AN explanation has been given by council leader, Liberal Democrat councillor James Gibson-Watt on why a decision to consult on Leisure Service and swimming pool cuts in Powys has been postponed.

This morning it was revealed that the item to decide to go to consultation on the four options to slim down leisure provision in the county had been pulled from next Tuesday’s Liberal Democrat/Labour Cabinet meeting.

It had been expected that a decision to go ahead with the public consultation on the options, before making an ultimate decision probably next summer would be taken by the Liberal Democrat/Labour Cabinet at their meeting next Tuesday, November 26.

Cllr Gibson-Watt said: “I have withdrawn the leisure review paper from next week’s Cabinet agenda so that further discussions can be held with group leaders, scrutiny chairs and others before the report is considered by Cabinet.”

This followed a fiery joint scrutiny committee meeting on Thursday, November 14 and yesterday, Wednesday, November 20 where councillors from across the political spectrum including several Liberal Democrats united to slam proposals to cut leisure service provision in Powys.

They voted unanimously to recommend that the report is not ready to go the Cabinet for a decision.