T.A.R.A back Citizen’s Advice Bureau’s bid

Mosborough’s Citizen’s Advice Bureau has had and Outreach Worker for the last two years and in December 2010 they applied to Your Community Your Choice for £8,056 to continue the service. It was deferred so that the South East Area Board could consider appointing a city wide debt worker.

Tenants And Residents Association Representative Shirley Frost believes the main problem of the scheme is that it does not provide an alternative to what the Citizen’s Advice Bureau provides and should not be put against their bid and that the bureau’s bid should be approved and put forward to the voting procedure at Beighton on 30th March.

At a recent city wide forum vote it was decided that £80,00 should go to the Housing Revenue Account and at a recent full council meeting it was decided that the C.A.B should not be on this account. If the status of the bid is not changed and they do not win the vote the Westfield and Halfway T.A.R.A will fund the maximum of £8,056 for one year.

As this would mean spending the members £5 yearly levy fee Chairman Paul Page put the idea to a vote. The majority voted to keep the service open to everyone in the area, rather than only to members of T.A.R.A.

Shirley Frost said of the decision: “This notes the value of the C.A.B worker in helping people with problems relating to unemployment, mental ill health, benefits and debt.”  

Fact Box

Citizen’s advice bureau was to close as the council decided what to do.

T.A.R.A decided to keep it open if they do not get funds from elsewhere.

By Leanne Bolan