Decision Maker: Babergh Cabinet
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
It was RESOLVED: -
That Cabinet considers the report from Joint Overview and Scrutiny and agrees its response to the recommendations in the report as detailed in paragraph 4, and in line with the Council’s response to the Cost of Living Crisis and the five point plan that will look at a better system of connectivity between partners, including the CAB, the Council and system wide partners.
REASON FOR THE DECISION
To respond to the recommendations in the report from the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:
1.1 Recommendation A & B: The O & S Committee thanked both CABs at the December meeting and were assured both CABs are operating effectively and efficiently and responded well to all questioning from members
1.2 To accept or reject:
· Recommendation C: The Councils take a single view of debt and implement an integrated system for dealing with housing rent and council tax debt;
· Recommendation D: Contact be made with foodbanks with a request that their clients are referred to the CAB for advice on nutrition and budgeting and cookery skills classes; and
· Recommendation E: Remote virtual operation capability for CAB and other bodies should be provided on an accelerated programme as a matter of urgency defining locations, IT equipment and applications, training, and connectivity.
· Recommendation F: That the 3-year rolling funding arrangement in place for Sudbury & District CA be subject to indexation on an annual review basis.
· Recommendation G: That the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee review the CAB in December 2022
· Recommendation H: That extra funding be provided to Sudbury Citizens Advice to enable greater provision for debt advice across the whole district.
The Councils Cost of Living 5 Point Plan and appointment of a dedicated Cost of Living Co-ordinator, agreed at Cabinet (BCa/22/3) on 8th June 2022, will address recommendations C-F & H, and identifies a ‘one off’ 30% uplift provided to the Sudbury and District CAB 2022/23 annual revenue grant.
Any Declarations of Interests Declared: Councillor Osborne declared an Other Registrable Interest due to being a Trustee of Sudbury and District Citizen Advice.
Any Dispensation Granted: None
Publication date: 07/09/2022
Date of decision: 05/09/2022
Decided at meeting: 05/09/2022 - Babergh Cabinet
Accompanying Documents: