ALTON Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) could soon be on the move.
An ever expanding work load, lack of resources and space, and the need to conform with the new Government Disability Act has forced the management committee to look at new premises.
Speaking at last FridayÕs agm, Alton CAB chairman James Palmer, told the meeting that plans for the installation of a lift at the bureauÕs current site in Cross and Pillory Lane had been abandoned and negotiations entered into with Drum Housing Association.
It is hoped the partnership will result in a new home by mid-2005 which will provide Alton CAB with the additional space and access arrangements it so desperately needs, with room for some growth in the future.
It is a race against time with enquiry numbers soaring to a record 15,229, compared to 13,133 in the previous year.
However, the number of clients seen had decreased slightly from 6,559 to 6,355, indicating two things: that client cases were becoming more complex and that the lack of space/resources was now affecting the bureauÕs ability to help everyone.
ÒWe are acutely aware of this inability, especially in the telephone service,Ó said Mr Palmer who explained that while consideration had been given to installing a second telephone line there was nowhere to site it.
The good news, however, was that lottery funding had enabled the training of a large number of new volunteer advisers, by guidance trainer Pauline Cook. But, they were all having to squeeze into an inadequate space, further exacerbating the need for larger premises.
It was a theme taken up by manager, Teresa Jamieson, who said that this, the bureauÕs 60th year in Alton, had proved Òa really busy oneÓ.
The number of debt problems had increased, employment and welfare benefit advice continued to run at a high level, and more advocacy work was being undertaken, which all took up time. One of Mrs JamiesonÕs main concerns was that people were being encouraged to take on loans and mortgages that they couldnÕt really afford.
Her fear too was that, due to restrictions within the bureau, some people were having to wait longer for help.
Nonetheless, she pointed out, volunteer advisers had given more than 11,400 hours of their time free last year to provide a highly valued and valuable service under extremely difficult conditions, and she thanked them for that.
One milestone reached was the outstanding success of both the Rural Outreach Service and the young peopleÕs Advice Zone, headed up by Chris Greenslade which, over the past three years, had gained over £1million in previously unclaimed benefit payments for clients. In thanking Mr Greenslade for his dedication to this work, Mrs Jamieson described it as Òa remarkable achievement,Ó especially as the rural outreach adviser only worked for Alton CAB on a part-time basis.
She also drew attention also to a recent Alton CAB Ôaway dayÕ which provided an opportunity for the committee, staff and advisers to take a detailed look at and comment on CABÕs new four-year national corporate plan.
Local concerns included lack of core funding for the South East region which is not, said Mrs Jamieson, viewed as an area of deprivation when, in fact, there are people in the area who do suffer from social exclusion and poverty.
They also pinpointed the need for more flexible training, and the need to remain up-to-speed with computer technology since a large percentage of the bureauÕs enquiries were now received via email. Also, despite having their quality kite mark renewed, it was felt that more guidance was needed in the preparation for the Community Legal Services quality audit.