Final Lap - Fakenham CAB

With less than two months to go until I am no longer a councillor, I am now on my final lap of meetings.

Today at 4pm it was the Trustee Board of the Fakenham Citizens Advice Bureau. I think for the first 18 months of meetings I sat there wondering what I was doing, what I could contribute, and basically felt like a bit of a spare part. However, the Citizens Advice Bureau in Fakenham had problem eighteen months ago, but under the stewardship of its indomitable and industrious manager, Jim Wallace, it has become a centre of excellence, both in terms of it's advice and its forward looking nature.

I have also learnt a lot in this period, and for the last two and a half year have really felt that I could make useful contributions to meetings with my District Council insight.

So it was with some sadness that I left at the end of the meeting today. Fakenham Citizens Advice Bureau, its staff and many volunteers, just like so many other CAB's do a wonderful job providing invaluable advice that helps people and changes lives. However, whilst I value it, it is clear the government do not. So it is sad to note that nationally the CAB is to receive £4 million less in grants from the DTI this year.

There's another thing to put down as your legacy Mr Blair !