THE future of Teignbridge Citizens Advice Bureau is hanging in the balance – and it could lose up to 20 per cent of its budget. Lack of funds has aready forced the closure of its Dawlish office and the bureau at Teignmouth needs refurbishment. Funding for specific targets runs out at the end of March and there will be fewer staff from April. The major problem is not just keeping services going, but keeping them going at an acceptable level. But there is little doubt that certain services may well have to be ditched. Teignbridge Council is looking at how it can keep its funding going – it forks out half of the CAB budget, while Devon County Council chips in with the other. But in the next financial year, the CAB is being told it can operate with only £86,000. CABs throughout the county are on the verge of setting up a Devon-wide consortium to try to make themselves more efficient. The idea is to look at services in different ways. Teignbridge, South Hams and West Devon plan to launch a joint telephone service.

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