Agenda item

Pursuant to the last meeting, the Panel will receive a further update on recent developments with the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) in Huntingdonshire.

Councillors J D Ablewhite, Executive Leader of the Council and Mr M Mealing, Chairman of the Huntingdonshire CAB will be in attendance at the meeting.

20 Minutes.

(Councillor J D Ablewhite, Executive Leader of the Council, Councillor T D Sanderson, Executive Member for Healthy and Active Communities, and Mr M Mealing, Chairman of the Huntingdonshire Citizens Advice Bureau, were in attendance for consideration of this item).

(Councillor P J Downes was in attendance for this item).

Pursuant to Minute No. 12/56, the Panel received a further update on recent developments relating to the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) and the provision of advice services in Huntingdonshire. Councillor J D Ablewhite, Executive Leader of the Council, reminded the Panel of the background to the decision by the CAB to go into voluntary liquidation and the steps which had been undertaken prior to reaching this decision.

Councillor T D Sanderson, Executive Councillor for Healthy and Active Communities, then reported upon the conclusions which had been reached on 21st November 2012, when the applications which had been received under the Council’s new voluntary sector funding arrangements were determined. It was reported that Rural Cambs CAB had been identified as the preferred bidder for the delivery of advisory services across the District. The organisation’s bid would provide for a four day service in Huntingdon and a three day service in St Neots with debt advisory services being provided at both locations one day each week. In addition, a three hour outreach session would be provided in Yaxley, St Neots and St Ives through a rotation basis with email, telephone and web advisory services also made available alongside front line services.

Councillor Sanderson went on to state that owing to the terms of the current service level agreement with the Huntingdonshire CAB a formal announcement cannot on the outcome of the bidding process could not be made until 8th December 2012. Once the formal announcement had been made, steps would then be taken to provide interim services for the period January to March 2013 inclusive. It was expected that an approach would be made to the successful bidder for this purpose. Mr M Mealing, Chairman of the CAB, reported that the CAB had now formally closed to the public but that debt advisory services would continue to be provided until 21st December 2012. 

Councillor P J Downes expressed concerns over the process, which had been adopted to determine the applications received under the new voluntary sector funding arrangements. He was of the opinion that the bidders should have been given the opportunity to address Members to explain how they would meet the grant criteria. In response, the Executive Leader and Executive Councillor for Healthy and Active Communities assured Members that due process had been followed and the preferred bidder would be able to meet the needs of the District.

Members agreed that the Voluntary Sector Working Group, previously established by the Panel, would take part in regular review meetings with the successful bidder and the Executive Councillor for Healthy and Active Communities to monitor the performance of the service. Whilst six monthly meetings had been suggested, it was agreed that more frequent meetings could be held if necessary.

A brief discussion then ensued on the fact that grants could be tapered to encourage recipients to obtain other funding and to allow the remaining money to be used for other proposals. This had been agreed by Cabinet at its meeting in July 2012.

In concluding their discussions, the Executive Leader, on behalf of the Council, placed on record his thanks to Mr Mealing and the Huntingdonshire CAB for their efforts over the years.