|
|
 |
| |
Alex Pascal |
Trustee backs chief in advice centre row
A TRUSTEE of the bankrupt Islington Advice Bureau at Finsbury Park – renowned black activist Alex Pascal – spoke out in support of its redundant director and 14 members of staff this week.
Mr Pascal, OBE, former chairman of the Notting Hill Carnival, said that among the questions he asked in the wake of the closure – following debts of more than £500,000 – was were there any concerns over misappropriation of cash?
Mr Pascal, a part time voluntary trustee, added: “The answer I got from senior officials from London Citizens Advice Bureau who were investigating the closure was No. They were not aware of it and nor were any other members of staff.”
Mr Pascal, who lives close to the Islington bureau in Durham Road said he understood that Islington Council had offered a last minute rescue package of £100,000.
Speaking about Islington bureau’s director Anne Femi, Mr Pascal added: “She may not have the greatest skill for today’s management. But staff could talk to her and she was committed to community.”
He added that one of her problems may have been that she “wore too many hats” in her efforts to be involved in the community with too many local organisations.
“Behind all this I suspect is a plan for a new style of advice service,” Mr Pascal said. “Rather than have a central office, advisors will go out into the community.”
A preliminary report by liquidators has concluded that inherited debts, loss of contracts, and reductions in funding from Islington council led to the closure of the bureau last March.
An investigation will reveal whether or not there has been serious financial mismanagement.
Mr Pascal said he was the one trustee to vote against closure in March but senior staff feared that they would have been made financially responsible for debts if they hadn’t agreed.
Mr Pascal said that rather than close the service down there should have been a complete review. Staff are owed a total of £158, 615 in unpaid wages – some as much as £30,000-£40,000 each – including redundancy pay.
Citizens advice, a lifeline to an increasingly debt ridden society, was once core funded by the local authority. But in 1999 the branch was forced to become a limited company after Islington council slashed its funding by 75 per cent.
Among the creditors are the Inland Revenue, which is owed £130,282 including £100,000 PAYE, and Islington council which is owed £52, 933. |
 |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
