Following discussions by the Council about the petition presented by the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) about universal advice services, the Cabinet have issued a response.
Councillor Paul Crossley (Lib-Dem, Southdown), Leader of Council, said:
“There is no doubting the professionalism and expertise of the service provided by the Citizens Advice Bureau to the community. But the funding they currently receive from the Council is not a hand out to underwrite their day-to-day costs – it is to provide a specific contracted service on behalf of the local taxpayer for universal, available to all advice. We are now at the end of the contract we awarded to CAB in 2008.
“Over those five years, the range of universal advice services for people needing help has grown substantially. The Council’s own support has developed meaning the taxpayer is paying twice for the same service in many cases; once from our own staff and again from the universal advice contract. The Government’s financial response to the international financial crisis also means we have to consider the type of services we provide in the future and to whom.
“In light of the petition, the Cabinet will be developing an advice and information strategy that contains a clear commitment to providing services for the most vulnerable people in society, including moving forwards with a new advice service contract specifically for this purpose.
“The new contract will reflect both the amount of money we believe appropriate and include help to those in danger of becoming homeless, people at greatest risk of being unable to live independently and elderly residents who may need advice on how to remain in their own home. The strategy will also be clear about what advice is available for people who are not in these categories, including from our own One Stop Shops.”
