Two busy citizens' advice bureaux are set to receive grants totalling thousands of pounds from Rochford District Council.

It has agreed in principle to give Rayleigh CAB £28,016 and Rochford CAB £26,780.

The council has earmarked the money in its budget for the next financial year and will be handed over once councillors have seen what services the two bureaux will offer Rochford district residents.

Rayleigh CAB, based in the Civic Suite in Hockley Road, deals with 12,000 inquiries every year. It will use its grant to pay for running costs.

The branch faced closure in November last year when it started to flounder financially. It was saved when Rochford District Council bailed it out.

Rochford CAB, which has offices in Back Lane, Rochford, will use its grant to pay for its everyday costs. It deals with 4,580 inquiries a year.

The Rochford CAB has also asked councillors for an extra £1,500 to expand its outreach services and go to Canewdon, Paglesham and Fambridge with help and advice for residents.

This application will be looked at by the council at a later date. At a corporate resources meeting last night the council agreed to look at how it funds CABs.

Committee chairman David Barnes, Lib Dem, said: "We could talk about giving the grants to the National Association of Citizens' Advice Bureaux and then it could decide who gets what."

Councillors agreed to look at that option at a later date.

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