CAB Update

Conservatives save Citizens Advice Bureau

Mole Valley’s Conservative Administration has put forward a helping hand to the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Conservative Councillor Ben Tatham, Portfolio Holder for Finance said:-

“Many people in our community are facing financial troubles. We believe that the Citizens Advice Bureau provides a crucial role in helping those people. Consequently we have decided to ensure that the CAB gets the funding it needs in the coming year, so that it can continue with its excellent work.”

The Conservatives also have further proposals for Mole Valley’s forthcoming 2009/ 2010 budget.

• Car parking charges – the charges for Dorking and Leatherhead will be 60 pence per hour for each of the first 5 hours, but the 2 hour charge will be reduced from £1.20 to £1.

• Citizens Advice Bureau – there will be no reduction in Mole Valley’s grant to the Citizens Advice Bureau for the coming year.

• Allotments – allotment charges for 2009/2010 are already agreed for the next 12 months. However Mole Valley is considering a modified concession scheme for 2010/2011 which will be extended to those in receipt of benefits.

• Use of Park House, Leatherhead – the new charge for using Park House will be limited to £47 per session.

Councillor Tatham said:-

“We never stop listening to what our residents are saying. Our car parking charges have remained steady for the last few years, but we recognise that more needs to be done to help our local businesses. These are difficult times, but we’ve tried to strike a balance between savings and higher charges so that Mole Valley remains a top quality council. To fund the above changes, we are proposing to increase the Band D Council Tax by a further £2 per year. We will continue to have the second lowest rate of Council Tax in Surrey.”

Malcolm Johnson – Communications Officer – Conservative Group of Councillors for Mole Valley

www.molevalleyconservativegroup.org.uk

5th February 2009