Issue - meetings

To consider the report of Director of Service Delivery (copy enclosed) and to receive a presentation from Mr Philip Wakeling, Chairman of the Citizens Advice Bureau Trustees.

Prior to considering the report, Mr Philip Wakeling and Ms Justine Southgate from the Maldon Citizens Advice (MCA)gave a short presentation the Committee.  The presentation outlined the work the MCA, the benefit to residents of the Maldon District and its plan for the next three years.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Service Delivery, seeking Members’ consideration of the implications for the reduction in funding to the MCA for 2019 / 20 and the levels of funding proposed for 2020 / 21.

The report provided background information regarding the MCA, its contract to deliver an Advice Service for the Council, the funding provided as part of this contract, reductions seen to funding and the impact that had been seen to services.  A table within the report highlighted performance to date and it was noted that the MCA continued to deliver on all priorities set in the contract.

Members were asked to consider the funding levels to the MCA for 2020 / 21 and the report set out a number of options.  Members discussed the options and the exceptional work of the MCA and the benefits this work brought to residents of the District was commented on.  A number of Members spoke in support of the work of the MCA and how they felt the option to increase the funding to its previous level should be supported.

At this point, Councillor Mrs P A Channer declared that she was chairperson of a Maldon Advisory Hub Board which had had involvement with the MCA.

In response to a question, the Interim Section 151 Officer clarified that if Members agree to increase the funding as per recommendation (iv) in the report this would become a growth item and if the Council failed to find any other budget savings from 2020 / 21 this money would have to come from reserves.

Councillor B E Harker proposed from the chair that the Council be asked to accept recommendation (iv) as set out in the report to return funding of the MCA to the previous level of £73,000.  Upon a vote being take this was agreed.  It was further clarified that the proposal related to the increase from 1 April 2020.

In response to a question regarding creating a three-year rolling contract, the Interim Section 151 Officer advised that Officers would sit down with the MCA to look at a three year Service Level Agreement.

RESOLVED

(i)              That the contents of the report be noted;

RECOMMENDED

(ii)            That funding to the Maldon Citizens Advice is increased to the previous level of £73,500 from 1 April 2020.