Citizen's Advice Bureau is set to get extra funding
By Jo Deeks on Wednesday, 29th November 2000.
AN EXTRA £5,690 for Haverhill's Citizen's Advice Bureau is to be included in St Edmundsbury Borough Council's estimates for next year, but it may not be enough to prevent cuts to its service.
Members of St Edmundsbury Borough Council's Development and Finance committee agreed that the sum should be included as a growth item for consideration when setting the budget for 2001/2002.
Councillors were told that Suffolk County Council would be asked to provide an additional £2,850 for the CAB as well.
Earlier this year extra cash for the CAB was axed during budget cuts, despite figures from the bureau showing an increase in its workload.
Manager Brigitte Haig had warned that money advisers could face redundancy and opening hours cuts unless extra funding could be found.
Mrs Haig pointed out that despite continuing increases of 30 per cent in the number of enquiries they received, Haverhill's CAB would be the only one in Suffolk facing cuts to its funding.
Despite this, no extra cash was previously approved, leaving the CAB with the same grant level as last year from St Edmundsbury at £72,890.
A report to the latest Finance committee said the CAB had lost a £8,600 grant from Anglian Water and would have to use £22,000 of its balances to provide the same level of service as in previous years.
Officers pointed out the council's workload has also grown, but said it was felt reasonable that there should be inflation increases on grants.
Members of St Edmundsbury Borough Council's Development and Finance committee agreed that the sum should be included as a growth item for consideration when setting the budget for 2001/2002.
Councillors were told that Suffolk County Council would be asked to provide an additional £2,850 for the CAB as well.
Earlier this year extra cash for the CAB was axed during budget cuts, despite figures from the bureau showing an increase in its workload.
Manager Brigitte Haig had warned that money advisers could face redundancy and opening hours cuts unless extra funding could be found.
Mrs Haig pointed out that despite continuing increases of 30 per cent in the number of enquiries they received, Haverhill's CAB would be the only one in Suffolk facing cuts to its funding.
Despite this, no extra cash was previously approved, leaving the CAB with the same grant level as last year from St Edmundsbury at £72,890.
A report to the latest Finance committee said the CAB had lost a £8,600 grant from Anglian Water and would have to use £22,000 of its balances to provide the same level of service as in previous years.
Officers pointed out the council's workload has also grown, but said it was felt reasonable that there should be inflation increases on grants.
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