Senior councillors have given the green light to a £72,000 grant to maintain an advice service for residents while a service review takes place.

Tendring District Council’s (TDC) Cabinet has launched a new search for an information and advice service for local residents, ensuring taxpayers get the best value for their money.

For the past 13 years, TDC has supported the service through Citizens Advice Tendring (CAT) with an annual grant of £144,000.

With the adoption of a new external funding framework last year, the council is now conducting a fresh search to ensure future services are cost-effective and meet the changing needs of the district.

To ensure continuity during the procurement process, the council’s Cabinet decided at a meeting on Friday, 31 January, to extend the grant to CAT for six months to keep its service running.

Gina Placey, Cabinet Member for Partnerships, said: “CAT has made a valuable contribution to Tendring over the years and I am pleased that, following the decision to provide this grant, the service to residents will be able to continue while we conduct the procurement.

“We are committed to financial openness and it is only right that we review services to ensure value for money and that we use taxpayers’ money efficiently.

“The tender for the new service will be open to all advice providers.”

The new contract is expected to start in October with whichever service is chosen as a result of the procurement process.

The review aims to ensure the new service offers a coordinated approach to address local challenges such as the needs of deprived areas, supporting residents in improving their income through access to benefits and debt management, assisting with housing issues and providing cost-effective information.

The new service will also need to ensure accessibility through face-to-face, online, and outreach services.

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