CAB cuts opposed by the Nationalists
SNP group leader slams moves as ‘unacceptable’
Plans to cut funding to the Motherwell and Wishaw Citizens Advice Bureau by 50 per cent will be opposed by the SNP at ameeting later this week.
The cuts recommendation comes in the agenda for the council’s Policy and Resources Committee on Thursday afternoon.
SNP Group Leader Councillor David Stocks said: “The council plan to cut CAB annual funding from £569.000 to £320,000, starting from October 1 this year.
“It is totally unacceptable for cuts of between 47 per cent and a staggering 61 per cent to be imposed in this way.
“This could effectively shut down Cumbernauld CAB and cause staff redundancies and reduced opening times at Airdrie, Coatbridge, Motherwell and Bellshill.
“The council has waited 20 years to conduct a review into possible advice service duplication between the council, CABs and the independent sectors.
“It is completely reckless to suddenly impose cuts of up to 61 per cent.
“Common sense tells us that funding should only be reviewed after the consultation on duplication is complete.
“The whole process will take until June 2017.
“The SNP Group opposed these cuts at the council budget in February. We will oppose them again at the Policy and Resouces Committee on Thursday.
“CAB’s actually save the council money.
“They win benefits claims and save families from becoming homeless.
“A recent study found that the five local CABs save North Lanarkshire £8 million a year.”
Last month, the Wishaw Press revealed that private companies could be invited to bid to provide debt advice services to the public on behalf of North Lanarkshire Council.
That news sparked outrage among local members of the CAB who have been providing this service for a number of years.
From October 1, the Money Advice team within North Lanarkshire Council will be the only source of face-to-face debt advice in North Lanarkshire.