£700,000 cuts hit legal service
A centre that offers free welfare and legal advice to people is to lose more than £700,000 of its funding.
The Community Legal Advice Centre (CLAC), in Charles Street, Leicester, is paid for by Leicester City Council and the Government's Legal Services Commission (LSC).
However, the LSC, which runs the country's legal aid service, is cutting its contribution from April.
About 10,000 people a year use the CLAC to get advice on benefits, debt, housing and employment law.
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The funding cut will mean the centre will close on March 31, but the council hopes that its continuing £370,000-a-year contribution will allow it to reopen the following day, on a scaled-down basis, in another city centre location, yet to be decided.
City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "As more and more people face economic hardship and job insecurity, we are seeing a growing demand for information and advice on benefits, debt management and employment issues.
"Many councils are cutting their advice services as it's not something they are legally required to provide, so I'm very pleased that in Leicester we are going to continue to invest in this important activity.
"Such a big drop in funding will affect the service people get. People will not get the specialist advice they previously had, but general advice will still be available.
"The service will have a city centre base, will be independent and confidential, and will offer a range of services under one roof.
"Advice staff will also help to represent people in court and at tribunal hearings."
Sir Peter said the change would have implications for CLAC staff but it was not clear yet how many jobs could be lost.
Bids are being sought from companies to run the new service.
A spokeswoman for CLAC said it could not comment on matters being decided by the council and the LSC.
A LSC spokesman said: "The legal aid reforms will remove from scope a significant amount of the work now being carried out by CLACs.
"We wrote to all CLAC contract holders and local authorities in May, to give them as much notice as possible of the contract terminations."
Comments
by oldhenry
Monday, October 15 2012, 4:23PM
“It is time to get used to reductions in public services. The UK is spending above its income and non essential services like advice must be scrapped. Solicitors will give a consultaion free for a time, but you will have to pay then, as you do a garage. Nothing is free, somone is paying and it is teh taxpayer. Many of those are having to cut back to afford to keep thier houses and to eat.
Most of the advice is about people whinging about benefits anyway I bet, so it is a self perpetuating system.
Scrap it now.”
by llamalamb
Monday, October 15 2012, 7:12AM
“People need to remember that we are under a new regime now. The Tory ethos is that you pay your way, no more handouts or free services. The very idea that a conservative would give out something for nothing is hilarious to them. Rich and successful or poor and vulnerable, Cameron says "We are all in this together".
You'd better get used to it.”
by LikeItaLot
Sunday, October 14 2012, 8:39PM
“You will have your say at the next election, make it count.”
by male46
Sunday, October 14 2012, 4:37PM
“City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "Many councils are cutting their advice services as it's not something they are legally required to provide, so I'm very pleased that in Leicester we are going to continue to invest in this important activity."
You might be pleased SPS, how about the council tax payers in Leicester? ever thought of asking them? Another reason to hold a referendum, so the people have a say!”
by intrest
Sunday, October 14 2012, 4:27PM
“In comment:akin to the labour and conservative view-there are surely two aspects to this issue-I think perhaps we live in a law clever world today-where legal advisory is required-as a result of more detailed benefit/welfare rules-new schemes that are introduced-require further detailed legal considerations-and so on.Perhaps the new universal credit will improve the system -to the degree where the emphasis will be simplification.”
by DonHenson
Saturday, October 13 2012, 4:40AM
“Heard lots of complaints about CLAC. No loss”