MACHYNLLETH town councillors could have to double or even treble their portion of the council tax to take on services from cash-strapped Powys Council, it has been warned.

With Powys Council facing the biggest funding cut from the Welsh Government of all councils across Wales, it is looking to town and community councils to take on a range of services to keep them running.

But town councillors heard that protecting services in the town would need the backing of residents and a substantial hike in council tax.

Robert Robinson, the clerk of Welshpool Town Council, which has taken over a large range of services including the town’s day centre and tourist information centre, said town and community councils had to consider what they could realistically take over and the best way of operating a replacement service.

Mr Robinson said that Welshpool residents had been fully consulted on which services residents would be happy to pay higher council tax bills to maintain and said it was important to have the support of residents.

He also said that the council would need more funding through council tax or services would have to disappear.