A MONEY advice centre based in Clydebank will be bailed out by West Dunbartonshire Council as they continue to face financial uncertainty.

The Independent Resource Centre (IRC), which aims to reduce poverty and address issues underpinning economic exclusion, will benefit from £31,000 of council reserves.

In 2019/20, the IRC dealt with around 3,000 cases and brought in more than £7million for their clients. They are planning to use their £112,000 reserves to continue this service.

A motion to provide the IRC with additional ring faced funding of £143,519 from council reserves each year over a five-year period starting in 2020/21, was submitted by councillor Jim Bollan of the Community Party.

But the SNP administration presented an amendment to agree initial funding of £31,000 for the coming financial year and continue to work on a cross party basis to find sustainable funding going forward. This was approved by most councillors last Wednesday.

Cllr Bollan moved the motion before declaring an interest in the issue and leaving the debate.

Labour councillor Lawrence O’Neill, who seconded it, said: “I don’t think the amendment goes far enough. The independent resource centre is victim of their own success.

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“What would West Dunbartonshire Council do if there was not an organisation like this? We would struggle and so would our citizens.

“They have dedicated staff and we should respect them. I appreciate the sentiment of the amendment and I support the motion.”

Councillor Gail Casey added: “The IRC has been around for 30 years and have delivered an exceptional service to the community and they have worked hard to support themselves. They are now using their own reserved budget.

“I don’t think there is a councillor in this room who doesn’t know someone who has benefited from the resource centre.”

Councillor Jonathan McColl, leader of the council, said he hoped a cross party working group could still be established no matter the outcome of the debate which was agreed.

He said: “We need to work to find extra funding for the IRC, but this motion doesn’t go far enough – but was made with the best of intentions.

“It doesn’t fully fund their budget as the sums don’t add up leaving the centre short by £30,000 per year.

“I am pleased that we all agree that we need to help this organisation.”

Seven councillors voted for the motion and nine the amendment. Extra funding for the organisation – based at 627 Dumbarton Road – may become available following the council’s budget agreement.