Moves by Powys County Council to request a meeting with the First Minister have been described as a "political stunt" by Plaid Cymru councillors.

Last week, council leader Rosemarie Harris wrote to first minister Mark Drakeford requesting a meeting to discuss the council funding formula.

But Plaid councillor Elwyn Vaughan, member for Glantwymyn, described the move as an attempt to deflect from the council's budget cuts, announced last week and due to be ratified at full council this week.

"It is no more than a last minute attempt to save the Tories skin," he said.

"Whilst both the Westminster austerity in recent years, and the decision by the Welsh Labour Gov to support the Health service at the expense of local government in this years budget has had a detrimental effect on Powys, this last minute calling of arms by the Cabinet is a panic measure knowing full well the public criticism they face is severe and that there are huge rifts within the Tory group in Powys.

"The only way they can try and patch up the cracks is to deflect attention and try to blame someone else, in this case the Welsh Government, whilst fully aware that the budget for next year has been set. If there was sincerity, there should have been a co-ordinated approach with other authorities’ months ago to develop a coherent cross party consensus for the benefit of rural Wales rather than a expedient last minute PR stunt."

"Powys faces huge challenges, due to austerity and £1billion less for public services in Wales from Westminster as well as the lack of vision and historical action by the Council.

"The time has come to seriously consider the need for a ‘Government of national unity’ approach within the Council where there’s a truly united team to deliver the change that has to happen. Nobody has the monopoly of good ideas, and for the benefit of Powys the best use of all its talents should be made and be the priority not the political aspirations of one political group.”

In an open letter penned last week, Powys County Council’s Leader Rosemarie Harris had asked Mr Drakeford to meet them in Cardiff on Monday to discuss changing the funding formula which is used to allocate money to councils across Wales every year.

“Enough is enough. It is time that the funding formula underwent a comprehensive review and that rural authorities like Powys had a fair deal," she said.