North Warwickshire Community First Responders receive funding at the expense of Citizens Advice

Council funding for the Citizens Advice and other organisations has been cut so that extra money can be handed to the Community First Responders.

But the decision has been criticised by a councillor who said it was an extraordinary decision at a time when so many people were struggling financially and needed help and assistance.

Five organisations applied for funding from North Warwickshire Borough Council as part of their Annual Grants Scheme.

A report considered by this week's community and environment board suggested that the Warwickshire Community and Voluntary Action (WCAVA), North Warwickshire Citizens Advice (NW CA), Live & Local, and the North Warwickshire Allotments Federation were handed the same amount as the previous year with the remaining £2,000 available going to the new applicants – the North Warwickshire First Responders.

But Cllr Andy Jenns (Con Kingsbury) proposed amending the figures. He said: "I think all of these are really worthy organisations. Personally I am very keen that we support the First Responders. From what I understand the work they do is really valuable and they don't get any support from the NHS in terms of finance.

"What they do must cost a lot of money and I would like to see us give a bit more than the suggested £2,000. I wonder if there is any way we could round down what we give to the others and give the balance to the First Responders."

Cllr Ray Jarvis (Con, Atherstone North) confirmed that the group received no statutory funding and agreed that it would be a good organisation to support.

But Cllr Jacky Chambers (Lab, Dordon) urged councillors not to reduce the payments to other groups adding that funding for the First Responders should come from elsewhere.

She said: "I do really think that the NHS, if it feels it is a valuable supplementary support for their ambulance and 999 response, should really be the organisation that provides that funding. It shouldn't be cash-strapped local authorities and the use of our grants and we should certainly not withdraw money from organisations we have funded in the past in order to fund this.

"I do think with all the money that has gone into the health service over the last year they could reach into their pockets. In a time when people are so financially stretched and desperate, to be seen to be pulling money out of Citizens Advice when we know from their report that they help people realise their benefits and claims and deal with some of the desperate situations, it just looks like an extraordinary cut to make."

Councillors voted in favour of rounding down the amounts resulting in £4,100 going to the North Warwickshire First Responders.

Citizens Advice funding will now go from the £34,807.50 for 2020/1 to £34,000 to allow for the extra funding to first responders.