Public backing bid to save Wellington CAB
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Signatures are flooding in for an online petition to save Wellington ‘s Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).
Save Wellington Citizens Advice Bureau! was set up as the threat of evictions and fund-slashing looms.
Last week Wellington City Council denied CAB a renewal of its three-year grant ($210,787 each year) to run its five branches. CAB told the council wanted to see a complete redesign of its operation, which would include only mobile branches.
The petition organisers set an initial target of about 2000 signatures – the number of ratepayers who submitted on the council’s Long-Term Plan. They had hoped to have at least 3000 signatures to present to the council next week, and by yesterday afternoon the petition had already gathered 2783 signatures.
Dr Ramona Tiatia, who helped to start the petition, said it was clear from the social media response that the good work of CAB was vital for the community.
Those who signed the petition had also expressed their ‘‘surprise’’ at the sudden cut of services and believed it was unjust CAB had been targeted, she said.
Last year Wellington CAB helped more than 30,000 people with questions and problems across a range of issues.
Social services were stretched in Wellington, and removing CAB meant there would be no first point of contact for most Wellingtonians, Tiatia said.
The council offered CAB a one-off grant ($103,500) for six months to help redefine the way it delivered services.
The only way this decision can be overturned is at a council city strategy committee meeting on Thursday, where all grants over $100,000 will be rubber-stamped.
CAB Wellington chairman Mike Regan said the petition and a plea for funding would be presented to councillors at the meeting.
‘‘I would hope councillors take cognisance there will be more than 3000 signatures of people who want CAB to thrive.’’ He said it was dishonest that the council had offered six months of funding but would not talk about conditions.
CAB national chief executive Kerry Dalton said that despite the outpouring of community support, the council would not say if it would overturn ‘‘putting CAB on notice’’.
‘‘We accept working with the council, but doing it with evictions and the threat of a funding cut over your head is really difficult.’’
She hoped the council would listen to the concerns of the community and change its decisions and give certainty of funding.
Councillor Sarah Free, who chairs the grants committee, said no decisions had been made and the council was still in discussions.
Rongotai MP Paul Eagle said CAB provided a valuable service to his constituents, who had expressed their concern about the pending closure.
‘‘This is a service that fulfils a big need in my community. I respect council funding is tight, but I would encourage the city to go back to the table and try to work together on a programme.’’