The future of a vital advice service in Argyll and Bute is in doubt as the local authority proposes to axe its funding.
Argyll and Bute Citzens Advice Bureau (Cab) helps people deal with thousands of issues each year including debt, employment and housing.
But the service is facing closure as Argyll and Bute Council plans to stop the £55,000 core funding it provides every year. This money towards its £87,000 annual running costs allows Cab to attract hundreds of thousands of pounds in grant funding.
The Cab employs 12 people, has offices in Lochgilphead and Helensburgh and runs outreach sessions in Oban, Campbeltown and Dunoon.
Gillian McInnes, manager of Cab, said: “It is hard to comprehend the hardships that people will be forced to endure if they don’t have our assistance. We help people with debt, employment, housing, benefits and a multitude of other problems. All too often we see people who feel helpless and in many cases hopeless but with our help they regain dignity and independence and can see a way forward.”
Last year Cab made a financial gain of £1.7million for its clients, by helping them to claim for benefits and tax credits that they are due and assisting them to challenge unfair financial penalties.
It also helps people to know their rights and responsibilities.
Jane MacLeod, chairwoman of the board of directors for Cab, said: “It is difficult to understand why councillors would vote to lose this respected organisation which brings such added value to the economics of Argyll and Bute and to the council itself.”
Councillor Dick Walsh, leader of Argyll and Bute Council, said: “We as councillors need to hear the views of people right across Argyll and Bute so that we can all work together to ensure that people continue to receive the best public services that the council is capable of delivering. No decisions have been made yet; we will use the consultation responses to help us make decisions in February.”
The council is looking to make £18million of cuts over the next two financial years and is running a consultation until December.
Among the proposals is a plan to cut the number of Additional Support Needs (ASN) assistants for disabled children in mainstream education.
John Finnie MSP said of the ASN cut: “Many, myself included, believe that this is one area of the budget which should have been protected.”