SNP Councillors on City Council Reject Appeal for Additional Funds for Welfare Rights Advice in the City

At the meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee on Monday evening 25 June, the Council agreed to endorse the For Fairness in Dundee Strategy and Action Plan. This focuses on combating multiple deprivation in the city. A key component of this is the provision of welfare rights advice and debt counselling. I was disappointed that in voting down my amendment, they turned down the opportunity to attract more money to help fund these advice services in the city. 
I think many people in Dundee will wonder what planet Councillor Guild and his colleagues live on. They will be puzzled why the possibility of £100,000 to boost the funding advice centres in the city was not worthy of the bother of writing a letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance John Swinney MSP. 
The Westminster government have boosted the funding for advice centres over two years (2012/13 and 2013/14) to deal with the anticipated increased demand  for advice as welfare reform changes are introduced. As a result the Scottish Government have received additional funding as this is a responsibility devolved to the Scottish Government. 
I think it is entirely reasonable to ask what arrangements the Scottish Government is putting in place to distribute this cash and can Dundee have its share to help extend the work of its Fairness Strategy. At time when money for new developments is tight, surely every £100,000 helps?