Agenda item

An electronic and paper petition has been received regarding funding to the Citizens Advice Bureau, containing over 4000 signatures.  According to the Council’s petition scheme, if a petition with over 1000 signatures of people who live, work and study in Bath & North East Somerset is received and meets the criteria, it triggers a debate at Council.

The Council had received a petition with sufficient signatures (over 4500) to trigger a debate at Council.  The title of the petition reads -  ‘Please reconsider the plan to reduce the budget for advice services currently provided by CAB-BANES by 60% from next April.’

Richard Samuel, lead petitioner, spoke in support of the petition.  In response to a question from Councillor Tim Ball asking by how much volunteer numbers would reduce if the cuts were implemented, Richard Samuel responded that the relationship between employed staff and volunteers was an absolute so there was no question that a reduction in staff would lead to a dramatic reduction in volunteers.  In a response to a question from Councillor John Bull about the tendering process, Mr Samuel responded that he was aware that the Council had to make difficult financial decisions and he had been working with the Council examining why the continuation of the service was being reviewed; however, he didn’t think that information was in the public domain.  In response to a query from Councillor Bryan Chalker as to whether the Bath CAB branch was the first to be established in the country in 1939, Mr Samuel responded that it was certainly one of the first.  A copy of the statement is attached to the Minute book and linked electronically to the minutes.

On a motion from Councillor Simon Allen, (seconded by Councillor David Bellotti) and then amended by Councillor Vic Pritchard, (seconded by Council Tim Warren), it was

RESOLVED (unanimously) as set out below;

This Council:

·  Recognises and supports the work of the Citizens Advice Bureau and other organisations within Bath and North East Somerset who provide invaluable advice services to residents throughout the B&NES area, particularly during times of financial hardship.

·  Recognises the importance of high-profile generalist advice services which are easily accessible to people from all backgrounds from across the area and can act as a ‘triage’ service as necessary.

·  Is concerned that the level of proposed budget reductions to the Council’s tendered advice services puts at risk the generalist service currently available to residents.

·  Is concerned at the fragmented nature of advice services available to residents and at the potential for duplication within the advice services currently offered and supported by the Council.

·  Is concerned at the lack of a published strategy by the Council in relation to advice and information services.

Council resolves:

1.  To request that Cabinet ask officers to produce and publish an Advice and Information Services Strategy which details the Council’s approach, including its aims and objectives, to the provision of both general and specialist advice and information services over the coming years.

2.  To request that the Advice and Information Services Strategy addresses any issues with duplication and overlap of Council commissioned advice services and details the resource requirements necessary to deliver the Strategy.

3.  To request that the recommendations of the Advice and Information Services Strategy are taken into account in the Cabinet’s budget proposals for 2014/15, with consideration given to providing additional resources to deliver the Advice and Information Services Strategy if necessary.

4.  To request that Cabinet therefore pause the current tender process until an Advice and Information Services Strategy has been produced and reviews the proposed budget for the advice services contract once the new Strategy has been published and its resource requirements known.

[Notes:

1.  Councillor Simon Allen had moved a motion, seconded by Councillor David Bellotti, to the effect of noting the work thus far on the advice and information service review but resolving that any change to proposals be dealt with as part of the budget setting process and to continue the proposed procurement exercise in the interim.  The motion was replaced by the successful amendment.

2.  Voting on Councillor Vic Pritchard’s amendment was 55 for, 0 against, 3 abstentions.

3.  Voting on the substantive motion was unanimous.

4.  During debate, a motion to call for a recess before going to the vote was moved by Councillor Paul Crossley, seconded by Councillor David Dixon, but lost].