noted a £1.222 million surplus for 2025/26 but warned that a £3.863 million grant awarded late in the year – chiefly a Regional Integrated Fund grant for social services – masks a reliance on irregular funding. Councillors argued for upfront allocation rather than last‑minute grants, fearing reserve depletion if future grants do not materialise.