SNP clashes over CAB idea
Council leader against new office
The bid for independent citizens advice in Ayr has reached the upper echelons of the SNP.
Health secretary Jeane Freeman MSP has however hit a brick wall in South Ayrshire Council leader Douglas Campbell.
She is backing the plan for a Citizens Advice Bureau to be set up in the town and has written to Councillor Campbell.
But in a letter Ms Freeman revealed Councillor Campbell was “adamant” he is not having it.
And as a member of the SNP, Leader Campbell could be regarded as annoying top brass by not doffing his cap.
Ms Freeman wrote to CAB steering group boss John Dunlop saying: “I would like to express my support for independent advice services and the significant positive impact, track record and value of CAB.
“In line with this I can advise that I have raised your correspondence with Cllr Douglas Campbell and regret to inform you that he is adamant in his stated positon.
“Whilst I appreciate this information will be understandably disappointing to you, I hope you can also appreciate that this is a matter for South Ayrshire Council to reconcile.”
South Ayrshire is one of only three council areas in Scotland without an official CAB.
John Dunlop, a retired CAB director from Ayr, said: “If Jeane Freeman, formerly Social Security and now Health Minister, and a very senior member of the SNP government, recognises the values and the benefits of a CAB, with what mandate is Douglas Campbell refusing the people of South Ayrshire their own Bureau?
“His refusal to even meet to discuss the matter is frankly inexplicable.”
All councillors were written to by the South Ayrshire Citizens Advice Bureau Steering Group last Tuesday.
John Dunlop insists they can set up a superior and independent service at zero cost.
He added: “He would be able to rent prime offices in the centre of town as soon as we get the go ahead.
“Douglas Campbell refuses even to meet us and has prevented council staff from engaging with the steering group.
South Ayrshire Council has consistently said they are happy with their own staff providing debt advice from the Wallace Tower office.