MAJOR changes to the way AltonÕs CitizensÕ Advice Bureau is funded have been welcomed as a means of bringing a much needed degree of stability to the service.
Alton CAB manager Teresa Jamieson described the move by East Hampshire District Council, to replace the existing system of yearly grant allocations with a new three-year agreement, as Òa brilliant first stepÓ.
She said the proposal due for decision in January would enable the bureau Òto plan further ahead and not waste a lot of time each year putting together funding bidsÓ.
Under the new three-year Service Level Agreements (SLA) Alton and its neighbouring CABs in Bordon and Petersfield will receive extra funding.
It will also be able to provide a more stable service with each bureau knowing how much money it will receive from East Hampshire District Council for the next three years.
Alton CAB seems to be in line for a core-funding grant of £56,266 for next year - a big increase from the £48,692 it received last year - and should continue to receive this amount, plus inflation, for the following two years.
While pointing out that Alton has yet to submit its full three-year grant application, due by the end of November, Mrs Jamieson acknowledges that what is likely to be Òa significant increaseÓ in funding will enable the bureau to remunerate staff according to national grades, which it has not been able to do until now. ÒIt will also mean that we wonÕt have to worry about every penny and can get on and concentrate on providing a quality service,Ó she said.
The rethink over CAB funding follows a special study carried out last year by EHDC when the then chairman of the community services committee John Venning highlighted the ÒarbitraryÓ system of grant-giving to CABs in East Hampshire.
During the year district councillors have attended a presentation by local CABs during which staff outlined their work.
It included explaining how many people used the CABs and the wide-ranging backgrounds and enquiries from clients.
EHDC was also given examples of the advice that it gives and the number of volunteers who provide services and the staff who support them.
Council officers also carried out a study into how CABs in 21 other districts of the country were funded by local authorities.
As a result, the proposed service level agreements were drawn up.
EHDC officer Neil Slatter said that changes to the way CABs are funded are fundamentally important. ÒAfter examining how other districts fund their CABs it looks as through we are leading the way with these service-level agreements.
ÒThe CABs do such a great job and one of the first things that we had to look at was what the cost would be to the council if the CABs were not there.
ÒThe CABs deal with all sorts of problems - they help prevent homelessness, give advice on benefits. They do a massive job and also provide a lot of assistance to help people avoid debt.Ó