THREE East Hampshire Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) are set to lose the security of an "avant garde" three-year council funding programme. After submitting increased charges to East Hampshire District Council (EHDC), councillors rejected a rise in funds from £79,800 to £94,200, requesting that the Petersfield, Alton, and Whitehill and Bordon branches submit annual financial reviews. At Penns Place on Wednesday, EHDC's cabinet agreed to fund the branches from 2008/09, coupling broad support for the valued organisation with financial prudence. "There is no doubt this authority recognises the great work done by the CAB," said Patrick Burridge. "As an authority, we were avant garde in offering a three-year agreement and were the first to do so. We have been forthcoming in giving money put forward as an example of how CABs would like their local authority to fund them." Elizabeth Cartwright, EHDC's portfolio holder for housing, welcomed the yearly review, adding: "The Whitehill and Bordon CAB is open very few hours in comparison with Alton, yet they are asking for the same amount of money. I very much welcome the review that is going to take place. "This authority and the tax payer can't fund such increases. It can't go on." EHDC council leader Ferris Cowper surmised opinion, saying: "Even having a CAB facility in East Hampshire actually saves the council money, as many enquiries would end up in Penns Place. "Here we are starting another three years and we just can't do it. You've seen the flak we've taken over raising car parking fees. There are other important community organisations that need the money," he said. Kirsty Stratton, manager of Petersfield CAB, told of the financial predicament she faces, with 40 volunteers co-ordinated by three full-time staff. But she continued to outline actions in seeking funding from other bodies, with the CAB's dependency on EHDC declining in recent years. "When we first had the money, the contribution EHDC was making was 75-80 per cent of our annual funding. "Last year that went down to 55 per cent, and we have proactively gone out to other areas to get funding from other places to decrease the reliance on EHDC," she said.
