Councillors will meet AMs at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay

Powys is set to receive a 1% rise in its grant from the Welsh Assembly Government, the lowest in Wales.

But 18 of Powys' 52 councillors will urge five mid Wales AMs to press for at least 1.5% on next year's settlements.

Last month, the assembly government said grants across Wales were "tight" but called it a "realistic deal".

Councillors from the independent group, Liberal Democrats and Labour will meet AMs from the four major parties at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay on Tuesday afternoon.

Stephen Hayes, who is leading the Powys group, said its proposed settlement threatened services.

A 1% settlement will threaten services, affecting vulnerable members of our communities Councillor Stephen Hayes

"The 1% budget settlement for Powys, the lowest in Wales, represents a cut in real terms and takes no account of the cost of service delivery in Powys, which covers one -quarter of the land mass of Wales," he added.

"A 1% settlement will threaten services, affecting vulnerable members of our communities, and as councillors elected by those communities we are not prepared to accept this settlement without ensuring that our voice of protest is heard."

Welsh Conservative leader Nick Bourne, Labour's Alun Davies, Nerys Evans of Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats' Mick Bates and Kirsty Williams will meet the councillors.

Meanwhile, the council's independent Montgomeryshire group held talks with Mr Bates on Monday in Welshpool.

Last month, local councils in Wales criticised their �3.8bn budget settlement for next year from the assembly government.