Issue - meetings

To consider a report recommending that the Council continue to Grant Aid Cheshire East Citizens’ Advice Bureau and Cheshire East Citizens’ Advice Bureau North for the provision of universal information and advice services across Cheshire East without competition for a period of 12 months from 1^st April 2014 to 31^st March 2015.

Cabinet considered a report recommending that the Council continue to Grant Aid Cheshire East Citizens’ Advice Bureau and Cheshire East Citizens’ Advice Bureau North for the provision of universal information and advice services across Cheshire East without competition for a period of 12 months from 1^st April 2014 to 31^st March 2015.

Prevention and Early Intervention Services were now due to be retendered for a three year period from 1 April 2014 – 31 March 2017. The Welfare Reform Act 2012 would not be fully implemented until April 201. People on relevant existing benefits would move to Universal Credit when contacted by the Department for Work and Pensions or when there was a significant change in their circumstances. The impact of these changes therefore remained unknown and the Council’s requirements for universal information and advice services could not be accurately specified to inform the current formal tendering process. It was therefore proposed that Grant Aid for Universal Information and Advice Services continue on a time limited basis to address this specific set of circumstances and that the service be tendered when considered appropriate.

RESOLVED

That the Council continue to Grant Aid Cheshire East Citizens Advice Bureau and Cheshire East Citizens Advice Bureau North for the provision of universal information and advice services across Cheshire East without competition for a period of 12 months from 1^st April 2014 to 31^st March 2015.