BASINGSTOKE and Deane Borough Council have agreed to consider providing more support to Basingstoke Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), after a councillor shared her emotional personal experience.

The news comes after the council recently said that demand for CAB is growing at a “rate beyond current resources”.

The CAB is a vital source of advice for residents struggling to make ends meet due to significant increases in the cost of living.

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Cllr Andrea Bowes, a member of the Liberal Democrat group said CAB provided her with vital support at a difficult time.

She shared her experience at a council meeting on Monday (February 28).

She said: “Many years ago, in a different time and place my former partner had fallen behind on payments for a loan for the car he needed to get to work. He had a bit of a head in the sand approach to finance and had let things get out of hand.

“At a loss, I called the CAB for advice, and they were just wonderful. They contacted the previously unhelpful loan company and sorted out repayment and I will be forever grateful. Not just for sorting out the debt issue but because my former partner did not react well to the sort of stress that debt brought and would lash out, which is not rare.

“We are expected to see not only a rise in repossessions and homelessness but a rise in domestic violence.”

Presenting his motion to ask the council for help, during the same council meeting, Cllr John McKay also a member of the Liberal Democrat group said that he is aware demand for the services is still high.

The motion was approved unanimously with many councillors showing their support.

He said: “We have heard how demand for their services is outstripping resources in the last year over 14,000 people received free and confidential advice and I know just how much people value the help they received.

“Please support this motion and how we can provide some additional support to help them provide services at the difficult time just as residents are demanding more help.”

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Meanwhile, Cllr Tristan Robinson (Conservative) said he agreed that CAB deserved support but added: “There are other organisations who should get funding as well."

By agreeing to the motion, the Cabinet will now consider how the underspending on the councillor grants scheme can be utilised to provide support to vital voluntary organisations in the borough, such as the Basingstoke CAB.

CAB has been contacted for comment.

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