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Details

Status:
Implemented
Business Item
East Suffolk Council Funding for Citizens Advice
Ref.
ES/0316
Is a Key Decision:
Yes
Decision Type:
Committee
Decision Maker:
Cabinet
Date of Decision
Tue 3 Mar 2020
Show on Forward Plan
Yes
Description
Report of the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Communities, Leisure  and Tourism
Matter for Decision (to consider...)
To confirm funding for citizens advice in east Suffolk
Service Area
Communities
Service Area 2
Not Applicable
Contact for Background Papers:
Head of Communities
Background Papers:
None 
Is Decision District Wide
Yes
Decision Made
1. That the funding for Citizens Advice in East Suffolk be maintained at £199,600 for the three financial years 2020-21, 2022-23 and 2023-24.
2. That an additional sum of £7,500 be made available to enable the three CAs to secure independent support to help them to explore the transformation of Citizens Advice services in East Suffolk focussed on identifying the optimum structures to deliver the best outcomes for the East Suffolk population.
3. That East Suffolk Council should be directly involved in working with the three CAs to define the scope of this transformation review and receive the final report.
4. That the three Citizens Advice in East Suffolk be encouraged to explore all of the transformation opportunities available in the District over the next twelve months, with a view to freeing up resource for greater involvement in prevention activity and additional outreach into identified and agreed target areas. Reorganisation, and potentially a reduction in the number of Citizens Advice, may well be the best way to achieve this but objective support should enable the three CAs to work together to fully understand both the opportunities and barriers to change.
5. That future funding beyond the end of the 2020-21 financial year would depend on evidence of progress towards transformation and that therefore a further report should be presented to Cabinet early in 2021, with a view to developing a new funding and performance framework for 2021-22 onwards.
 
Reason for Decision

There is a strong case to revisit the potential transformation of Citizens Advice in East Suffolk as there are clearly opportunities for savings and transformational change by moving from three to two or even one Citizens Advice serving the population through a hub and spoke model  – although this is clearly ultimately a decision for the three organisations and their Trustee Boards.

It is believed that transformation could release capacity and resources in order to enable Citizens Advice to work more closely with the Council on preventative activity, for example based on the Low Income Family Tracker policy tool recently purchased by the Council which allows us to target those who may be in need of support more directly, and earlier (i.e. before they reach crisis point) than ever before.


Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Retain the funding at  the current level.  

 

Re-balance the funding  available across east Suffolk prior to the outcomes of the transformation work to be undertaken over the next 12 months.  

Any Declarations of Interest Declared
Councillor Jepson declared a local non pecuniary interest as a member of  the Board  of Felixstowe Citizens Advice.  
Any Dispensation Granted
None.

Decision Criteria

This Decision does not contain any decision criteria records.

Wards

Aldeburgh and Leiston; Beccles and Worlingham; Bungay and Wainford; Carlford and Fynn Valley; Carlton and Whitton; Carlton Colville; Deben; Eastern Felixstowe; Framlingham; Gunton and St Margarets; Halesworth and Blything; Harbour and Normanston; Kelsale and Yoxford; Kesgrave; Kessingland; Kirkley and Pakefield; Lothingland; Martlesham and Purdis Farm; Melton; Orwell and Villages; Oulton Broad; Rendlesham and Orford; Rushmere St Andrew; Saxmundham; Southwold; Western Felixstowe; Wickham Market; Woodbridge; Wrentham, Wangford and Westleton

Topics

This Decision does not contain any Topic records

Overview and Scrutiny

This Decision does not contain any Overview and Scrutiny records.

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Decision History

Date & Time CreatedUser Full NameStatus DescriptionDetails
 Page 3 of 5, items 21 to 30 of 42.
19/02/2020 09:15:23Karen CookWard AddedKirkley and Pakefield
19/02/2020 09:15:23Karen CookWard AddedLothingland
19/02/2020 09:15:23Karen CookWard AddedMartlesham and Purdis Farm
19/02/2020 09:15:23Karen CookWard AddedMelton
19/02/2020 09:15:23Karen CookWard AddedOrwell and Villages
19/02/2020 09:15:23Karen CookWard AddedOulton Broad
19/02/2020 09:15:23Karen CookWard AddedRendlesham and Orford
19/02/2020 09:15:23Karen CookWard AddedRushmere St Andrew
19/02/2020 09:15:23Karen CookWard AddedSaxmundham
19/02/2020 09:15:23Karen CookWard AddedSouthwold

Approval/Comments

No history found.